Grundlegendes zur Beziehung von Toponymie und Familiennamen unter arealem Aspekt

Abstract

Basic Research on the Relation between Toponymy and Surnames from the Areal Point of View. – The article thoroughly reviews vol. IV of the high-profile German Atlas of Family Names covering present-day anthroponyms after origin (place names etc.) or habitation (field-names and the like). Its focused approach to various methodical problems the authors were faced with permits us to recognize their theoretical performance and their etymological achievements as well. The effectively used principle to go from the general to the particular, which enables them to overcome the difficulties of delimiting both classes of names, to form subcategories, and to examine typological and singular phenomena – not to forget the wealth of conclusive maps –, is especially pointed out. In view of the extensive and sophisticated problems that had to be tackled some additional remarks and supplements on the part of the reviewer can in no account depreciate the authors’ further substantial contribution to anthroponomastics.