FINNICISMS IN THE PLACE-NAMES OF ERGEME PARISH (LATVIA)

Abstract

The location and history of the region has determined that many placenames are derived from Finnic words. [...]the name Ergeme of the former castle and manor, survives today in the parish name, as do Karki, Pedele, Turna, names of manors; the names of a few houses have their parallels in the Estonian language. J. Endzelins did not offer a detailed explanation of the origin of this name, but simply states it to be of Estonian origin. [...]an Estonian origin seem more credible for the place-name Ergeme, as has been asserted in various encyclopaedias and is to be found on the Internet home-page of Valka district (Latvijas pagasti I 27 ; www.valka.lv). [...]there are few Finnicisms identifiable in house names dating from the 17th-19th centuries. According to the database of Estonian place-names no Estonian village today bears this name.

Headnote

Abstract. Ergeme Parish covers an area where, as late as the mid-Iron Age most of the inhabitants were Finnic people. Today the northern boundary of the parish coincides with a part of the Latvian-Estonian border. The history of the area has leftFinnic traces in many local names of inhabited places. This is the reason for the very name Ergeme (Ermis) given to a castle and manor, which today is the name of a parish. This is also the case for the following manor house names: Karki (Karkell), Pedele (Pedeln), Turna (Turnenhof). It has been hypothesized that the name Omuli (Homeln) has Finnic parallels. Comparison of the names of houses in Ergeme Parish recorded in the 17th-19th centuries shows few parallels with names used in the Estonian language.

Keywords: Latvian, place-names, Ergeme Parish, Finnicisms.

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Ergeme Parish covers an area when, as late as the mid-iron age, most inhabitants were Finnic people. Today the northern boundary of the parish coincides with part of the border between Latvia and Estonia. Krisjanis Ancitis and Aleksandrs Jansons, early investigators of the ethnic history of Vidzeme, have shown that gradual northward advance of settlement by Lettgalians pushed back the Estonian inhabitants very nearly to the present-day border between Latvia and Estonia (Ancitis, Jansons 1963 : 44).

The location and history of the region has determined that many placenames are derived from Finnic words. Thus the name Ergeme of the former castle and manor, survives today in the parish name, as do Karki, Pedele, Turna, names of manors; the names of a few houses have their parallels in the Estonian language.

The oldest records of place-names in Ergeme Parish relate to the name of the castle and manor house, whereas considerably more recent records exist for the names Brenti, Karki, Labarti (also Labarti, this property being occasionally described as a half-manor), Omuli, Pedele, Turna, Viganti, all of which can be found in a variety of documents. Historical written records in German as well as Latvian State Archive materials have been used in analysing the names of inhabited places. Linguistic analysis has relied on compilations of place-names in Latvia and Estonia, on historical and etymological dictionaries, and scholarly publications that clarify the meaning of analogous words.

The area covered by this parish belonged in the 12th-13th centuries to the principality of Talava; however during the late Iron Age (5th- 8th centuries) the area was largely inhabited by Finnic people. When Talava was divided in 1224, the area later known as Ergeme Parish was ceded to the Livonian Order (Mugurevics 1999 : 75). Ergeme Castle, a castle subordinated to the Livonian Order, the Komtur of Wenden (today Cesis) was built in the 14th century. The name Ergeme was first recorded around the time that the castle was built. No historical documents have yet been found about the building of Ergeme Manor and the reason for its naming; for this reason we must rely upon the results of previous studies (Ortslexikon II; Materialien 1 36; Stryk 1885 etc.) and upon archive records.

The word Edermis is first mentioned in 1323, without specifying precisely what it refers to, i.e. a castle or manor house. In a document that was written in Middle Low German (?) mention is made of senior clergy gathering in Ergeme (Edermis), together with Lords from Estonia and Livland, to drafta reply to Gediminas, the Lithuanian king: "Alle dengenen, de desse iegenwardige scriftansen ofte horen, den wunschit und budet Hinrich, der Godes genaden provest, Ludfart, prior, und dat mene capitel der hilgen kerken van der Ryge, Arnold, pleban van Cokenhusen, an geistliken saken vicarius und an der stede des eraftegen an Christo vaders, heren Vredericus, des ersebishopis van der Ryge, broder Wessel, de prior der predekerer, broder Werner, de gardian der barvoten, und de rat der stades van der Ryge, ewich heil an Gode. Juwer eraftigen bescedenicheit do wi witlich und openbaret, dat de menen landesheren van Estlande und van Liflande in sante Laurentius dage to Edermis dor sprake willen tosamende quemen ut to gande de breve, de Gedeminne, de koning van Letowen, an Dudesche lande und och an de vorgenomeden landesheren van Estlande und van Liflande gesant hadde." (LUB VI : MMMLXXI (3071)).1 This document clearly indicates that, already at that time, Ergeme was sufficiently well-known and sufficiently well endowed with infrastructure that such a high level meeting could take place there. Sometime later, in 1422, words such as sloss, i.e. 'castle', and hof, i.e. 'manor', were recorded, "Gegeben in unserm nachtleger vor dem slosse Ergemes" (LUB V : MMDCVI (2606)), and "Gegeben unsem nachtlager hofe Ergemes, zwo meile bei dem Walke" (LUB V : MMDLXXIX (2579)). Information about the castle at Ergeme and its subsequent fate may be found in the compendium, "Latvijas viduslaiku pilis IV" (Middle Age Castles in Latvia IV) (Caune, Ose 2004 : 193-196). It is there noted that Hauptman Kort Vulf lived in the castle in 1559-1560, and Johan von Stein in 1560. Poles acquired Ergeme Castle in 1450, and pledged it to the Duke of Finland. In 1575 the castle was taken by Duke Magnus, King of Livonia, who returned it to the Poles in 157. In 1621 the area was conquered by Gustavus II Adolphus, King of Sweden, who in 1625 gave the castle in fief to Major General de la Barre, whose descendents held title to the castle until 1795. No reliable information has come down to us about whether the castle was inhabited after the fire of 1670.

