Degano

Degano is an Italian surname of Germanic origin.

It is a derivate of the evolution of the classic Old High German word "degan", originally derived from the Proto-Indo-European word "tek-no-"

which then evolved in the Proto-Germanic "þegnaz (thegnas)", in the Old English and Old Norse "þegn (thegn)", in the Old Saxon and then Early Old High German "thegan".

Other than "degano", other cognate terms of "degan" are the English "thane", the Dutch "degen", the German "Degen" and the West Frisian "teie".

Cognate terms of the original word "tek-no-" are the Ancient Greek "τέκνον" and possibly Sanskrit तोक (toka).

For a better understanding of its evolution, refer to the pages about the High German consonant shift and the letter Thorn.

The first documented use of "degano" as a substantive is observed in the epic poem "Hildebrandslied" of langobardic origin, written in Old High German with Old Saxon elements and dates back to c.ca 800 AD.

Its use then does not exclude the possibility of the use of the term "degano" (already in its final form) as a surname in the years that come before the composition of the poem.

Basing on the aforementioned linguistic origins of the term "degano" and the resulting ethnic correlations, its today`s

presence in the Friulian province of Udine (place of its maximum frequency) has most likely been caused by the Saxons.

In fact, Paul the Deacon, in the "Historia Langobardorum"[1] documents that at least 20.000 Saxons joined the migration of the Langobards (their old allies) aimed at taking possession of Italy.

These peoples invaded Friuli in 568 d.C., marking the start of the invasion that will guarantee the creation of the Kingdom of the Lombards.

Evolution summary:

Version: tek-no- > þegnaz (thegnas) > þegn (thegn) > thegan > thegan > degan > degano

Language: (Proto-Indo-European) > (Ingvaeonic < Proto-Germanic) > (Old English/Old Norse) > (Old Saxon) > (early Old High German) > (classic Old High German)

Notable people with the surname include:

References

  1. ↑ Paolo Diacono, Historia Langobardorum, FV, II, 4, 6, 7.
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