Etymology of these names?

[kaahin13]

I come across a number of somalis with the name dawit in there genealogy. I think there was a garre one here on this forum there is a madhiban with the name dawit and there was several on james dahl site.

I believe a mareehan in the futul al habesha was name dawit bin goita
Edit: it’s actually hirabu bin goita tedrous

 

[Garaad diinle]

I believe a mareehan in the futul al habesha was name dawit bin goita
Edit: it’s actually hirabu bin goita tedrous

Yeah you're right his name was hirabu twadrus, twedros or tedrous goita, goita being a military rank or title somewhat similar to somali guuto and was still used in harar until the 20th century. In one page his also called hirabu khalaf. I think there was a marehan abtiris in james dahl website that also had the name dawit if i'm not mistaken and there was others that also had dawit name. It's surprising how names such as kaahin and dawit are found among us perhaps there could've been some yemeni jewish influence in somalia.

 

[kaahin13]

Yeah you're right his name was hirabu twadrus, twedros or tedrous goita, goita being a military rank or title somewhat similar to somali guuto and was still used in harar until the 20th century. In one page his also called hirabu khalaf. I think there was a marehan abtiris in james dahl website that also had the name dawit if i'm not mistaken and there was others that also had dawit name. It's surprising how names such as kaahin and dawit are found among us perhaps there could've been some yemeni jewish influence in somalia.

Wouldn’t be surprised if there was a community of Jews in zeila or Mogadishu

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

Wouldn’t be surprised if there was a community of Jews in zeila or Mogadishu

We had a mate, of Yibir extraction, who joined the J2wish community in Finsbury Park in London, was adopted by the J2wish community, married a J2wish lady, and last I heard he was managing a synagogue. I recall reading round that time Yibir are related to the Falasha in Ethiopia, also known as Beta Israel, which is being discussed here.

Ethiopian Jews in Somalia: Tracing remnants of the Yibir

The Yibir in Somalia is one of the few known Muslim communities worldwide that maintains Jewish descent. A genetic study may be our only hope to unraveling the historical roots of this community, and in finding connections—or lack thereof—with other Jewish groups.

geneticliteracyproject.org

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

Abgaal need no explanation. It's made of ab iyo gaal, gaal meaning geel or camel.

It occurred to me earleir today, as I was listening to a play: the word 'Hadhuubgaal', or as is known in some regions 'Gaawe', is the sole utensil used to milk camels. It is a compound word of 'hadhuub / haruub', which is the cover for 'haan', and 'gaal', a derivative of 'geel', as being suggested.

Now, the question is: if 'gaal' is af Maay, and 'Maxaa tidhi/tiri' af Somali folk had been rearing camels for centuries, how could [the] de facto utensil for milking camels be af Maay?

Am still ruminating!

 

[Lowkey]

@Garaad diinle how About Mareexaan?

 

[Garaad diinle]

It occurred to me earleir today, as I was listening to a play: the word 'Hadhuubgaal', or as is known in some regions 'Gaawe', is the sole utensil used to milk camels. It is a compound word of 'hadhuub / haruub', which is the cover for 'haan', and 'gaal', a derivative of 'geel', as being suggested.

Now, the question is: if 'gaal' is af Maay, and 'Maxaa tidhi/tiri' af Somali folk had been rearing camels for centuries, how could [the] de facto utensil for milking camels be af Maay?

Am still ruminating!

It's a vowel change so af maxa tiri use to say gaal but it changed into geel much like how gees meaning horn in af maxa tiri is gaas in af maay. There is plenty such changes found in af maxa but sometimes the changes occurs on af maay while af maxa preserves the original pronunciation. There are many places that have the name gaal in northern somalia such as gaalkacyo and we also have daba-gaal-le which is a squirrel and literally means having the tail of a camel.

Keep in mind that many other cushitic languages use gaal for camel. By the way did you know that haruub have the same linguistic origin as haluub meaning to milk in arabic? So technically haruub gaal arabic equivalent would be xalib al-jamal.

 

[Garaad diinle]

@Garaad diinle how About Mareexaan?

Can't say really. I haven't come across a source that mentions what it means but i'll try to look into it i might find something though no promises.

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

It's a vowel change so af maxa tiri use to say gaal but it changed into geel much like how gees meaning horn in af maxa tiri is gaas in af maay. There is plenty such changes found in af maxa but sometimes the changes occurs on af maay while af maxa preserves the original pronunciation. There are many places that have the name gaal in northern somalia such as gaalkacyo and we also have daba-gaal-le which is a squirrel and literally means having the tail of a camel.

Am still ruminating, perhaps if in an overdrive now.

Of the two, which is the original: 'af Maxaa tidhi, or Maay'?

A couple of assumptions:
a) This presumes the original name being 'gaal'? In that respect, as nomads, we take the most precious asset in our possession 'geel', toy with its name by introducing 'deelqaaf' into the language, and assign its name to that of the most despised being 'gaal - kaafir'?

b) Or is it, that we adopted 'geel' to distinguish it from 'gaal' at a later time, when the concept of 'gaalnimo' came to pass. If so, this further presumes af Maxaa tidhi is so challenged, it could not come up with a name for a non-Muslim.

c) And if so, the 'af Maxaa tidhi' is deemed a derivative of 'af Maay', which is therefore considered the original, when in reality, from its rich literature, and its vast oratory, it is the other way round, no?

I am yet to come across a poem, or verses in one, where 'gaal' is being used to describe camels instead in af Maxaa tidhi.

Adjunct:
As I watch the King's crowning, and procession, hoping to notice anything to fall out of place i.e. a horse to galvanise, a jockey to perform a trick, or perhaps a guard to faint, or even the King to throw a fit, as he is known for. Nothing thus far.