Less information has survived about Ergeme Manor, i.e. the manor houses in Ergeme. It is unclear whether a reference found in a document dated 1422 indicates that a castle and manor house actually were standing or they are merely variations on a place-name. Based on information in the Census of Ploughs carried out in 163 in Vidzeme it is known that the Manor pre-dates the grandparents of Caspar Ermiß, i.e. Der hoeffist alterß von Ermiß seinen Vor-Eltern besessen and that during Polish rule a Pole lived in this Manor (VAR 163 : 793). It is note in the "Baltisches historisches Ortslexikon", that the New Ergeme Manor was built in 1560 (Ortslexikon II 155). The latter was sited half-way between Valka and Ergeme. In the baptismal records of Ergeme Parish, that survive from 1718 onwards the Manor Ermes Neuhof is first recorded only in 1755 (LVVA 235. f., 3. apr., 75a. l., 69. lp.). Both Manors, i.e. Ermes or Ehrgemes M[anor] and Ermes Neuhof are indicated in a map dated 1793 (See Map 1).

Regrettably, the practice of attributing the same name to both the castle and the manor often results in our ability clearly to identify the object in question. For example, in a letter of 11 June 1438 reference is made to a certain Bartholomäus von Argemes and zu Argemes (LG I, Nr. 294 : 279-280), whereas in a document dated 30 June 1463 reference is made to Bartolomeus Ermes Leuten, Ergemisz and Ergemische beck[e] (LG I, Nr. 411 : 369-370); however, aside from Ergemes River, the other named objects cannot be uniquely identified, even when account is taken of the name Bartolomeus.

Documents covering the period 1722-1 75 from Ergeme Manor are kept by the Latvian State History Archive (Latvijas Valsts Vestures arhivs, i.e. LVVA) as collection nr. 6999 (formally, LVVA 6999. fonds); The Tax Book from the Ergeme Castle Manor for the period 1 06-1 77, a similar Tax Book from the Rector's Manor at Ergeme for the period 1 06-1 66, as well as the Tax Book of Ergeme Parish for the period 16 9-1 66, are available as collection nr. 7404 (LVVA 7172. fonds), whereas layout plans of manors in Ergeme for the periods 16 2-16 4 and 16 9 are to be found in collection nr. 7404 (LVVA 7404. fonds).

Up until the end of the 16th century different spellings of Ergeme are encountered in written records, for example, in 1323 - Edermis, in 1422 - Ergemes, Ergemys; in 1438 - Argemes; in 1462 - Ergemesz; in 1467 - Armes; in 1463 - Ergemis; in 1496 - Ergamis; in 1544 - Ermis, Ermiss (Caune, Ose 2004 : 193).

It is evident that spellings of all records from the 15th century are similar, including the consonant g in the root word, a fact that is crucial to speculating on the origins of this word.

The Latvian Encyclopaedia (LKV IV, para. 8118) states that the name is associated with the surname Ermes of the fief-holder. Other authorities (Ursprung des Adels 1 43 : 161-162) state that the family Ermes (Ermes, Ergemeß, Armeß and Ermiß) was regarded as noble property owners only in 1456. Lorenz Ermes distinguished himself in skirmishes between the Livonian Order and the Russian Army. In consequence, it is not credible that the place-name derives from the surname Ermess. Furthermore as noted previously, apart from initial records and related documents, from the mid-15th century onwards, variant spellings of Ergeme all contain the letter g.

In the compendium of place-names in Latvia, "Latvijas PSR vietvardi", the entry for Ergeme only lists the names of the manor and river (a tributary of the Seda) from the district of Ergeme (Lvv I (1) : 2 3). J. Endzelins did not offer a detailed explanation of the origin of this name, but simply states it to be of Estonian origin.

Thus, an Estonian origin seem more credible for the place-name Ergeme, as has been asserted in various encyclopaedias and is to be found on the Internet home-page of Valka district (Latvijas pagasti I 27 ; www.valka.lv). The etymology of the place-name Ergeme considers it to derive from the compound word Härgmäe (cf. the encyclopaedia "Latvijas pagasti"), derives from the Estonian words härg 'Ox' (Wied. 72-73) and mäe, the genitive case of mägi, i.e. 'mountain, hill' (Wied. 5 3-5 4). Other meanings can be attributed to both of these nouns; however, these are less credible as roots for a place-name. In modern Estonian, it must be stated, that the placename Ergeme is written in this form, i.e. Härgmäe. It is also possible that the first component härg of the compound word härgmäe is of Baltic origin, as has been suggested by J. Mägiste, associating it with the Lithuanian noun zirgas, i.e. 'steed', the Latvian noun zirgs, i.e. 'horse' and the Old Prussian word sirgis, i.e. 'stallion' (EEW II 452).

Ergeme also refers to a river in Ergeme, i.e. the upper reaches of the river Rikanda; however, given that the second component, mäe, translates as hill, allows us to conclude that the name of the river derives from the place-name, rather than vice versa.

Analogous place-names including the first or both components are found in Estonia, for example, Härglaiu, Härglaid, Härgheina tee, Härgmäe tänav, Härgesoo tiik (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr).

Having accepted an Estonian origin for the name Ergeme leads to the following assertion, that this place-name predates 1323 and that it had been in use from before construction of the castle of the same name.

