Albania

Capital : Tirana

History

The Albanians are largely descended from the Illyrian tribes who settled in the north of the country in the C3rd BC. They fought the Romans along the Adriatic coast for a hundred years but Illyria eventually became a Roman province. From the C7th to the C9th, Slav tribes invaded and settled. The name 'Albania' first appears around the C12th AD. It is probably derived from 'Albanoi', the name of an Illyrian tribe from the north. The Albanians called the country Arbër or Arbën and themselves Arbëresh or Arbënesh in the Middle Ages. These names are still used by some communities who emigrated to Greece and Italy.

In the C15th, Albania resisted the Turkish Ottoman Empire strongly under national hero, George Kastrioti (Skanderbeg), but was not entirely free from Turkey until 1912 when representatives of the great powers met in London to decide on borders and it became a self-governing principality. Despite being 90% ethnic Albanian, the province of Kosovo was given to Serbia. The equivalent of half the population of Albania itself (over one and a half million) lives there.

After WWI, during which Austria invaded the North and Italy the South, it took until the 1920s for the foreign forces to leave. Ahmet Zogu became President in 1925 and declared himself King Zog I in 1928. His authoritarian rule was fairly peaceful but in 1939 he refused to allow Italian military use of Albanian ports and was forced into exile by Mussolini's invasion. (His son, Leka I, born in 1939, continues to campaign for reinstatement).

The little Balkan state, about the size of Wales, was ruled by the communist dictator, Enver Hoxha from the end of WWII until his death in 1985. His policy of isolation meant that little was known of his totalitarian regime until it ended. Links with other communist countries such as the Soviet Union, China and neighbouring Yugoslavia, were terminated, religion was banned and even the mildest form of opposition severely punished. The Sigurimi, the Albanian secret police, were active even after Hoxha died.

The anti-Communist revolution in Europe produced free elections in Albania in 1991 but despite defeat in the cities the Communists retained power in rural communities which were reluctant to

vote for change. However, after three months a general strike brought down the Government. Conditions were still so bad politically and economically that 20 000 people escaped to the Italian port of Brindisi but further refugees were treated so badly that they were glad to return. A failed attempt at coalition with the Democratic party led to further elections in 1992 and the Democrats under Sali Berisha gained over 60% of the vote. The country was in economic chaos with 70% unemployment, hospitals full of starving children and a growing dependency on Western aid.

Hoxha seems to have been a Mao figure whom nobody dared to cross and his insistence that the country was envied by the world for its high standard of living was not disputed despite terrible poverty and human rights abuse. Islam and Catholicism, the main religions, were banned and all their churches and mosques shut in 1967 but are beginning to revive. Mass starvation is still a danger held off only by EC and Italian aid as are civil and political unrest. The Balkan war amongst the states of former Yugoslavia has also caused problems.

Elections were held recently in which the exiled king, Leka Zog, only gained a third of the vote. There were accusations of cheating on the part of the Socialists.

Albanian Names

Male

Abas	Abdurahman	Abdurrahman	Adam	Adem	Afrim
Agim	Agron	Ahmed	Ahmet	Alban	Albert
Albion	Aldi	Aleksander	Ali	Altin	Alush
Anli	Anton	Antoni	Arben	Arjan	Armend
Arshi	Arsim	Artan	Artur	Aslan	Asllan
Azem	Bahri	Bajram	Bardhyl	Bari	Bashkim
Bear	Bègu	Bekim	Bes	Besim	Besnik
Bràmi	Claudian	Dardan	Daut	Davidhi	Devis
Dhimitri	Dritan	Dritero	Drtian	Dukagjin	Dzeladin
Edi	Edon	Emiliano	Endri	Engjëll	Enver
Erion	Ermal	Eshref	Etrit	Fadil	Fan
Faton	Fatos	Fatùci	Fehmi	Ferit	Ferki
Filpa	Fini	Fisnik	Florent	Florian	Florim
Gazment	Gazmir	Gembi	Genci	Gezim	Gjergi
Gjèrgji	Gjin	Gjon	Guri?	Gustini	Hafizi
Halil	Hasan	Haxhi	Herkole	Hila	Hydajet
Ibrahim	Ilia	Ilinian	Ilir	Imer	Ismet
Jahja	Jakup	Janàri	Jànji	Januz	Jàpku
Jusuf	Jusufi	Kacusa	Kadri	Kajoshaj	Kalmaria
Kandòni	Kasumi	Koça	Kòlli	Kostandin	Kostandini
Kreshnik	Kristaq	Ledio	Leka	Leke	Lishëndri
Llùka	Luan	Markùri	Màrku	Màrsi	Martin
Marùshi	Matèa	Max	Menderes	Mendu	Mensur
Mentor	Mersel	Michael	Midhat	Migen	Mihàil
Mithat	Modest	Muhamed	Muhamet	Muslin	Mustafa
Naim	Naser	Ndòni	Ndrèu	Nedzati	Neim
Neritan	Nexhat	Nihad	Nikolle	Nizi	Njàxi
Nxhiku	Oltion	Orion	Pàli	Përparim	Petrit
Pjerin	Pjeter	Pjètri	Pleurat	Ramadan	Ramiz
Rexhep	Richard	Robert	Roland	Rrahman	Rudi
Sabri	Sadik	Sadiq	Saip	Sakir	Sali
Salih	Sazan	Sead	Sejdo	Selim	Sèpa
Shaban	Shkumbin	Sojp	Sokol	Sulejman	Thanàsi
Thoma	Tiku	Tista	Toni	Tritan	Valbonë
Vasili	Veton	Victor	Vidian	Visar	Vjosa
Vlàshi	William	Xhavit	Xheladin	Xhemil	Xhetan
Xhon	Yll	Ylli	Zef	Zenel	Zenon
Zijadin

