Hungary

Capital : Budapest

History

In around 800 BC, Hungary was inhabited by the East Alpine group of Early Italic speakers. It was within the main area of Celtic settlement in the centuries before Christ and occupies much the same territory as the Roman provinces of Pannonia Superior and Pannonia Inferior, established by Augustus. In the west, a people called the Iazyges remained independent, separating Pannonia Inferior from the province of Dacia (Romania).

After the fall of Rome, the area became part of the Ostrogothic kingdom in the C5th AD. In 795-6, Pannonia and the Avar kingdom to the south were taken over by the Franks under Charlemagne. Towards the end of the C9th, the Magyars, a group of nomadic horsemen, moved into the Hungarian plain and used it as a base to plunder the surrounding areas. They were later joined with the Huns, Alans, Onogurs and Avars to form the modern Hungarian nation. The magyars were finally defeated by the German Otto I at Lechfeld near Augsburg in 955 and assimilated into western Christianity. Another threat from the east came from the Mongols. Under Genghis Khan and his successors they conquered much of eastern Europe, including Hungary, in 1237-42 but the Empire was disrupted in 1259. Hungary became a Christian state and under Louis the Great, (1342-82), gained importance within Europe to become a major territorial power in the C14th.

After the disappearance of the Serbian kingdom, it was the main European power facing the Ottoman Turks at the end of the C15th. Mehmed I failed to take Belgrade in 1456, leaving the line of the middle Danube and lower Sava as the border between Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. With Transylvania to the east, the northern part of the country was part of the shortlived empire of Matthias Corvinus (1458-90) with the south being sunjugated by the Turks in the 1450s and 60s. Turkish influence was extended after the Battle of Mohacs in 1526 and the whole country became a vassal state of the Ottomans with its Habsburg rulers paying tribute until the early C17th when it became established as part of their Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The Hungarians were restive under Habsburg control but wanted autonomy within the Empire rather than total independence and after Austria was weakened by the war with Prussia, they gained equal status with the German-speaking population in the Ausgleich (Compromise) of 1867. The Austro-Hungarian refusal to allow Serbian independence was a major cause of the First World War when the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated by Bosnian terrorists at Sarajevo in 1914. Hungary was one of the new states created after the war but it lost Transylvania to Romania and Slovakia and Carpathian Ruthenia to Czechoslovakia.

Between the wars, the country was under a repressive conservative government including the Gombos dictatorship in 1931-5 and became an Axis satellite under Hitler's Germany. In the 1940s it became a communist state but revolted violently against the Soviet presence in 1956 and was violently suppressed. After the break-up of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, Hungary had free elections by 1991 and made an association agreement with the EC in 1992.

Hungarian Names

The Hungarian language is of Turkic origin and bears some similarities to Sumerian, Hurrian and Elamite. Although name forms are often very unlike the Latin, Slavonic or German they derive from, few Hungarian names are taken from the language itself. It has a different form and structure from the Indo-European languages which surround it (German, Romanian, Russian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Serbo-Croat) and is distantly related to Finnish. Close political links to Austria have exposed Hungary to the influence of Western Christianity and the German language and as many Slavonic groups were ruled from Budapest, their names have also been adopted. In the Middle Ages, the majority of Hungarians were given a Biblical name or the name of a saint, often of Latin origin. Most other personal names are of German or Slavic origin.

Pronunciation

s	like English 'sh'
sz	like English 's'
cs	like English 'ch'
gy	like English 'j'
y	final y not pronounced
a	o as in got?

There are fourteen vowels in modern Hungarian - a, e, i, o, u, á, é, í, ó, ú, ö, ü, and an o and u with a double accent. This list was initially compiled without the accent markers so some names which should have them may not at the moment.