The name Ergeme is the only one for which we possess reasonably reliable information before the late 15th century. Two names of manors Brenti and Omuli originate in the 15th century. It is rather certain that the name of Brenti (Kokenberg) Manor, although its exact etymology is uncertain, is not of Finnic origin. The same cannot be said for the name of Omuli manor.

Omuli Manor House stands some 13 km distant in a north-westerly direction from Ergeme Manor, and 1,5 km from the border with Estonia. Several hypotheses have been advanced for the age of this settled place. One hypothesis states that the reference in the Indrikis' Chronicle of Livonia (Heinrici Cronicon Lyvoniae) to the place-name Ovele (... et Caupo cum quibusdam Theuthonicis et aliis sequens in Saccalam, villas multas et castra Owele et Purke incendit et tollens spolia multa viros multos occidit et mulieres cum parvulis captivos abducit. 'Kaupo, together with several Germans and others followed them to Saccala, burning many villages as well as the castles of Ovele and Burke, took much booty, killed many men, and took prisoner a large number of women and children' (Indrika hronika 1993 : 153 (XV 2)) may be associated with Omuli. E. Mugurevics in his commentary on this Chronicle insists that the location of Ovele castle has not been identified with any certainty. E. Pabst expressed his doubts that Ovele might be associated with Oleri (located north-east of Lake Burtnieks), or with Omuli (situated between Rujiena and Valka). There are no ancient fortifications in any of these places. The 17th century Census of Ploughs refers to Howwala village, and it is possible that this was where Ovele castle was sited. The location of Howwala was identified by K. Lövis of Menar, to be in Estonia (Vastsevalba), where a castle mound was found close by a house named Veckuliju (Indrika hronika 1993 : 388).

More reliable information about Omuli manor dates from 1463 (and later) when it is mentioned in documents as Omelensche, Omelenschen (LG I, Nr. 411, 370). In 1523 Omuli Manor together with Homollen Manor (the latter located in Estonia near Helme castle mound) was leased by Plettenberg, Master of the Order, to Johann von Plettenberg. In 1621 the manor was invested by Swedes. In 1625 Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, leased Omuli Manor to Major-General Wilhelm de la Barre, which property rested with his descendent thereafter until 1 41, excepting the period 16 0-1721 when title to manors reverted to the crown. (Ortslexikon II 224). According to other records, see also the section below concerning Pedele (Materialien 1 36 : 290), Omuli Manor was managed by Captain Hans Conrad Wilhelm Baron Ungern-Sternberg, who in 1 0 sold the manor to Hieronymus von Boye. Proof that in 1 11 Omuli Manor belonged to Boye (Besitzer: Hieronimus Julius baron Boye) is the be found in the Register of Souls (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 153. l., 1. lp.). The surname Boye no longer appears in the 1 34 Register of Souls; however, the owner of Omuli Manor is recorded therein as Otto Heinrich Robert von Anrep (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 153. l., 6. lp.). Other published documents show that the Anreps acquired Omuli Manor only in 1 41 and managed this property until manors were nationalised (Ortslexikon II 224).

The name Omuli in the 18th century is associated with the battle that took place 1 July 1702 during the Great Northern War between a force of Russian dragoons led by Col. Sheremetjev (some 12 000 soldiers), and Swedish forces led by Wolmar von Schlippenbach (approximately 2 000 troops). The Swedish forces suffered a crushing defeat, allowing the Russians to occupy Northern Vidzeme and nearly all of Estonia.

The Tax Books of Omuli Manor for 1 06-1 65 have survived and are deposited with the Latvian State History Archive (LVVA 7172. fonds).

Written records, archive materials and maps show various German names for Omuli Manor, for example, Hummelß hoeff(VAR 1638: 790), Homelshof; Hommelshof; Homol, Homeln, Omels hof (VAR 1638: 790), Omehll (VAR 163 : CCCLI), as well as the Latvian name Omuli (in modern Latvian pronounced with uo [Uomuli], the historical pronunciation is unknown). The database of place-names held by the Latvian Language Institute, University of Latvia, has eight entries for Uomuli, of which six were noted in the vicinity of Ergeme: Uômulu [civil parish], Uõmule (river), Uomula (river), Uomulupe (river), Uomulupe (river), Uomulu dzirnavu ezers (millpond). In addition, the name of an old holding Uõmuli (also Omuli) was recorded near Svente, and that of a new holding Uomuli in Lauce.

A. Bilensteins assessed a number of similar place-names (with vowel shifts) in his reference work, "Die Grenzen des lettischen Volkstammes"; for example, the place-name Amelinge was recorded in Zemgale, and dates from before 1263; this place-name may variously be associated with Amola, or Omola in Polish and the feature that it denotes was noted as located, 'zwischen dem Wirwita-Fluss und der Windau, zur Kreise Schaulen gehörig" (Bielenstein 1 92 : 244). The place-name, UmulÍ, recorded near Kalnciems (unter Kalnzeem) derives from the Livonian word umal, i.e. 'hops' (Bielenstein 1 92 : 272).

The origin of the name of Omuli Manor is stated in "Baltisches historisches Ortslexikon" to be that of the Omulu river (Oemel) (Ortslexikon II 224). It is possible that the origin of the name of this Manor is a hydronym, were the name of this river to be the same on the Estonian and Latvian sides of the border. The run of this river in Estonia is longer than in Latvia, and there it bears the name Õhne (Ehne).

