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ArchivesRe: Anaya?
in reply to a message by dondonsae
It's a surname in Spain, originating from the Basque word anaia which means "brother".
In the Indian language of Tamil, anai means "elephant".
In Hebrew, Anaiah means "god answers" or "answer of god".
In the Indian language of Tamil, anai means "elephant".
In Hebrew, Anaiah means "god answers" or "answer of god".
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Anaiah does mean God answers in Hebrew... but if it's used as a name, it would probably be masculine, and not be spelled Anaya.
This message was edited 10/15/2006, 10:06 AM
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Proudly Australian 1
The Tamil meaning of Anai is correct (see e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annamalai_Hills for an internet resource), though I have no idea whether it gives rise to Anaya. To the best of my knowledge, the name does not derive from Sanskrit: see http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=215016&board=gen.
The Hebrew meaning is attested in prior posts on this board. See e.g. http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=198434&board=gen.
The use in Spain was also mentioned (see e.g. http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=312730&board=gen), though the Basque origin and meaning I do not know.
The Hebrew meaning is attested in prior posts on this board. See e.g. http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=198434&board=gen.
The use in Spain was also mentioned (see e.g. http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=312730&board=gen), though the Basque origin and meaning I do not know.
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The derivation of Anaya as a Spanish surname from Basque anai "brother" is found in Hanks & Hodges' A Dictionary of Surnames. The -a at the end is the Basque definite article, so I suppose the full translation of the surname is "the brother". According to both Hanks & Hodges and Gutierre Tibon (in Diccionario Etimologico Comparado de los Apellidos Espanoles, Hispanoamericanos y Filipinos) Anaya was used as a male personal name in Spain in the Middle Ages. However, Tibon also says the surname may sometimes be from Arabic al-nahya, "agua estancada." Google translates "agua estancada" as "suspended water", but as that makes no sense to me perhaps it means "standing water". Maybe someone who knows Spanish can clarify that! :)
This message was edited 10/15/2006, 7:05 PM
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