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Origin of the Surname Pagany
The surname Pagany has a geographical distribution that, although relatively dispersed, shows a significant concentration in the United States and Germany, with a presence also in countries in Latin America, Europe and other regions. The highest incidence in the United States, at 38%, followed by Germany at 18%, suggests that the surname may have arrived in these countries primarily through migration processes and colonization. The presence in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Honduras, although to a lesser extent, reinforces the hypothesis that the surname has roots in Europe, specifically in regions with strong Germanic influence or Spanish and Portuguese colonization.
The current distribution, characterized by a notable presence in the United States and Germany, could indicate that the surname has a European origin, possibly Germanic or Western influenced. The presence in Latin American countries may be due to migrations from Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries, in the context of massive migratory movements towards America in search of better opportunities. The dispersion in countries such as Brazil and Argentina, with minor incidences, also suggests that the surname may have spread through European colonization and migration in these territories.
In historical terms, the significant presence in Germany and the United States may reflect migratory movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when many European families emigrated to America and other countries. The distribution in countries such as Brazil and Argentina, with a lower incidence, may also be related to European colonization in these territories, where surnames of Germanic or European origin in general settled and were transmitted through generations.
Etymology and Meaning of Pagany
The surname Pagany, from a linguistic analysis, seems to have roots that could be related to terms of Germanic or Western European origin. The structure of the surname, particularly the presence of the suffix "-ny", may suggest a formation that, in some cases, resembles surnames of Hungarian origin or from regions with Germanic influence. However, it is also possible that it has a toponymic origin or is related to a descriptive or occupational term.
A plausible hypothesis is that "Pagany" derives from a word or proper name that, over time, became a surname. The root "Pag-" could be linked to terms related to religion or culture, since in some European languages, similar words are related to religious or cultural concepts. For example, in Hungarian, "pogány" means "pagan", and although the form is not exactly the same, the phonetic similarity may be relevant. This would open the possibility that the surname has a descriptive origin, associated with a cultural or religious characteristic of the first bearers.
Another line of analysis suggests that "Pagany" could be a toponymic surname, derived from a place or region where the first bearers settled. The presence in countries with Germanic influence and in regions where languages of Western European origin are spoken reinforces this hypothesis. Furthermore, the structure of the surname, with an ending in "-ny", may indicate training in languages such as Hungarian or Central European dialects.
As for its classification, "Pagany" could be considered a patronymic surname if it is related to a proper name or a term that denotes a personal or cultural characteristic. It could also be toponymic if it is related to a place. The possible root in religious or cultural terms suggests that, in some cases, it could have a descriptive character, associated with the identity or beliefs of the first carriers.
History and Expansion of the Surname
The analysis of the current distribution of the surname Pagany allows us to infer that its most probable origin is in Central or Eastern Europe, regions where Germanic, Hungarian or Central European influences are predominant. The presence in Germany, with an 18% incidence, may indicate that the surname originated in some Germanic region or in nearby areas where Germanic languages and cultures had significant influence.
The expansion of the surname to the United States, which accounts for 38% of the incidence, is probably due to European migrations, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, when many families of Germanic, Hungarian or Central European origin emigrated in search of better economic and social conditions. Migration to North and South America was amassive process that led to the dispersion of European surnames in new territories.
In Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Honduras, the presence of the surname may be related to European colonization, particularly with immigrants of Germanic origin or from countries where the surname was relatively common. The lower incidence in these countries may reflect that the surname was not one of the most widespread in the migratory waves, but it did reach presence in certain family units.
The distribution pattern may also be influenced by specific historical events, such as the arrival of European immigrants at different times, the expansion of Germanic communities in Central Europe, and subsequent migration to other continents. The dispersion of the surname in countries such as the United States and Germany may be the result of these migrations, as well as generational transmission in the communities of origin and destination.
Variants of the Surname Pagany
As for spelling variants, it is possible that there are different forms of the surname depending on the region or language. For example, in German-speaking countries, it could be found as "Pagani" or "Pagany" with slight variations in spelling. Phonetic adaptation in different languages may have generated variants such as "Pagani" in Italian or "Pagán" in Spanish, although the latter could have different origins.
In regions where the surname is related to Hungarian influences, there could be variants such as "Pogány", which, as mentioned above, means "pagan" in Hungarian. The presence of these variants may reflect migratory history and linguistic adaptations in different countries.
In addition, some surnames that are related or have a common root could include derived forms that share similar phonetic or morphological elements, such as "Pagano" in Italian or "Pagán" in Spanish, which in some cases could be linked to the same root or different cultural origins.
In summary, the surname Pagany, with its current distribution and possible linguistic roots, appears to have a European origin, probably Germanic or Central European, with a significant expansion towards America through migrations. The presence in different countries and the existing variants reflect a history of mobility and cultural adaptation over the centuries.
