Date
Meaning & History
Russian form of the late Greek masculine name Pithyrion, which is possibly derived from Greek πίτυρον (pituron) or (pityron) meaning "husks of corn, bran" - which itself is derived from Greek πίτυρα (pitura) or (pityra) meaning "bran". Compare also the name of the skin disease pityriasis, which derives from the same root. However, since Pithyrion as a name originates from an Egyptian saint from the 4th century AD, it is also possible that Pithyrion is the hellenized form of a Coptic name or word. Known bearers of the name Pitirim include Russian-American sociologist Pitirim Sorokin (1889-1968) and Pitirim of Krutitsy (?-1673), the 9th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.