Male

Aba	Abád	Abbás	Abod	Abony	Abos
Abran	Absa	Acsád	Adelmár	Adolár	Adony
Adorján	Adrián	Agád	Agmánd	Ágost	Ágoston
Ajád	Ajtony	Akacsas	Akács	Ákos	Aladár
Alajos	Alberd	Alberth	Albertus	Álmos	Alpár
Alvián	Ambróz	Ambrud	Ambrus	Anderja	András
Andreas	Andris	Antal	Anthonius	Anton	Antonius
Apor	Apród	Árkos	Árpád	Asztrik	Atád
Attila	Augustinus	Azzony	Bács	Bádog	Bagamér
Baján	Bajnok	Balambér	Balas	Balázs	Balind
Balinth	Bálint	Baltasar	Balynth	Bán	Bánk
Bános	Barabas	Bardó	Barna	Barnabas	Bars
Bartla	Bartolomeus	Bartos	Bató	Bátony	Bátor
Batos	Becse	Bede	Bedõ	Bekény	Bela
Belián	Bence	Bencse	Bendegúz	Bene	Benedek
Benedictus	Bercel	Berecske	Berengár	Berény	Beriszló
Bernad	Bernárd	Bernát	Berta	Bertalan	Berto
Bertok	Bertold	Bertolom	Bese	Blasius	Bod
Bodis	Bódog	Bodony	Bodor	Bogát	Bogdán
Boldizsar	Boldysar	Boldyszar	Bolrobas	Bonifác	Borbás
Borlobas	Bors	Boso	Botár	Botond	Bottyán
Bozsidán	Brúnó	Buda	Bulcsú	Byrta	Cato
Clemens	Csaba	Csák	Csanád	Csatár	Csatárd
Csató	Csát	Csegö	Cseke	Csenger	Csépán
Csepel	Csobád	Csobán	Csombor	Csongor	Cyprian
Czeller	Cziriak	Dagobert	Dagomér	Damjan	Daniel
Dános	Dawyth	Deli	Demény	Demeter	Demetor
Demetre	Demetri	Demetrius	Demjén	Denes	Dénes
Dévald	Dezsér	Dezsö	Dionisius	Dionysius	Ditmár
Domán	Dominicus	Dominik	Domokos	Domonkos	Domos
Donát	Dormán	Dusán	Dyak	Dyenes	Dyenos
Ede	Edömér	Edvárd	Edvin	Eged	Egyed
Egyod	Egyud	Elek	Elijas	Ellák	Elmá
Elmó	Emeric	Emericus	Emil	Emre	Endre
Ernák	Erno	Ernye	Estwan	Ete	Etele
Fabian	Fabianus	Fábiusz	Fabó	Fabyan	Farkas
Felicián	Félix	Ferenc	Ferencs	Ferencz	Feri
Filep	Flórián	Flóris	Fodor	Foris	Fortunát
Franciscus	Frigyers	Frigyes	Fülöp	Fylep	Gábor
Gábriel	Gál	Gálos	Gara	Gasi	Gáspár
Gazsó	Gecsi	Gedeon	Gedö	Gelerd	Gellért
Georgiues	Georgius	Geréb	Gergel	Gergely	Gergo
Gergol	Gergor	Gerjén	Gerö	Gerzson	Géza
Gregorius	Gregory	Gujdó	Gurgy	Gusztáv	Gyárfás
Gyenes	Gyenos	Györe	György	Györk	Gyözö
Gyugy	Gyula	Harkány	Helias	Henrik	Hetény
Hódos	Holló	Hont	Hugó	Hümér	Hunor
Ibrány	Ignacs	Ignacz	Ignác	Ilias	Illés
Imre	Imrus	Ince	Ipoly	Istok	István
