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ArchivesLaura - Laurentia, Laurus - Laurentius ?
I would like to know whether Laurus and Laura were names 'on their own' or if both of them were originally derived from Laurentius and Laurentia. Laura is most likely used as a pet form of Laurentia at times, but could that be its original usage? Same goes for Laurus.
This seems like a detail, but it changes the meaning of the name quite a bit, so, maybe somebody knows more about this?
Thank you!
This seems like a detail, but it changes the meaning of the name quite a bit, so, maybe somebody knows more about this?
Thank you!
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Replies
Laurus in Latin means a laurel tree. So it was originally a word rather than a name. Clearly, words get used as names all the time, and the connotations of victory would make it attractive.
The picture gets complicated by the weird fact that tree words in Latin are grammatically feminine, regardless of their appearance. So Laurus is feminine already, and can't be further feminised by changing the -us to an -a, unlike Julius -> Julia etc. But, without knowing when, by whom and where it was first used as a name, if it was, it's impossible to say anything too definite.
The picture gets complicated by the weird fact that tree words in Latin are grammatically feminine, regardless of their appearance. So Laurus is feminine already, and can't be further feminised by changing the -us to an -a, unlike Julius -> Julia etc. But, without knowing when, by whom and where it was first used as a name, if it was, it's impossible to say anything too definite.
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