 

[Garaad diinle]

Am still ruminating, perhaps if in an overdrive now.

Of the two, which is the original: 'af Maxaa tidhi, or Maay'?

A couple of assumptions:
a) This presumes the original name being 'gaal'? In that respect, as nomads, we take the most precious asset in our possession 'geel', toy with its name by introducing 'deelqaaf' into the language, and assign its name to that of the most despised being 'gaal - kaafir'?

b) Or is it, that we adopted 'geel' to distinguish it from 'gaal' at a later time, when the concept of 'gaalnimo' came to pass. If so, this further presumes af Maxaa tidhi is so challenged, it could not come up with a name for a non-Muslim.

c) And if so, the 'af Maxaa tidhi' is deemed a derivative of 'af Maay', which is therefore considered the original, when in reality, from its rich literature, and its vast oratory, it is the other way round, no?

I am yet to come across a poem, or verses in one, where 'gaal' is being used to describe camels instead in af Maxaa tidhi.

Adjunct:
As I watch the King's crowning, and procession, hoping to notice anything to fall out of place i.e. a horse to galvanise, a jockey to perform a trick, or perhaps a guard to faint, or even the King to throw a fit, as he is known for. Nothing thus far.

That's what linguist say. The vowel shift didn't only occur on gaal and geel but also gaas and gees much like the great vowel shift of english. We still have a number of word such as dabagaalle and haruubgaal that contains gaal pronunciation and we've also have place names that contains gaal in them. We've also got clans that also have gaal name in them such as abgaal and gaaljecel. Other cushitic languages also uses gaal such as oromo, afar and sidama. As to why the change occurred and when it did i'cant really say.

 

[Garaad diinle]

@Garaad diinle how About Mareexaan?

I found a source but it's an outside one by an english explorer and while i'm at it i might as well share other names and their meaning.

Let's start easy first we've got warsangeli, the english explorer have been told that it means the bringer of good news.

Next we've got majeerteen and here the english explorer have been told that it means the beloved one.

The third one is mareexaan and according to what the english explorer have been told it means a pompous man or a boaster.

I can only provide you the etymological explanation of warsangeli, war benig news, san is good and geli is bringer. The other ones is a bit tricky and someone with more knowledge on this might be able to explain them better.

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

That's what linguistics say. The vowel shift didn't only occur on gaal and geel but also gaas and gees much like the great vowel shift of english. We still have a number of word such as dabagaalle and haruubgaal that contains gaal pronunciation and we've also have place names that contains gaal in them. We've also got clans that also have gaal name in them such as abgaal and gaaljecel. Other cushitic languages also uses gaal such as oromo, afar and sidama. As to why the change occurred and when it did i'cant really say.

I know, I am used to other languages like Arabic, and English having etymological tracing, which sadly is lacking in Somali, or is not written at least, and those of us interested, and not linguists, are left with guessing.

Postscript:
Would not the name 'dabagaalle' be 'dabagale', as in follower with 'daba' being rear, and 'gal' being follow in its command form, with this being derived from 'soongur', the female, which is said follows people? Mind me not, for as I said, I might be on an overdrive.

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

By the way did you know that haruub have the same linguistic origin as haluub meaning to milk in arabic? So technically haruub gaal arabic equivalent would be xalib al-jamal.

Good to know.

 

[Garaad diinle]

I know, I am used to other languages like Arabic, and English having etymological tracing, which sadly is lacking in Somali, or is not written at least, and those of us interested, and not linguists, are left with guessing.

Postscript:
Would not the name 'dabagaalle' be 'dabagale', as in follower with 'daba' being rear, and 'gal' being follow in its command form, with this being derived from 'soongur', the female, which is said follows people? Mind me not, for as I said, I might be on an overdrive.

I see what you mean and i clearly see the logic behind it. The way it's writing in the dictionary defers, here is how it's writing in the dictionary.

Here is what it means.

By the way even the somali dictionary which is a dictionary of af maxa tiri contains gaal and it correctly associate it with geel.

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

I found a source but it's an outside one by an english explorer and while i'm at it i might as well share other names and their meaning.

Let's start easy first we've got warsangeli, the english explorer have been told that it means the bringer of good news.

Next we've got majeerteen and here the english explorer have been told that it means the beloved one.

The third one is mareexaan and according to what the english explorer have been told it means a pompous man or a boaster.

I can only provide you the etymological explanation of warsangeli, war benig news, san is good and geli is bringer. The other ones is a bit tricky and someone with more knowledge on this might be able to explain them better.

Good info. Let me add:
The first two are correct, but 'Mareexaan', or as I heard its etymology being 'Marayxaan', derived from a plant with a beautiful fragrance, temporal scent, with its origin being from 'Rayxaan' or 'Reexaan' as in some instances, a plant used to scentify 'muqmad / oodkac' so as to remove its meaty odour, and do away with potential bacteria, just like 'culay' for 'haamada & dhiilaha'. In other words, 'mar rayxaan', temporal whiff, aura, and odour, which supports your statement of its being 'pompous, boaster'.

As you said, Majeerteen is a common Somali word derived from 'Majeerasho', very common in poetry, meaning craved for, desired etc.

Warsangeli too. 'Warsan' being a common name for girls, in the same convention as in 'Samaantar' contracted as 'Samatar, or Sametar'.

 

[Hilmaam]

She breaks it down, your welcome

 

[killerxsmoke]

She breaks it down, your welcome

some of them r cap

 

[Hilmaam]

some of them r cap

it is she trolling big time

 

[killerxsmoke]

it is she trolling big time

kulaha habar gidir means curse

 

[𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈]

She breaks it down, your welcome

Not only is she very funny, but her deductive aptitude is brilliant