If we discard the notion of the name of Omuli Manor as a hydronym, it is possible, following arguments advanced by A. Bilensteins, to associate the name with the Estonian word humal, humalas, i.e. 'hops (Humulus Lupulus L.)' (Wied. 1251), the Livonian word umal, i.e. 'hops (humulus lupulus)' (Kettunen 193 : 451). It is noted that similar place-names are found in Estonia, for example, Hummuli keskuse veehoida, Hummuli-Asu tee, Hummuli vald, Hummuli alevik, Hummuli Järve järv (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/ knravalik/knr). The place-name Hummelshof (Estonian Hummuli), found in Estonia is, according to "Baltisches historisches Ortslexikon", an anthroponym, the root of which is the surname of one of the owners of this property during the period of rule by the Livonian Order (Ortslexikon I 124).

A number of similar place-names were noted by H. Rudolph, i.e. Hommelmühle, Hommelsberg, Hommelsheim (Rudolph 1 : 1792), Omule (Rudolph 2 : 3235), the origin of which is most likely to be the Middle Low German words homele, hummel, i.e. 'bumble-bee' (Schiller, Lübben 2 : 292). In his description of the origin of the surname Hommel H. Bahlow associates it with the common name Hummel, taking into account of the replacement of the vowels u and o in various regions of Germany (Bahlow 19 5 : 247). If we accept this rather credible hypothesis, then the origin of the name of Omuli Manor may be the period of German rule in Livonia, and the name of the river Omulupe could derive from the name of the manor. Were the origin of the name of Omuli Manor to be Finnic, then it is unclear why the name of the run of river in Estonia does not bear the same name as the run in Latvia.

Furthermore, it must be noted that as late as on maps issued in the 17th century the present names Õhne (Ehne) and Omulupe were indicated as Amosa (see Map 2). Although the features shown on this map do not precisely correspond to those found in nature, there is no other river between Veisjärv and Võrtsjärv; this supports the hypothesis that the name of the Manor does not derive from the name of the river.

The name of Vigantu Manor (Wigantshof) was known in the 16th century and it is most probably an anthroponym and has no traces of Finnic etymology.

Reliable records survive for the Manors, Karki and Turna from the 17th century onwards.

The term Karki appears in the name of two manors, i.e. Veckarki (in German Altkarkell) and Jaunkarki (in German Neukarkell), and are located 10-12 km from Ergeme.

The oldest surviving written records about Karki date from 1625, when they were part of the patrimony of Ergeme Castle. In 1722 as part of the process of dividing the estate Karki Manor and Turna Manor were separated from the patrimony of Ergeme. At the end of the 18th century Turna Manor and Jaunkarki Manor were separated. Contradictory information has come down to us concerning the owners of the Karki Manors. From 1625 until the end of the 18 th century (excepting the period 1680-1721 when title to manors reverted to the crown) Karki Manor (later known as Veckarki Manor) was owned by the de la Barre family. After the marriage of the youngest daughter of R. F. de la Barre, Ulrika Eleonora, with F. V. von Patkull, ownership of Veckarki Manor passed to the Patkull family; after marriage of the middle daughter, Anna Elizabeth, with Major von Kirchner, Jaunkarki Manor passed to the Kirchner family. In 1801 Veckarki Manor was sold to G. K. von Jarmerstedt, and in 1 1 Jaunkarki Manor was bought by G. G. von Krüdener. (Ortslexikon II 266; Materialien 1836 : 290-291; Hupel III 132). The parish books of Ergeme Parish record the name of Karki Manor beginning with 1720. The Tax Books of Veckarki Manor, dated 1806-1865, and those of Jaunkarki Manor only for 1 06 are held by the Latvian State History Archive. Other documents have survived for Jaunkarki Manor for the time period 1756-1 1 (LVVA 6999. f onds).

Different forms of the name Karki are found in surviving church documents of Ergeme Parish, for example the German names Karckul, Karckel, Karkell, Karkeln. The Latvian name only appears as Karki, together with the first component of the compound name, i.e. Vec-'old' and Jaun-'new'.

In the dictionary "Latvijas PSR vietvardi" compiled under the direction of J. Endzelins, the entry kãrki includes the name of Karkli Manor, as well as the names of old holdings kârk ni (also the mill, kârk nu dziÃrnavas) located near Rujiena. It is noteworthy that the names of the Manor and old holdings are indicated to be differently pronounced. J. Endzelins does not offer any explanation for the origin of these names.

Given the location of Ergeme Parish, is possible that the place-name Karki is based upon the Estonian word kärk (kark), i.e. 'bewachsene Stelle im Morast, Morastinsel, Anhöhe', or the Estonian word kärk, i.e. 'Kies, Kiesboden' (Wied. 248). Both explanations are semantically credible. Furthermore, similar names are found in the database of Estonian place-names, for example, Karksi kirik, Karksi järv, Karksi kihekond, Karksi küla, Karksi vald (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr). V. Pall has written about the occurrence of the si-ending in Estonian place-names, mentioning the word Kärksi (1977 : 84-89).

It must be noted that the place-name Karkeln, is included in the lexicon of place-names compiled by H. Rudolph (Rudolph 1 : 2036), and also, that the dictionary of persons' names compiled by H. Bahlow states that surnames containing the elements Kerk- and Kark-originate from placenames, that, in turn, derive from the German word Kirche, i.e. 'church' (Bahlow 19 5 : 277); also the Middle Low German words kerke, karke, i.e. 'Kirche' are relevant (Schiller, Lübben 2 : 449).

Two further explanations of the origin of the place-name Karki are to be found in the encyclopaedia, "Latvijas pagasti" (Latvijas pagasti I 460). The first of these associates the name Karki with the Latvian common word karkli, i.e. osiers, whereas the second, with the combination of Estonian words kaara kula, i.e. 'greedy village'. Neither of these explanations seems credible and shall not be discussed any further.

