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ArchivesHodierna and Ioveta
I just read up on the 12th century Queen Melisencde of Jerusalem, and she had two sisters named Hodierna and Ioveta. Anyone know what these names mean?
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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". - Plato
BTN's Resident Historian
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“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". - Plato
BTN's Resident Historian
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E. G. Withycombe in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names thinks the Hodierna comes from a Latin word used in the phrase Deus qui hodierna die, which began the liturgy for the Feast of Epiphany in medieval Catholic churches, and that the name may have originally been given to children born at that time of year. The Latin word hodierna itself seems to mean "today's".
I would think Ioveta is probably an alternative spelling of Jovita, since back then "I" and "J" were often used interchangeably in spelling.
I would think Ioveta is probably an alternative spelling of Jovita, since back then "I" and "J" were often used interchangeably in spelling.
This message was edited 10/5/2009, 11:12 AM
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