Istwan	Ivó	Izsák	Jácint	Jacobin	Jacobus
Jakab	Jake	Jakob	Jakobus	Jan	Jancsi
Jani	János	Jansi	Járfás	Jázon	Jenö
Joannes	Jónás	Jozsef	Julián	Jutas	Kabos
Kada	Kadosa	Kalmanka	Kálmán	Kán	Kaplony
Kapolcs	Karácson	Karád	Kardos	Kárman	Károly
Karsa	Kartal	Kászon	Kázmér	Keled	Keleman
Kelemen	Kemenes	Kende	Kenéz	Kerecsen	Kerény
Keresztély	Keresztes	Keresztos	Keszõ	Keve	Kilény
Kilián	Kolos	Konrad	Kont	Koppány	Kornél
Korvin	Kósa	Kötöny	Kowacz	Kozma	Kristof
Krisztian	Krisztof	Kund	Laborc	Ladislaus	Ladomér
Lajos	Lantos	Laos	László	Laurentius	Laurentus
Lázár	Lazlo	Lehel	Lél	Lénárd	Leonardus
Leonárd	Levente	Lipot	Lipót	Lorand	Lóránt
Lorinc	Lorincs	Loryncz	Lucas	Lukac	Lukács
Lukacz	Lukas	Markó	Márk	Márkus	Marót
Martin	Martinus	Márton	Matey	Máté	Mati
Mattheus	Matthias	Mátyás	Matyi	Medárd	Megyer
Melchior	Menhar	Meniherta	Menyerth	Menyhért	Michael
Mihal	Mihalj	Mihaly	Miklos	Mikó	Miksa
Mikulás	Milán	Moricz	Mór	Móric	Myhaly
Myklus	Nandor	Nicholaus	Nyék	Odimos	Ödön
Oedeon	Oguz	Oktávián	Ompoly	Ond	Oramus
Orbán	Orbó	Oremus	Örkény	Ormos	Oros
Örs	Osualdus	Oszkár	Oszlár	Özséb	Ozsvard
Ozsvát	Pali	Palko	Pál	Patony	Paulus
Pázmán	Pellegrin	Pentele	Péter	Peti	Petor
Petö	Petre	Petri	Petrus	Petúr	Philippus
Philipus	Piller	Pista	Piusz	Pongor	Radomér
Regö	Rezsö	Rókus	Salamon	Samu	Sándor
Sanyi	Sebes	Sebestianus	Sebestyén	Sebos	Sebö
Semjén	Sergej	Sigismundus	Simon	Simonis	Solt
Sólyom	Soma	Stephanus	Surány	Symon	Szabolcs
Szalók	Szecsö	Szemere	Szerény	Szervác	Szevér
Szigetj	Szilard	Szilveszter	Szólát	Szöreny	Sztaniszláv
Tador	Taksony	Tamás	Tami	Tarcal	Tardos
Tarján	Tas	Termatzu?	Tétény	Tibor	Tiborc
Tihamér	Timur	Titusz	Tivadar	Töhötöm	Tomaj
Tomas	Tomor	Ubul	Ugod	Ugor	Ugron
Ulászló	Upor	Uros	Vajk	Valentinus	Vallentinus
Várkony	Varsány	Vázsony	Vencel	Vid	Vida
Vidor	Vidos	Vilmos	Vince	Vincentius	Vincse
Virgil	Vitaris	Vitaros	Vitéz	Vrbanus	Vtalyus
Vyncze	Wenzel	Wytalyius	Yakab	Zádo	Zágon
Zajzon	Zalán	Zámor	Zaránd	Zekö	Zerind
Zétény	Zoárd	Zobor	Zoltán	Zoltin	Zombor
Zorán	Zsigmond	Zsolt	Zsombor

