KABARDIAN AND CHERKESS ONOMASTICS

THIS IS A STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE CIRCASSIAN SCHOLAR G.N. K'WA-K'WA (KOKOV) AND WAS PUBLISHED AS "OF CIRCASSIAN ONOMASTICS" BY ELBRUS PRESS IN NALCHIK IN 1983. IT IS EXTREMELY INTERESTING AND GIVES THE ORIGINAL HISTORICAL CIRCASSIAN NAMES OF GEOGRAPHICAL ENTITIES SUCH AS RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, HILLS, TOWNS AND VILLAGES. IT GIVES AN INDICATION OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH THESE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. IF THE POLITICAL WILL WERE TO EXIST, THE ORIGINAL NAMES COULD BE EASILY RESTORED.

THE FAMILY NAMES OF THE KABARDIANS AND CHERKESS IN THE REPUBLICS OF KABARDINO-BALKARIA AND KARACHAY-CHERKESS ARE LISTED ALPHABETICALLY WITH THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN WHICH EACH FAMILY LIVES. THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR DIASPORA CIRCASSIANS TO LOCATE THEIR KIN IN THESE REPUBLICS.

UNFORTUNATELY, SOME FAMILIES WERE FORCED TO IMMIGRATE TO THE LAST MEMBER. THESE WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. ALSO MANY CIRCASSIANS IN TURKEY HAVE LOST THEIR ORIGINAL FAMILY NAMES DUE TO THE MYOPIC AND RUINOUS POLICY OF TURKIZING CIRCASSIAN CULTURE. THESE HAVE LOST THEIR ANCESTRAL LAND AND THEIR HISTORY.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF YOUR RELATIVES IN THE CAUCASUS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME USING THE ATTACHED FORM, IF YOU PREFER, AND I WILL DO MY LEVEL BEST TO PROVIDE YOU WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION.

MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS : [email protected]