The people known as Gypsies or Egyptians in Britain, variously
Tzigane, Zigeuner etc in Europe, left the Indian subcontinent
approximately 2000 years ago. They have since reached virtually
every country of Europe and Asia and become established in the
Americas. Despite retaining a large portion of their original
language, borrowings from most countries in which they settled
for some time are evident. Romany names are very much those of
the country of residence with surnames such as 'Smith' reflecting
common trades amongst them. During the Middle Ages, bands of Gypsies
led by thier 'dukes' and 'counts' travelled Europe asking for
food and money at many cities. In most cases only the name of
the leader was recorded, and it is evident from the dates and
places that certainly Andrew and Michael (in various transcriptions)
visited a large number of towns. It should be remembered that
in many cases the leader was a 'gadzo' or 'giorgio' (non-Romany)
who had acquired the right to tax, lead or employ a particular
group.
| Ambrosius | Andrash | Andrea | Andreas | Andreu | Andrew |
| Andries | Anthon | Anthonius | Antoni | Baptiste | Barthélemy |
| Bartholomeus | Caspar | David | Dederich | Derrick | Emaus |
| Ernst | Felippo | Franciscus | Gagino | George | Jacobo |
| Jaime | Jean | Jehan | Joannes | Johan | Johannes |
| John | Juan | Ladislaus | Ludwig | Martin | Martino |
| Michael | Michele | Michell | Miguel | Mihali | Miquiel |
| Nicolao | Nicolaus | Palque | Panuel | Paulo | Petrus |
| Philip | Philippe | Pierre | Sindel | Stephen | Tamás |
| Thomas | Tomás | Wasili | Wilhelm | Zindel | Zindelo |
| Darklis | Harriet | Kizzy | Polly | Talaitha |
| Andree | Baillie | Bailzow | Bakos | Balasz | Balliol |
| Baptista | Bath | Beige | Berkes | Bihari | Boromi |
| Buckland | Bunkó | Choron | Cooper | Demeter | Doe |
| Donea | Fa | Faa | Faw | Fawe | Femine |
| Fenwick | Finco | Fingo | Finnick | Galubavich | Gnougy |
| Gordon | Hatseygow | Hearne | Jaks | Kirpatsh | Kwiek |
| la Grave | Lalow | Lawlowr | Lazarovich | Lindsay | Marshall |
| Matskalla | Maximoff | Meche | Mitrovich | Moreul | Nany |
| Neyn | Nyári | Polgár | Rigó | Robertson | Roland |
| Ross | Sáray | Smith | Tinka | Torres | Wanne |
| Winman | Wood | Yorstoun |
Return to Medieval Europe index
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.