Female

Agnes	Agota	Alida	anna	Aranka	Barbara
Borbala	Dorottya	Edit	Errsebet	Erszebet	Erzebet
Erzsébet	Eszter	Eva	Felícia	Ferike	Flora
Franci	Gabriella	Gaspar	Gyorgyike	Ildikó	Ilona
Iluska	Janka	Jolán	Judit	Julesa	Julia
Karola	Karolin	Karolina	Kata	Katalin	Klara
Krisztina	Magdolna	Magolna	Máli	Margit	Margita
Margo	Maria	Marica	Mariska	Marta	Menyhert
Orsolya	Orzebet	Piroska	Remenyke	Rózsa	Sara
Sarah	Sarolta	Soma	Susaka	Tessera	Tunde
Virág	Zofka	Zsanett	Zsa-zsa	Zsofia	Zsofika
Zsursanna	Zsuzsa	Zsuzsanna	Zsuzsi

Diminutives

These are fairly similar to those used in Slavonic languages with a 'pet' ending added to part of the original name. Zsuzsanna becomes Susaka, Ilona becomes Iluska.

Surnames

In Hungary, the surname comes before the personal name.

Abduvaliyev	Aladár	Andras	Andrássy	Arany	Arpad
Artali	Bakics	Balassa	Balla	Balzar	Barati
Bársony	Basirius	Báthory	Berzevicky	Blazsanyik	Bocskay
Borbala	Boros	Buksbaum	Burian	Cizinski	Corvinus
Csaba	Csapek	Csillac	Csillag	Csollang	Csurgo
Czako	Czene	Czobor	Deak	Demko	Doroftei
Dozsa	Dvorzsak	Egerszegi	Eötvös	Fen	Ferency
Forgách	Forgacs	Gabor	Gabris	Gaspar	Gazdag
Gecsek	Gero	Géza	Götz	Groditje	Guba
Guran	Gurka	Gyulai	Hamori	Hankiss	Harnely
Hawlik	Hedervary	Hedevary	Heidt	Hlady	Hoka
Hollo	Horansky	Horthy	Horvath	Hruby	Hrutka
Hunyadi	Illésházy	Ilyes	Imanci	Istvánffy	Jagadics
Jaszi	Jokai	Joó	Kajetan	Káldi	Kallay
Kalman	Kammerer	Karolyi	Kasnar	Kazinczy	Keblovszki
Keblovszkij	Keblovszky	Kerekes	Kertes	Khuen	Kingl
Kiss	Knesevich	Koban	Kossuth	Kovac	Kratz
Kroditier	Krosko	Kucnecov	Kucska	Kun	Kurtosi
Kurutz	Kuti-Kiss	Kutsera	Lajos	Lascaris	Liptak
Listzes	Lobo	Lusano	Madar	Magnoni	Maitra
Malek	Mandula	Markovits	Mecs	Mindszenty	Mintyin
Munkcási	Nádasdy	Nagy	Nemeth	Noszaly	Novalskin
Nyilas	Oimeracz	Ordina	Pandy	Partos	Pázmány
Pecely	Petofi	Piota	Pócsiné	Polichnai	Poltari
Pongratz	Potiorek	Prihoda	Pulszky	Rakosi	Rdzsavolgygi
Révay	Ronay	Rosza	Sacchetti	Sarf	Schlyter
Sjsiengel	Sohnker	Solti	Solymosi	Soós	Stark
Supola	Svarcz	Szabo	Szalay	Szatmary	Szechenyi
Szekeres	Szelepcsényi	Szemere	Szigete	Szucs	Szuhay
Szuhonkobecker	Tabory	Telek	Teleki	Temesvari	Tessedik
Thurzó	Tisza	Tökes	Tolgyesi	Toth	Ujaky
Vaga	Vamosi	Varga	Varkonyi	Vaszi	Vavra
Verboczy	Vetec	Wessely	Zatony	Zavadsky	Zinzendorff
Zrínyi	Zubor

Rulers

Name	Reigned	Relationship to predecessor	Wives
Stephen I	1000-38
Peter the German	1138-42 exp 1046
Obo	1042-4
Andrew I	1044-60 dep
Bela I	1060-3 expelled	brother Andrew I
Solomon	1063-74	son of Andrew I
Geza I	1074-7
St. Ladislas I	1077-95	brother Geza I
Coloman	1095-1114	son of Ladislas I
Stephen II	1114-31 abd	son of Coloman
Bela II	1131-41	cousin of Stephen II
Geza II	1141-61
Ladislas II	1161-2	son of Geza II
Stephen III	1161-2 rest 1163-73	son of Geza II
Stephen IV	1162-3	son of Geza II
Bela III	1173-96
Imre	1196-1204	son of Bela III
Ladislas III	1204-5 dep	son of Imre
Andrew II	1205-35	uncle of Ladislas II	Gertrude
Bela IV	1235-70	son of Andrew II
Stephen V	1270-2
Ladislas IV the Cuman	1272-90
Andrew III	1290-1301	grandson of Andrew I, Last Arpad
Ladislas	1301-4	son of Wenceslas II of Bohemia
Charles Robert of Anjou	1308-1342
Lajos (Louis) the Great	1342-82	son of Charles Robert	Elisabeth, dau Stjepan Koromanic of Bosnia
Ladislas	1386-c1411	son of Charles III
Sigismund of Bohemia	-1437		Mary of Hungary
Albert (V Aust HRE)	-1439
Vladimir III Poland	1439-44
Ladislas V Postumus?	1442-57?
John Hunyadi	regent 1445-52 -57
Matthias Corvinus	1458-90
Vladislav of Bohemia/Ladislas VII	1490-1516
Louis II	1516-26		Mary of Austria
Ferdinand of Austria	1526 elected
John Zapolya	1526-40
John Sigismund Zapolya	1540-71	son of John Zapolya

Emperors of Austria-Hungary

Franz Josef	1848-1916	nephew of Ferdinand
Charles / Karl	1916-18 abd.	great-nephew of Franz-Josef	Zita of Bourbon-Parma
Otto von Habsburg		son of Charles

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This collection of names compiled by Kate Monk. Copyright January 1997, Kate Monk. Last updated November, 97. Copies may be made for personal use only.