Surnames and Personal Names under P in Stična’s 16th-Century Manorial Records
Puntar from Lašče and the Great Peasant Revolt of 1573
Among the surnames recorded in the 16th-century manorial register of the Stična Abbey, one of the most intriguing is undoubtedly Puntar. The story of Janez Puntar from the village of Lašče, mentioned in the years 1574 and 1575, raises questions about social dynamics, personal identity, and collective memory of the greatest peasant revolt in Slovenian-Croatian history.
In 1572, Janez from Lašče was entered into the register as Jannshe, Peterin sun – Janez, son of Peter. By 1574, he appears as Jannsche Punter – Janez Puntar. And again in 1575 as Jannsche Punnter. It is clearly the same individual, yet the record shows a transition from a descriptive identification to a hereditary surname. But why the name Puntar?
A Trace of Rebellion in a Name?
In 1573, the most extensive and strategically organized peasant uprising against feudal rule broke out in Croatia and eastern Slovenia. Led by Matija Gubec, Ilija Gregorič, and other peasant leaders, the rebels captured numerous castles and towns, including Brežice and the wider Posavje region. However, their forces were brutally crushed in battles near Krško and under Kunšperk Castle – hundreds were killed, and many ended up imprisoned or executed.
Although the Stična Abbey was known at the time as a peaceful and relatively just feudal lordship, the spirit of rebellion seemingly did not completely pass these parts by. Janez from Lašče most likely took part in the great peasant revolt, as suggested by the surname Puntar that was assigned to him later. It may have reflected a proud role as a “hero”, or it could have served as a label of condemnation, applied by his feudal superiors to mark someone who dared to defy the social order.
Such nicknames often became hereditary surnames over time, especially if the individual was marked by their community – either as a symbol of courage or as a warning to others. The surname Puntar can thus be seen as a memory of a man who, in a time of crisis, stepped out of the shadows – and left a historical trace.
Surnames Starting with P:
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- Padulšnik: Padulshnickh (1558)
- Panič: Panich (1575)
- Papež: Papes (1505, 1544), Papesch (1558, 1574), Papesh (1572), Papeß (1505)
- Papeč: Papetsch (1574)
- Papše: Paptshe (1575)
- Paradiž: Paradeiß (1558)
- Parfus: Parfueß (1505)
- Partel: Partel (1505)
- Pašnic: Pashnitz (1544)
- Pavlič: Pawlisch (1505)
- Pavše: Pausche (1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Paushe (1544, 1558, 1572), Pawsche (1505), Pawshe (1544), Paüsche (1574)
- Pavšič: Pawshitz (1558)
- Pajer: Paÿer (1544, 1558)
- Pajk: Paÿgk (1544), Peÿkch (1505)
- Pele: Pelle (1505)
- Pene, Bene: Penne (1544, 1558, 1572)
- Pepel: Pepell (1505)
- Perhares: Perhareiß (1505)
- Perišek, Berišek: Perinschegkh (1572)
- Perič: Peritz (1505, 1544, 1558, 1575), Periz (1572)
- Perovoselin: Perowesoulin (1572), Perowoselin (1558), Perowoseläin (1574)
- Peršin: Perschin (1558, 1572)
- Perenšek, Berenšek: Peränscheckh (1574)
- Pezdirc: Pesderitz (1505), Pisderitz (1505)
- Petan: Petan (1558), Pettan (1558), Pettann (1572, 1574), Pettäin (1575)
- Petko: Petco (1505)
- Peterc: Petertz (1505, 1544), Petterz (1572)
- Petervina: Petervina (1505)
- Petrač: Petratz (1558), Pettratz (1574)
- Petrič: Petrisch (1505)