Turna Manor is located 7 km south of Ergeme. The oldest written records of Turna Manor date from 1625, when it was part of the patrimony of Ergeme Castle that had been leased by Gustavus Adolphus to Wilhelm de la Barre. In 1722, on the occasion of dividing the estate, Turna Manor, together with Karki Manor was separated from the patrimony of Ergeme. At the end of the 18th century Turna Manor was separated from Jaunkarki Manor. Contradictory information has survived about the ownership of Turna Manor. The Karki manors were inherited by younger daughters and their families. Turna Manor was given to the oldest daughter, Renate Johanna, who married Baron Carl Johann von Wrangel. Turna Manor was also affected by retrocession to the crown; however, in 1722, the previous owners were given it back. (Ortslexikon II 266, 654; Materialien 1836 : 291). In the 1811 Register of Souls the owner of this manor is given as Carl Johann Wilhelm von Wrangel (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 482. l., 2. lp.), whereas in the 1857 Register of Souls the owner is stated to be Baroness von Wrangel (LVVA 77. f., 14. apr., 369. l., 0. lp.). The Tax Books of Turna Manor for the period 1814-1866 are held by the Latvian State History Archive (LVVA 7172. fonds) as well as other documents of this manor for the years 1707-17 7 (LVVA 6999. fonds).

Similar place-names occur in Estonia: Türna järv (http://xgis.maaamet. ee/knravalik/knr), Türna (1826) (Pall I 254).

The etymology of the word Türna was investigated by the Estonian scholar Valdek Pall (1969 : 254) who associated this word with a homonym turn, that has two meanings, i.e. 'grosse Halssehne des Viehes', and türnapu, i.e. 'Kreuzdorn (Rhamnus Cathartica L.), Weissdorn (I) (Crataegus L.)' (Wied. 1238). The first of these meanings appears not to be credible, but the second meaning, according to J. F. Wiedemann, can only be understood if combined with the word puu, i.e. 'tree'. At the same time it is useful to examine the second homonym, the Estonian word türn, i.e. 'Zwergbirke (Betula nana L.), krüppelig gewachsene Kiefer (Pinus silvestris L.)' (Wied. 1238), that refers to flora that are considerably more widespread. Were this to be the case, then the place-names Pedele and Turna are closely related in origin, as place-names with floral semantics.

Contradictory information has come down to us about the place-name Pedele. This as the name of a river is known from the 17th century onwards. Is it possible that Pedele is the oldest known place-name on the later territory of Ergeme Parish?

Pedele Manor is located km north-east of Ergeme. Reference is made in a number of works that the name Pedele is already mentioned in the Riga debt register of 1286 (Lvv 2003 : 245; Goba 1973 : 18-19); however, it has proven impossible to conform this claim. The name of a river Peddul is mentioned in the 163 Census of Ploughs in Vidzeme (VAR 1638: 802). The "Baltisches historisches Ortslexikon" indicates that this Manor was known to be part of the patrimony of Ergeme Castle from 1722 onward. As of 1795 it was separated from this estate, together with Ergeme New Manor (Ermes Neuhof). In 1798 it was separated [?] from Ergeme New Manor (Ortslexikon II 458). Up until 1818 Pedele Manor was owned by Hans Conrad Friedrich Baron Ungern-Sternberg, son of Gertrud Wilhelmine Baronin Ungern-Sternberg, born, de la Barre. Subsequently ownership repeatedly changed and the manor was passed from hand to hand (Stryk 1885 : 353-354; Materialien 1836 : 289-290). The 1811 Register of Souls confirms that at that time the owner of Pedele Manor (Private Gut Peddeln oder Saÿershof) was Baron Ungern-Sternberg (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 99. l., [b. n.] lp.), whereas the 1 16 Register of Souls indicates that Pedel Manor, together with Ergeme New Manor then belonged to Baron Ungern-Sternberg, resident at Pedele Manor (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 99. l., [b. n.] lp.). The 1 26 Register of Souls indicates that Baron Ungern-Sternberg had moved to Russia (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 99. l., 7. lp.). For its part the 1 34 Register of Souls only records ownership of Ergeme New Manor, it belonging to Baron Maximilian von Hehn (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 99. l., [b. n.] lp.). Surviving documents from Pedele Manor for 1 71 are kept at the Latvian History Archive (LVVA 6999. fonds).

The German name Peddeln, Peddel, Saÿershof, Seiershof, is found in a number of documents, as well as the Latvian one, Pedele or Pedeles muiza.

The reference work, "Latvijas vietvardu vardnica" the entry for Paaglis- Piku the term Pedele refers solely to place-names found around Valka, excepting the name of an old holding, Peddel, found (?) near Baldone. These terms reference the entry -Pedelis (Lvv 2003 : 245). However, the entry -Pedelis lists toponyms largely found in Latgale and elsewhere in Eastern Latvia.

In his analysis of the toponym Pedele, Ojars Buss is of the opinion that it might be derived from the Estonian word, pedajas, i.e. 'pine tree' (Lvv 2003 : 246). However, with respect to-Pedelis this scholar associates them with the common name, pedelis, i.e. 'youngest child in a family'. J. Trusman in his analysis of village names in the surroundings of Ludza and Rezekne has also suggested this explanation (Tp?cMa? 1897 : 216).

Similar place-names are to be found in Estonia, for example, Pedeli jõgi, Pedeli tänav, Pedeli paisjärv (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr).

A river that runs for a total of 31 km through both Latvia and Estonia and that bears the same name in Latvian and Estonian is the Pedele, and Pedeli jõgi, respectively. It is possible, therefore, that the name of the manor and inhabited place derives from the name of the river; this coincidence is found on various old maps (see Map 1).

