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ArchivesIs "ban" a suffix with a meaning?
Google didn't help and neither did searching this site. I know the prefix "dun" means dark, and I was curious about the name of a character from a video game I love to death, Dunban. Closest is Duncan, which means "dark battle" according to this site and that really fits the character. Yet I'm still curious if there's a chance the developers didn't just name him Duncan with one letter changed. The game in question is a JRPG so I'm thinking the suffix may be Japanese but again I found nothing by searching.
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Bán is 'white' in Irish. But it's not used in names, afaik.
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"-Ban" 番 is, in fact, a suffix with meaning in Japanese. It means "number," so ichiban ー番 is "number one," niban 二番 "number two," and so forth. However, the syllable "dun" not only doesn't mean anything, but isn't possible in the Japanese phonological system, so Dunban doesn't appear to be a name with genuine Japanese roots.
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I skimmed through the database and the submitted names (searching for "*ban") an I could not find any name in any language where -ban is a meaningful suffix. In names like Alban or Urban, the b is part of the stem and -an is the suffix, in names like Corban or Raban it is part of the stem itself.
So my conclusion is that ban is not an established name suffix or deuterotheme.
--elbowin
So my conclusion is that ban is not an established name suffix or deuterotheme.
--elbowin
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Apparently it's a very uncommon surname as well, so it might be inspired by that, although an alteration of Duncan seems more likely.
https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=dunban
It seems like this source also doesn't have an explanation for the meaning unfortunately.
https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=dunban
It seems like this source also doesn't have an explanation for the meaning unfortunately.
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Should have been under OP - sorry!
I searched this site for Donalbain, and found this: user-submitted, but no guarantees.
Anglicized form of Gaelic Domnall Bán meaning "Domnall the Fair", a nickname of Donald III, King of Scots, the second known son of Duncan I. This was the form used by Shakespeare in his tragic play 'Macbeth' (1606) for a character based on the historical figure, who allegorically represents moral order.
This clearly supports what Pie said about the meaning being "white", but since it's also said to be a nickname rather than an actual given name, it presumably isn't a suffix as such either.
And, for what it's worth, in the play Donalbain has about three lines and could, on the evidence, allegorically represent moral order, moral turpitude or carpet cleaner. His brother Malcolm is a far more rounded character.
I searched this site for Donalbain, and found this: user-submitted, but no guarantees.
Anglicized form of Gaelic Domnall Bán meaning "Domnall the Fair", a nickname of Donald III, King of Scots, the second known son of Duncan I. This was the form used by Shakespeare in his tragic play 'Macbeth' (1606) for a character based on the historical figure, who allegorically represents moral order.
This clearly supports what Pie said about the meaning being "white", but since it's also said to be a nickname rather than an actual given name, it presumably isn't a suffix as such either.
And, for what it's worth, in the play Donalbain has about three lines and could, on the evidence, allegorically represent moral order, moral turpitude or carpet cleaner. His brother Malcolm is a far more rounded character.
This message was edited 11/12/2018, 7:44 AM
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