- Petauer: Pettauer (1572), Petawar (1505), Petawer (1544, 1558)
- Peterle: Paiterle (1558)
- Peterlin: Petterlin (1505)
- Petiker: Pettÿgkher (1574)
- Pevk, Bevk: Peuckh (1572, 1575), Peugkh (1572), Peukh (1572), Peückh (1558, 1574)
- Pevec: Peuitz (1544)
- Pevč, Bevč: Pewch (1544)
- Pejšič: Peytschitz (1544)
- Pejer, Bejer: Peÿer (1505, 1558)
- Piberger: Piberger (1544)
- Pilič: Pillich (1558)
- Pinder, Binder: Pinder (1558)
- Piškur: Piskhur (1558)
- Plave: Plaue (1558)
- Plavec: Plavez (1544), Plavitz (1558), Plawetz (1544), Plawitz (1505)
- Plaš: Plaß (1505, 1544)
- Plevel: Pleuell (1558, 1575), Pliüel (1574)
- Podboj: Podboÿ (1505)
- Podlipnik: Podlipnik (1505)
- Podložnik: Podlushnig (1544)
- Pogner, Bogner: Pogner (1505)
- Pogubic: Pogubitz (1505)
- Popel: Pöpel (1558)
- Posar, Pozar: Posar (1505)
- Poš: Posch (1505, 1558), Posß (1572)
- Pošnik: Poschnickh (1575), Poschnigkh (1572)
- Posega: Posega (1505), Poshega (1558), Possega (1544)
- Pošar, Bošar: Poshar (1544, 1558)
- Pošic: Poshitz (1558)
- Postane, Posajner, Boštajer: Posstanner (1572), Postanner (1575), Postaÿner (1575), Posteÿner (1544)
- Poštevik: Posstevigkh (1558)
- Postane: Postene (1505)
- Posteric: Posteritz (1574), Posteviz (1572)
- Potokar: Pottogkher (1572)
- Praznik: Prasnickh (1574), Praßnigkh (1572)
- Pregant, Bregant: Pregandt (1544)
- Presec: Presatz (1558), Presetz (1558)
- Presavor: Presawor (1558)
- Pridigar: Pridigar (1505)
- Prilesnik: Prileshnik (1544)
- Priles: Priließ (1505)
- Prim: Prim (1572)
- Primic: Primitz (1558, 1572, 1574, 1575)
- Primuč: Primuch (1558)
- Prior: Prior (1544, 1558)
- Pristan: Pristan (1574), Prÿstan (1558), Prÿstann (1572)
- Probec: Probetz (1544)
- Praznik: Proßnigkh (1572), Präsnickh (1574, 1575)
- Puc: Puitz (1505)
- Pucihar: Putzacher (1574)
- Pucelj: Putzl (1505, 1544)
- Puč: Putsch (1572), Pütsch (1574)
- Pučarer, Bučarer: Putsharher (1572)
- Puh: Puch (1558, 1572), Pueh (1572)
- Puhelj: Puchl (1572)
- Pulan: Pullan (1505), Pülan (1505)
- Puntar: Punter (1574), Pünnter (1575)
- Pupič: Puphlitz (1544)
- Purgštaler, Burgštaler: Purgkhstaller (1572)
- Pusar: Pusar (1505)
- Puš: Push (1544)
- Pušič: Pushitsc (1505), Pushitsch (1505)
- Pušlič: Pushlitz (1544)
- Pušel: Pussel (1505)
Personal Names Starting with P:
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- Pankracij, Pongraz, Pankrac: Pangertz (1505), Pangirtz (1505), Pangratz (1544, 1558, 1575), Pangretz (1505), Panngratt (1544), Panngratz (1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Panngraz (1544, 1572, 1574), Panngrz (1572)
- Pavel: Pauel (1544), Paul (1544, 1558, 1572), Paule (1505, 1544, 1558), Paull (1544, 1572, 1574, 1575), Paulle (1572, 1575), Paul (1544), Pawel (1505, 1544), Pawl (1505, 1544), Pawle (1544), Pawll (1505), Pawlle (1505), Paüll (1574)
- Pavše: Pausche (1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Paushe (1544, 1558, 1572), Pawsche (1505), Pawshe (1544), Paüsche (1574)
- Peter: Peter (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572, 1574), Petter (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575)
- Primož: Primaß (1572), Primeß (1505, 1558), Primos (1505, 1572), Primosch (1544, 1572, 1575), Primosh (1544, 1575), Primoß (1505, 1544, 1572, 1574), Primus (1558, 1574), Primusch (1574, 1575), Primusesh (1572), Primuß (1544, 1558, 1574, 1575), Primüs (1574), Primüsch (1574)
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- Polona: Pollonna (1572)