Surnames and Personal Names under F in Stična’s 16th-Century Manorial Records

Slovenian surnames often originate from the professions of their earliest bearers. What initially served as an occupational designation, such as ribič Janez (fisherman Janez), gradually evolved into a hereditary surname like Janez Ribič or, in our case, Janez Fišer. In the early 16th century, this transition was still fluid, and occupational titles did not always solidify into fixed surnames. In some instances, we even see variations within the same family. For example, while a father might be recorded as ribič Janez in manorial records, his son could appear as Jakob Ribičič, indicating “the younger” or “the small” Ribič—essentially, the son of the elder fisherman. This fascinating evolution of surnames in the 16th century reflects both creativity and adaptability among our ancestors.