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From: deb5@ellis.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Hebrew names of 12 Apostles
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References: <45msp8$526@ixnews3.ix.netcom.com> <45qsj7$fd3@newsbf02.news.aol.com> <ACA9D19B96681A4AF@yarn.demon.co.uk> <46155p$32c@news1.halcyon.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 18:27:59 GMT
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In article <46155p$32c@news1.halcyon.com>,
Juan Rodriguez <jars@coho.halcyon.com> wrote:
>In article <ACA9D19B96681A4AF@yarn.demon.co.uk>,
>Paul Talacko <taka@yarn.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>>Forgive my ignorance, but how do we then get Santiago (St. James) in
>>Spanish?

>The archaic form is Iago; the archaic form of San (in English Saint) is
>Sant; so it used to be "Sant Iago".
>
>On the other hand, I had always thought that Jaime is derived from
>Chaim; while the name derived from Yakov is Jacobo. Can anybody either
>confirm or correct this? In a similar way, in English James would be
>derived from Chaim, Jacob from Yakov.

Sometimes I wonder if people read all (or even most) of the posts in
a thread before they themselves post.  Several people have already refuted
the theory that Jaime "comes from" Chaim.  As I've said before (and
evidently will have to say again), Jaime is a reflex of Latin IACOMVS.
Iago and Jacobo are both reflexes of IACOBVS (Iago is the popular
development, Jacobo is a later learned borrowing; compare Bennett and
Benedict in English or Hermann and Armin in German).

European Jews frequently gave their children two names, a Hebrew one
and a vernacular one.  Chaim is a very popular Hebrew name.  Iberian
vernacular equivalents include "Vidal" (because of its similar meaning)
and "Jaime" (different in meaning, but similar in sound).  The only modern
vernacular name which I am convinced derives from Chaim is "Hyman",
formally popular among American Jews of Eastern European extraction.
Today it is shunned and I'm not sure what common vernacular equivalents 
for Chaim are popular now.  (Anybody have any contributions?)

Finally, despite popular belief, Diego probably has nothing to do with 
Iago.  Since I know plenty of readers will contest this statement, I'll
try to post my cites for it.

Dani'el ben Shaigetz




-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