Female

Ada	Ana	Anila	Ardita	Arta	Atdhe*
Bèla	Blùsha	Diana	Dlia	Edita	Eglantina
Enkeleida	Fetije	Gjinovefa	Groshe*	Hyrije	Jessica
Julia	Justina	Klarita	Krèxja	Lèna	Lili
Linda	Lindita	Llàvra	Lliza	Lumnije*	Lùsha
Maliqe*	Màra	Margarita	Maria	Marte	Medija
Meropi	Mersada	Mimoza	Mira	Mirjam	Mirlinda
Mitillja	Najada	Ndrirjàna	Nexhmije	Ngjlska	Njèza
Nlla	Rèsja	Rina	Ròna	Rudina	Shahin*
Shota	Silvana	Sonila	Susanna	Teuta	Tikja
Tòrja	Trixha	Valbona	Verore	Vjollca	Zabèla
Zana	Zize

* name may not be in correct gender group

Surnames

Agani	Ahmetaj	Ahmeti	Ajeti	Albrup	Alia
Alibali	Alii	Alikaj	Aliti	Aliu	Amiti
Arbnori	Bajraktari	Bajrami	Bajramovic	Bardhi	Bardici
Bardulla	Bazhunaishvili	Bejko	Bejta	Berisha	Berishaj
Bizi	Blaku	Boja	Boshnjaku	Broci	Brozi
Budo	Bunjaku	Bushaj	Bushati	Buzoku	Bytygi
Cacaj	Cana	Cano	Ceka	Cela	Chocholi
Ciftja	Cobaj	Corbajram	Culaj	Cumani	Daci
Dedej	Dejti	Demachi	Demaci	Demai	Demisovski
Dhamo	Dibra	Dosti	Dreshaj	Duka	Dzaferi
Elezi	Emini	Fakaj	Fazliu	Frasheri	Gacaferi
Galica	Galimuna	Gashi	Gjika	Gjikokaj	Gjinali
Gjokaj	Gozhita	Grazdani	Hajdari	Hajdini	Halii
Halil	Halili	Haliti	Hamiti	Hamza	Harxhi
Hasangjekaj	Hasani	Hassan	Haxhi	Haxhiu	Hisari
Hoxha	Hyseni	Hysi	Idrizi	Isai	Ismaili
Isufaj	Januzaj	Jasari	Julia	Kadare	Kalaj
Kaleci	Kapllani	Kartallozi	Kastrati	Kiuprili	Kochiu
Koçi	Kola	Kolcei	Kolonja	Kona	Kongoli
Kotta	Kraja	Krasnicki	Krasniqi	Krizi	Kula
Kupi	Kutishi	Lamaj	Lazami	Logoreci	Lokaj
Lucca	Luga	Lumaj	Lumani	Lushi	Luzaj
Mala	Mali	Manjani	Marishta	Marku	Maxharraj
Maxhuni	Meco	Meksi	Meshkalla	Metarapi	Mishaxhi
Morina	Mripa	Mujushi	Murati	Murzaku	Muslimi
Naçi	Nallbani	Nesimi	Nexhipi	Noli	Nooja
Nuhiji	Oseku	Paloka	Peco	Pernaska	Petrela
Pipa	Pllana	Pllumi	Pocoli	Poda	Pojani
Prela	Prenkpalaj	Prifti	Prishtina	Pula	Qosja
Raco	Rama	Ramadani	Reufi	Rexhepi	Ristani
Rrustemi	Rugova	Sadiku	Sadiraj	Salihu	Saliu
Sava	Sejko	Selimi	Selmani	Seseri	Shala
Shehu	Shima	Shkelyim	Shulku	Shundi	Siliqi
Simaku	Smajlaj	Sopa	Strakosha	Sulejmani	Surroi
Syla	Sylaj	Tahiri	Tare	Tatari	Thaci
Thaqi	Thika	Tolaj	Tolka	Tolr	Toptani
Troshani	Tzeka	Useni	Varoshi	Vata	Velo
Vercuni	Veseli	Vllasi	Vulaj	Xhaferi	Xhanari
Xhaxhka	Xhumba	Ymeri	Zagreda	Zhugli	Zhulati
Zhuzhumi	Ziberi	Zogu

Rulers

Charles Topia	1368-	assumes title after gaining control
George Castriota 'Skanderbeg'	c 1443-68	revolts against Turks
John Castriota II	1468-78	son of Skanderbeg
Zog I	1928-39 dep		Geraldine Apponigi
Leka I	1939- (in exile)	son of Zog I

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This collection of names compiled by Kate Monk. Copyright January 1997, Kate Monk. Last updated February, 98. Copies may be made for personal use only.