The newest manor within Ergeme Parish is Labarti Manor (Labarrenhof). A similar place-name was known to people living in Ergeme considerably earlier, i.e. from the 1620s onwards, when Ergeme Manor passed into ownership of Major-General de la Barre. The name of Labarti Manor is an anthroponym, and has no Finnic etymology.

Given that within a parish the names of manors might have been one of the most widely recognised and utilised place-names, they, as witnesses to history, of which most written records make no mention, are imbued with contemporary meaning. The choice of name for a manor appears to show various tendencies. Firstly, manors were named using ancient placenames, ones used by native inhabitants. It is in this way that all manor names of Finnic origin were attributed, i.e. Ergeme, Pedele, Karki, Turna. Secondly, the names of newer manors derive from the surname of their owners and are anthroponyms. Such names usually show no Finnic influence, e.g. Viganti, Labarti. Thirdly, the origin of certain names of manors whose origin is unclear and for which one may find common Finnic names, as well as borrowings from German.

This is the case for the names of Omuli Manor. Three names of Manors have hydronym parallels, i.e. Ergeme, Omuli, Pedele, but only choice of the name, Pedele, is likely to have been the name of a river. The names of manors in Ergeme Parish mentioned and analysed in this paper support the conclusions drawn by Krisjanis Ancitis and Aleksandrs Jansons (1963), as well as a number of other studies of ethnic history, that Finnic tribes lived within the territory of present-day Latvia most certainly during the late Iron Age. As regards the modern border region of Latvia and Estonia, these people may have lived there through to the 12th century, when Germans first brought Christianity to the region.

The question of how long Finnic tribes continued to live within the territory of present-day Latvia is pertinent. The 1638 Census of Ploughs for Vidzeme shows that most persons (85.5 %) living in Ergeme un Lugazi parishes2 were locals; however, a significant number (6.1 %) have come to live there from Kurzeme. This factor may explain why elements of the Livonian dialect typically found in Kurzeme appeared in place-names and surnames in Ergeme. In addition to these peoples, a small number of Estonians was recorded (2.7 %), as well as Russians (2.3 %) and Lithuanians (1.1 %) (Data taken from Ancitis, Jansons 1963 : 66-67).

If the relative numbers of Estonians living in this area in the 17th century are so few, are the considerable numbers house names to be found in the area of Finnic origin, as compared to other types of place-name, linked to the ethnic character of those living there.

In fact, there are few Finnicisms identifiable in house names dating from the 17th-19th centuries. Only several cases are known, and J. Endzelins has shown these to relate to Estonian common names or place-names.

The 1638 Census of Ploughs for Vidzeme mentions the house name, Kappist, that is reflected in the early 19th century Registers of Souls wherein similar names are found: Kappust, in 1811, Kalne Kappust, in 1826, Leies Kappu?t, in 1811, Leijes Kappu?t, in 1 26 (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 97. l.). The Metrika of the parish church of Ergeme records the house names Kappust, Kappu?t, Kapust, Kapu?t, beginning in 1719 (LVVA 235. f.). J. Endzelins (Lvv I (2) : 49) has speculated the house name, kapusts (in Ergeme), to be related to the Estonian common name, kapust, i.e. 'cabbage'. Similar place-names, certainly beginning with the late 1 th century are encountered in Estonia (Pall 1969 : 54).

A number of house names possibly originating from a language spoken by Finnic people are found in Registries of souls from the early 19th century onwards. One example is the house name Ahrne, lying within the territory of Karki Manor mentioned in 1811, and also in 1826 (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 180. l.); this house name has been recorded from 1731 onwards in the baptismal records (Metrika) kept for Ergeme Parish (LVVA 235. f.). J. Endzelins (Lvv I (1) : 70) associated this name, i.e. ãrni (in Karki) with the Estonian toponym, Aarna. The village name of Aarna küla, (including the Estonian word küla i.e. 'village'), is found in the database of Estonian place-names; this village is located in Põlva district, in Põlva civil parish (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr).

Audits of Turna Manor carried out at the beginning of the 18th century record the following house names: Leies Kuckre, in 1811, Leies Kukker, in 1826, Kalne Kukrem, in 1 11, Kalne Kukker, in 1826 (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 482. l.). This house name is found in baptismal records for Ergeme Parish from 1719 onwards, taking various forms, for example, Kukker, in 1719, Kukkur, in 1733, Kukkre, in 1739, Kukkris, in 1758, Kukri, in 1762 (LVVA 235. f.). J. Endzelins (Lvv I (2) : 165) has tentatively identified, kukris (in Ergeme) with the name of an Estonian village, Kukruse. The following village names are found in the database of Estonian place-names, Kukruse küla. in Ida-Viru district, Kohtla civil parish, and a similarly named borough, Kukruse linnaosa, in Kohtla-Järve (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr).

In the Registers of Souls for Vidzeme the following house names are associated with Veckarki Manor, Leies Ku?tul, in 1 11, Leies Ku?tul, in 1826, Kalne Ku?tul, in 1811, Kalne Ku?tul, in 1826 (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 180. l.); these house names, in various forms, are mentioned in the baptismal records for Ergeme Parish beginning from 1722 onwards, for example, Ku?tel, in 1722, Ku?tul and Ku?tule, in 1733 (LVVA 235. f.). J. Endzelins (Lvv I (2) : 183) considers the name Kustuli (Karkos) to derive from the name Kustja- Haibu of an Estonian village. The village name Kustja küla a village today in Harju district, Kernu civil parish, is listed in the Estonian database of place-names, as is the place-name Kustja tee, found in Haiba village, Harju district, Kernu, civil parish (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr).

