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ArchivesI did a search on it earlier...
in reply to a message by Chrisell
and found it to be yiddish, a language that traces back to jewish and german.
and I didn't mean to sound like I was attacking anyone. if i did, i apologize. i was simply asking if anyone knew of any other meaning of it that wasnt a variation, because I wanted to know if it was ever its own name.
and I didn't mean to sound like I was attacking anyone. if i did, i apologize. i was simply asking if anyone knew of any other meaning of it that wasnt a variation, because I wanted to know if it was ever its own name.
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I can say with absolute certainty:
A) If your ancestry is even partly Jewish (of any thread; ashkenazi, sephardi, israeli/former-palestinian, &c.), Chrisell's answer is the most likely.
B) If your ancestry is European and Christian (especially irish or scottish gaelic, less so welsh), your name is more likely derived from the previously discussed 'John.'
Now my understanding (emphasis on 'my'), is that 'Shana/Shayna' are akin to 'Shawna/Shauna' in their derivation from Irish-Gaelic 'Seán.'
'Shawna/Shauna' is phonetically similar to the common pronunciation of 'Seán' as we know it modernly. 'Shana/Shayna' traces its origin to the once-common, but incorrect, Anglicization of 'Seán' as 'Shane.'
The popularity of 'Shane' has always been more than slightly Irish associated, and the feminine form 'Shana/Shayna' is almost certainly therein derived.
I surmise Welsh or Scottish associations to 'Shana/Shayna' developed ex post facto, mostly because I have never seen strong evidence (none firsthand) to support independant development.
Regarding your statement, "...I wanted to know if it was ever its own name." Forenames, given-names, are rarely just definitions but trips upstream sometimes increadibly rough waters.
If the non-Jewish origin is the most likely:
Shana(Eng) < Shane(Eng) < Seán(Ire) 1) < Jean(Frn) 2) < Seadhán/Seathán/Seaghán(OIre) < Jehan(OFrn) < Jehannes(OFrn) < Johannes(Ltn) < Ioannes(Grk) < Yôhanan(Heb)
If the Jewish origin is the most likely, well you are one step from its source.
A) If your ancestry is even partly Jewish (of any thread; ashkenazi, sephardi, israeli/former-palestinian, &c.), Chrisell's answer is the most likely.
B) If your ancestry is European and Christian (especially irish or scottish gaelic, less so welsh), your name is more likely derived from the previously discussed 'John.'
Now my understanding (emphasis on 'my'), is that 'Shana/Shayna' are akin to 'Shawna/Shauna' in their derivation from Irish-Gaelic 'Seán.'
'Shawna/Shauna' is phonetically similar to the common pronunciation of 'Seán' as we know it modernly. 'Shana/Shayna' traces its origin to the once-common, but incorrect, Anglicization of 'Seán' as 'Shane.'
The popularity of 'Shane' has always been more than slightly Irish associated, and the feminine form 'Shana/Shayna' is almost certainly therein derived.
I surmise Welsh or Scottish associations to 'Shana/Shayna' developed ex post facto, mostly because I have never seen strong evidence (none firsthand) to support independant development.
Regarding your statement, "...I wanted to know if it was ever its own name." Forenames, given-names, are rarely just definitions but trips upstream sometimes increadibly rough waters.
If the non-Jewish origin is the most likely:
Shana(Eng) < Shane(Eng) < Seán(Ire) 1) < Jean(Frn) 2) < Seadhán/Seathán/Seaghán(OIre) < Jehan(OFrn) < Jehannes(OFrn) < Johannes(Ltn) < Ioannes(Grk) < Yôhanan(Heb)
If the Jewish origin is the most likely, well you are one step from its source.
This message was edited 10/29/2004, 12:08 AM
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Yes, it is possible that it's a variation of Shaina, a name meaning "beautiful" in Yiddish. However, the rationale is that Yiddish names are very uncommon outside of Northern European (and some colonial) Jewish communities, whereas John / Jane group names are found in every European language and some other languages as well, so Shana is far more likely to belong to the latter group than the former, unless you are Jewish.
I'm glad you didn't intend to attack anyone, however it's quite clear that you *did*, whatever your intention, and I rather feel that you owe Indy a more obvious apology for your outburst, than the one in your post. (That sounds all harsh and school-teacherish! I'm not trying to scold, it's just that I'm a big sister to 5 siblings and it's that side of me that's talking there :-) )
edited for hyperlinking
I'm glad you didn't intend to attack anyone, however it's quite clear that you *did*, whatever your intention, and I rather feel that you owe Indy a more obvious apology for your outburst, than the one in your post. (That sounds all harsh and school-teacherish! I'm not trying to scold, it's just that I'm a big sister to 5 siblings and it's that side of me that's talking there :-) )
edited for hyperlinking
This message was edited 10/10/2004, 9:28 PM
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It's okay, i can understand why she gets frustrated (my own name has 3 different meanings so i've been there), though i think she misunderstood my words, i was only asking a question, not to be rude or anything, but i guess she know that?!
Though i do like your sisterside..lolz!
Though i do like your sisterside..lolz!
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