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ArchivesRe: Viana information
in reply to a message by Sara Ruth
I was able to find this: "Portuguese, Galician, and Spanish: habitational name from any of the places in Spain and Portugal called Viana."
source: www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=viana
In which case, what does the place name mean? I found Wikipedia pages for the places http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viana ...but I cannot locate any meaning or etymology for the place names, unless it stems from what I found below.
I don't know how accurate this is, but according to this baby name site, Viana means 'alive' and comes from Latin. If this is true, then perhaps it is a form or contraction of Viviana? Even a short form/nick name? Since 'viana' is the 'second part' of the name.
http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Viana.html
source: www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=viana
In which case, what does the place name mean? I found Wikipedia pages for the places http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viana ...but I cannot locate any meaning or etymology for the place names, unless it stems from what I found below.
I don't know how accurate this is, but according to this baby name site, Viana means 'alive' and comes from Latin. If this is true, then perhaps it is a form or contraction of Viviana? Even a short form/nick name? Since 'viana' is the 'second part' of the name.
http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Viana.html
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Replies
Viana is definitely a Portuguese surname, derived from the place name (Viana do Castelo being the major city with that name). I've definitely never heard of it as a first name.
I suppose Viviana (which is a somewhat modern name, Bebiana being the traditional form) could be shortened to Viana, but it sounds counterintuitive: imagine calling a Maximilian, Milian. The associations with the place are just too strong.
Nevertheless I doubt very much the woman in question was Brazilian or Portuguese, since it would be very unlikely for a person (especially a scientist) to go by a nickname in a professional context.
I suppose Viviana (which is a somewhat modern name, Bebiana being the traditional form) could be shortened to Viana, but it sounds counterintuitive: imagine calling a Maximilian, Milian. The associations with the place are just too strong.
Nevertheless I doubt very much the woman in question was Brazilian or Portuguese, since it would be very unlikely for a person (especially a scientist) to go by a nickname in a professional context.
This message was edited 2/5/2014, 10:30 AM
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Thanks for the info. I just went back and looked through a transcript of the radio show and it turns out the woman's name is Viviana after all. I'm not sure if I misheard or if they called her Viana (I agree that seems like kind of a backward nickname and unlikely to use in a formal setting). Either way, I appreciate your comments. Viana caught my attention because I thought it sounded pretty, but the fact that its not used as a first name (and as my hubby pointed out, it reminds him of Rihanna) makes it lose its appeal for me. Thanks!
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