Registers of Souls for Vidzeme concerning Turna Manor include the house name Lambe, in 1811, Lambe, in 1826; these house names also appear in the baptismal records of Ergeme Parish from 1739 onwards: Lamb, in 1739, Lambde, from 1740 to 1759, Lambe and Lambes, from 1759 to 1906. J. Endzelins (Lvv I (2) : 254) associates the name Lambas (in Ergeme) with names of Estonian villages Lamba and Lambi. According to the database of Estonian place-names no Estonian village today bears this name. The name of a spring Lambaküla oja, in Pärnu district, Surju civil parish, might refer to a village that no longer exists. A name similar to this village name has survived as a street name Lambi tänav, in Kesklinna borough, Tallinn. Furthermore, a number of microtoponyms with the root Lamb- are listed in the said database (http://xgis.maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr).

E. Dunsdorfs in a publication of the house name Pet, mentioned in the 1638 Census of Ploughs for Vidzeme, equates this name with the house name Pasi. In later Registers of Souls for Viganti Manor the following house names were recorded, Mais Paa?ch, in 1811, Saute Paa?ch, in 1811, Pah?che, in 1826 (LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 505. l.). Similar house names are mentioned in baptismal records for Ergeme Parish from 1721 onwards: Paat?ch, in 1721, Paa?ch, in 1726, Pah?che, in 1731, Pah?e, in 1740, Pah?ches, from 17 2 to 1906 (LVVA 235. f.). This house name Pãsi (from Ergeme), in an entry in "Latvijas vietvardu vardnica" (Lvv 2003 : 232-233), is stated to be most likely derived from the Estonian common name paas, i.e. 'limestone'. The Estonian database of village names records the name of a village, Paasküla küla, located in Lääne-Viru district, Viru-Nigula civil parish (http://xgis. maaamet.ee/knravalik/knr).

No Finnic parallels have been found for other names of houses within Ergeme Parish, and dating from the 17th-19th centuries.

The rather high percentage of manor names of Finnic origin may be linked to the ethnic make-up of the region at the time that these manors were established, as the manors became an integral part of the region. House names may have originated much later, when the influence of Finnic languages had declined considerably.

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Abbreviations

EH - J. Endzelins, E. Hauzenberga, Papildinajumi un labojumi K. Milenbaha T,atviesu valodas vardnlcai". 1. 2. scj.,! (lga 1934 1946: E 1-L<Jlvijas viettI vardi, 1 dala, Vidzel11E'S vardi. Fiedaloties A, Abelei, J, Kaulil;tam un F. Smitam, sav{'i.cis un redigejis J. EndzelinB, Riga 1922; EIV I-In - E. K a g a i n e, S, Rag e, Ergernes izloksnes v{'i.rdn:ica, 1.-3, sej., Riga 1977-1983; Bupel I - Topographische Nachrichten von Lief- und Ehstland. Gesarnrnelt und herausgegeben durch August \Nilhel111 llupeL Erster lland, Riga 1774; Bupel In - Topographische ~,Jachrichten von Lief- und Ehstland. Gesarmnelt und herausgegeben durch August vVilhelm Hupel. Drllter und [eLder Band. Nehsl vo[Jstandigen Register iiher alle drey Bande. Riga 1774; Indri1:ca hronika 1993 - Indril~a Livonijas hronika. A. lieldhiina tulkojums. E. rVlugurevica prieksvards un kmnentari, R1ga 1993; Kalenderis 1823 - Vidzemmes kalenderis us Lo 1823schu Caddu kam 36.5 Dienas irr. Rlgas pilseta, dri~1}ets pec VV. F. I-Hicker; LG I - Livlandische Giiterurkunden (aus den Jahren 1207 bis 1545). Hrsg. H. Bruiningk und N. Busch. Bd. I, Riga 1908; latvijas pagasti - Enciklopedija Latvijas pagasti. Latvijas pagasti, novadi, pilsetu un novadu lauku teritorijas. A-I" Riga 2001; lUB V - Liv-, est- und kurldndisches Urkundenbuch nebst Regesten. Hrsg. von Dr. Friedrich Ceorg von Bunge. Band V, Riga 1867; LUB VI - Liv-, es1- und kurlanJisch_es Urkundenbuch nebsl Regesten. Hrsg. von Dr. Friedridl Ceorg von Bunge. Band VI, Riga 1873; 19r 1951 - J. End z ell n s, LalvieSu valodas grama1ika, RIga 1951; Ukkumi 1820 - Likkwni vVidsemmes Semneekeeln dohti. lvlilau 1820: LKV IV - Lalviesu konversacijas vardnica, 4, soj" Riga 1927-1940: Lvv I (1) - J, End z e Ii n s, Latvijas PSR vietvardi. I dala, 1. sejums. A-J, RIga 1956; Lvv I (2) - J. End z e 11 n s, Latvijas PSR vietvardi. 1 dala, 2. seju111s, K-0, RIga 1961; Lvv 2003 - Latvijas vietvardu v{'i.rdn:ica. Faaglis-Fi~.:u-, Riga 2003; Lvv 2010 - Latvijas vietv{'i.rdu v{'i.rdn"ica. I'racirika-I'uozu-, RIga 2010; Materialien 1836 - 1tlaterialien zu einer Geschichte der Landgijter Livlands gesammelt von Heinrich von Hagerneister, Riga 1836; ME I-IV - K. 1\,111 en bah s. T.atviesu valodas vardn1C'a. Redigejis, papi1dinajis, turpinajis J. Endzenns. 1.-4. sej .. Riga 1923-1932; Ortslexikon I - Baltisches historisches Ort1exikon 1. Fstland. Hrsg. von Hans lie[dmann und Heinz von Zur 1tliihlen, KOln - vVien 1985; Ol'tslexikon II - Baltisches historisches Ortlexikon II. Lettland. Hrsg. von Hans Feldmann und Heinz von zur 1tfiihlen, K6ln - Wien 1990; Rudolph 1-2 - Vollstandigstes geographisch-topographisch-statistisches Ortslexikon von Deutschland sowie der unter Osterreichs und Preuss ens Bot111dssigkeit stehenden nichtdeutschen Uinder von H. Rudolph. Bd. 1-2, Zurich 1868; Schiller, Lubben-lvIittelniederdeutsches vVL1rterbuch von Karl Schiller und August Lubben. Bd 1-6, Bremen 1875-1881; Stryk 1885 - Beitr:1ge zur Geschichte der Rittergii.ter Livbnds von L. von St:ryk Der lettische Districl. Dresden 1885; Ursprung des Adels 1843 - Ueber den Ursprungs des Adels in den Oslsee Provinzen Russlands, :Milau-Leipzig 1843; VAR 16(U - Die alleste schyvedische Land revision Livlands. Herausgegeben von Arveds Svabe. Lalvijas Universilales raksli. Taulsaim.llieclbas un tieslbu zinatr,lU fakultates serija. TI sejums, .. Jr. 3, RIga 1933; VAR 1638 - Vidzem_es 1638. gada arklu rev"izija. IV sejums, HI burtn:ica. lzdevis Edgars Dunsdorfs, Riga 1941; Wied. - F. J. Wi e d em ann, Eesti-saksa sonaraamat. Neljas, muuhnata triikk teisest, Jakob Burda redigeeritud vdljaandest, Talliml 1973.

