Etymology

Origin of the surname

   According to prof. Aleksandra Cieślikowa  of Institute of Polish Language, the surname Hulewicz/Gulevich belongs to the most typical surnames of Polish-Russian states lines of 15 century, and probably is one of the oldest west Russian surnames.

Belorussian philologist Yanka Stankevich (Янка Станкевіч) has stated, that surnames with endings -ich and -vich (-ич, -вич) are purely Slavic tradicion.

   These endings marked either origin by blood or origin by place of birth. Surnames in the Slavic tribes were formed like simple personal nickname (or agnomen), which was transferred to other generations without change, or with a slight change – attaching an ending -ich or -vich (-ич, -вич) as patrimonial.

   Examples of this can be found on the pages of old Russian chronicles, where these persons were mentioned: warlord (voivode) Pretich (year 968), Liuta son of Sveneld as Svenaldich (year 975), Yan Usmovich and Aleksander Popovich (year 1001) and others.

   As Stankevich stated, surnames (or nicknames) -ich started to appear in early stage of Slavic tribes' life, when clan or kinship relations were still tight. For example, those who belonged to Smala clan, were called Smolichi, Baba clan – Babichi etc.

   These endings can be found in the names of tribes, who made the base for Belorussian nation (the tribes of krivichi, dregovichi, radimichi).

   Surnames -ich and place-names ending with -ichi are plural on the territory of Belarus, beginning with Disna region of Vilnius province (north-eastern part of Vitebsk province nowadays). Even more of them can be met in the west, south and center of Vitebsk province, some- in the east; these surnames are quite numerous in Mogilev province, and some of them can be met all around Belarus.

   From all other Slavs, except Belorussians, the -ich surnames are typical for Serbs (i.e. Pashich, Vuyachich, Stoyanovich etc.)

In Silesia, Moravia, Saxony – places where old Slavs lived - we can still find places (and surnames) with -ich endings (in german -itz).

These -ichi place-names are still existent in Easter territories too – they used to stand for clan nicknames, which were later changed to -vo on the territories of Russia (i.e. Diatkovichi -> Diatkovo in Orlov province).

   This tendency in the state of Moscow was characterized by evolution of -vich nicknames. These nicknames were personified into patronyms (son of), although not every nobleman had a right to use a patronym.

   In the times before the rule of Moscow, transformation of name by adding -ich or -vich was typical in Russia. In Moscow's Russia this practice was destroyed, because the name could show superiority of one against another (cause of “mestnichestvo“ - feudal hierarchical system).

   Clan nicknames as full -vich patronyms  were expression of honor and dignity. The ending -vich used to be cut off from nickname to make it diminutive and ignoble in Moscow's lands. The Grand Dukes still used -vich, as well as their family members and those in favor. Peasants used to add -vich to noblemen's names (like “my Lord” or “Sire”).

   In Moscow's documents -vich used to be added to non-moscovian surnames. So Radvilas were called Radvilovichi, Sapegas – Sapegovichi etc.  Contrarily ones who were not in favor could loose their -vich. For example, there were remarks made to hetman Chmelnicki, who used his patronym with -vich ending. Hetman Samoilovich was cut to Samoilov, Mokrievich – Mokriev, Domontovich – Domontov, Yakubovich – Yakubov, Mikhnevich – Mikhnov.

   Surnames ,ending with -vich, existed in Novgorod, Pskov (boyar surnames Stroilovich, Kozachkovich, Doinikovich, Raigulovich, Ledovich, Liushkovich), however they were shortened during the rule of Moscow.

Ending -vich became a special extraordinary honor at the end of 16 century. His Majesty himself used to point to those, who's surnames should be written with -vich. During the reign of Catherine the II, a list of persons, whose surnames had to be written with -vich in the state documents, was published.

   When the issue of patronyms' writing arose, Her Majesty decided: people belonging to first 5 ranks (or classes) can use their full patronym; 6-8 ranks – semipatronyms (without -ich); all others – with no patronym, just name.

However Gulevichs from Smolensk, as well as some others who became subjects of HMQ of Russia, succeeded to keep  the clan surname unchanged.

   There are several versions to explain the origin of Gulevich surname, to be more exact, it's root.

Polish professor  Kazimierz Rymut in his study “Polish surnames” («Nazwiska Polakow»), states, that the surnames beginning with gul- /hul- («Гул-») probably come from the verb «гулять» [goulyats] wich stands for “being merry” or “being rebel”. As another possible variant, professor derives the root from noun  «гула» [goula] – identifying it as “kick” or “convexity”.

It is known, that in Ukrainian language «гуля» [goulya] means bump or lump, for example on a forehead. Almost the same meaning is in “Explanatory word making dictionary” (T.F.Efremova, 2000) - «гуля» in slang is a bump, swelling, oedema.

   Suffix -vich means “son of”, so the surname Gulevich, according to prof.Reemunt, means “son's of Gula or Gulya” literally son's of reveller; flâneur or rebel.

   Belorussian writer and specialist in study of literature Uladzimir Yurevich was writing in his study of belorussian surnames, that surnames like: Gul, Gulko, Gulich, Gulevich, Gulenka, Gulkevich, Gulicki, Gulioba, Gulyaka, Gulyakevich (Гуль, Гулько, Гулич, Гулевич, Гуленка, Гулькевич, Гулицкий, Гулёба, Гуляка, Гулякевич) originate from the word «гулять» [goulyats] as antonym of verb “to work”.

   However the “Dictionary of Russian names” offers another explanation: “Surnames Gulevich, and the ones of the same root Gulyaev, Gulyay, Gulak, Gulevski, Guleichik, Gulenko, Gulia, Gulichev, Gulyga, Gulkevich, Gulko, Gulchinski etc. ( Гуляев, Гуляй, Гулак, Гулевский, Гулейчик, Гуленко,Гулиа, Гуличев, Гулыга, Гулькевич, Гулко, Гульчинский) could originate from the different forms of name SERGEY (Сергей ). This roman clan name could have meanings like “honoured”, “grand”.

   Diminishing forms of this name: Gulenka, Gulechka, Gulka, Gulyusha, Gulya, Gunechka, Gunka, Gunyusha, Gunya, Gusenka, Gusechka, Guska, Gusya, Gusha, Gushka... (Гуленька, Гулечка, Гулька, Гулюшка, Гуля, Гунечка, Гунечка, Гунька, Гунюшка, Гуня, Гусенька, Гусечка, Гуська, Гуся, Гуша, Гушка....) (from A.N.Tikhonov, L.Z.Boyarinova, A.G. Ryzhkova “Dictionary of Russian names”  «Словарь русских личных имен». Мoscow, 1995).

   The same etymology is offered by another dictionary, pointing, that the root GUL- (Гул-) is a diminishing form of name Yegor, Gregory or even of proper name Gulyay (Гуляй) - quite spread name in old Russia (from Y.A.Fedosiuk “Russian surnames: popular dictionary of etymology” 6th ed., “Русские фамилии: популярный этимологический словарь”  Moscow, 2006)

   Moving from the explanation of the name, which became a patronym for a vast clan, to the proper names, we should note, that at the end of 15th century among the Gulevich and contiguous clans members these forms of proper names are noticable : Mihno (Mikhail), Wasko (Ivan), Senko (Semen), Galshka (Elizaveta), Gulko (Михно (Михаил), Васко (Иван), Сенко (Семен), Гальшка (Елизавета), Гулко).

   The last, to my point of view, is the most possible patronym name of the examined surname.

Sergey Gulevich. (Translated by German Gulevich).