Materials from the Latvian N"ational History Archives (Latvijas Valsts Vestures ArhIvs, LVVA): LVVA 199. L, 1. apr .. 97. I. - Regisler of Souls. Vidzerne guberna (Ergem_e private :tanor); LVVA 199. f.. 1. apr., 98. 1. - Register of Souls, Vidzeme guberna (f':rgeme Pastor's Manor); LVVA 199. L, 'I. apr .. 99. I. - Register of Souls, Vidzem_e guberna (Pedele privale :tanor); LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 153. I. - Regisler of Souls, Vidzerne guberna (OmuJi private Manor); LVVA 199. f.. 1. apr .. 180. 1. - Register of Souls, Vidze111e guberna (Veckari private Manor); LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 181. 1. - Register of Souls, Vidzeme guberna (Jaunkari private Manor); LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 203. 1. - Register of Souls, Vidzeme gubema (Brenti private Manor); LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 482.1. - Register of Souls, Vidzeme guberna (Turnas private Manor); LVVA 199. f., 1. apr., 505. 1. - Register of Souls, Vidzeme guberna (Viganti private :Manor); LVVA 235. f., 3. apr., 75. Beta - Metrika, Ergeme Parish. Valka dislricl 1718-1741; LVVA 235. L, 3. apr., 75a. lieta - Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka districl1741 1768; LVVA 235. f.. 3. apr., 75b. lieta - Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka dislricl 1768-1781; LVVA 235. f., 3. apr., 76. lieta - Metrikarika. Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1781-1816; L VVA 235. f., 3. apr., 76a. Beta - Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1817-1833; LVVA 235. f., 4. apr., 810.-854.lieta - Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1834-1879; LVVA 235. f., 7. apr., 201a. lieta - Tvletrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1880-1891; LVVA 235. f., 7. apr., 206. lieta - Mletrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1892; LVVA 235. f., 7. apr., 207. lieta- Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1R9:1; LVVA 7229. L, 2. apr., 'I. lieta- Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka dislrict 1894; LVVA 7229. L, 2. apr., 3. lieta- Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1R9S; LVVA 7229. L, 2. apr., S. lieta- Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka dislrict 1896; LVVA 7229. L, 2. apr., 6. lieta- Metrika, Ergerne Parish, Valka district 1R97; LVVA 7229. L, 2. apr., 7. lieta Metrika, Ergerne Parish, Valka district 1898; L VV A 7229. f., 2. apr., 9. lieta Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1899; LVV A 7229. f., 2. apr., 10. lieta Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1900; l VVA 7229. f., 2. apr., 11. lieta Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1901; LVV A 7229. f., 2. apr., 12. lieta Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1902; l VVA 7229. f., 2. apr., 15. lieta Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1903; LVVA 7229. L, 2. apr., 18. Heta Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka dislric1 1904: lVVA 7229. f., 2. apr., 21. lieta Metrika, Ergeme Parish, Valka district 1905; LVVA 235. f., 7. apr .. 203. Heta Metrika, trgenle Parish, Valka Jislric11906; LVVA 77. fonds - Governorale documents for Vidze11w gubema; L VV A 199. fonds - Listing of Registers of Souls for Vidzemes guberna; L VVA 6999. fonds - Manorial dOCu111ents fro111 Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Estonia; L VV A 7172. fonds - Tax Books of Tvlanors in Vidzeme; LVVA 7404. fonds - Plans, 111aps and descriptions of manors in Vidzeme.

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Footnote

1 In some studies it has been suggested that Ergeme castle was built in 1320 by Master of the Order Gerdt von Jocke (Materialien 1836 : 288 ; Hupel I 231; Hupel III 134; Stryk 351).

2 The 1 26 Census of Ploughs in Vidzeme gives the combined numbers for both parishes; it is possible to determine the results for each parish only by counting up numbers given manor by manor.

References

LITERATURE

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_____ 1977, Põhja-Tartumaa kohanimed II,Tallinn.

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