Surnames and Personal Names under S and Š in Stična’s 16th-Century Manorial Records
Vanished Voices: Forgotten Surnames from the 16th-Century
Surnames beginning with the letters S and Š are exceptionally common in central Slovenia today—and the same was true centuries ago. The 16th-century manorial records of the Stična monastery reveal a remarkably rich collection of surnames starting with these two letters. What stands out even more is how many of them have entirely disappeared from modern use.
Among these lost surnames we find Slek, Slinka, Sirimek, Smerka, Smarker, Somoze, Staber, Starkus, Strari, Ščefik, Škinder, Šlepah, Slimeter, Šmic, Šoreb, and Štenucen.
These names—once spoken aloud on village paths and written in early manorial books—are now silent echoes of a world long gone. They reflect the linguistic color, creativity, and identity patterns of rural communities in the early modern period. Many arose from house names, dialect expressions, or local designations that no longer exist, making them feel mysterious and almost archaic today.
The Shoemaker: A Craft That Gave Rise to Surnames
Among occupational surnames beginning with S, the most prominent are Šuštar and Šušteršič, both directly connected to the shoemaker’s trade (German Schuster). Numerous additional surnames later developed as local or familial variations derived from these two foundational forms.
The shoemaker held an essential place in traditional rural life. Although farmers could produce much themselves—from spinning and weaving to sewing their own clothing—shoemaking required a far greater level of skill and precision. Shoes were crafted individually, tailored to each person’s foot, and their production demanded experience, technique, and good tools.
Shoemakers typically traveled from farm to farm, staying as long as needed to finish a pair of shoes. They carried only their basic tools: awls, a hammer, and wooden lasts. Everything else—thread, nails, and leather—had to be provided by the customer. The quality of the final product depended heavily on the materials that the farmer could supply.
A single shoemaker often served several villages. Those who lived close by would bring him work to his home, while in winter he walked to more distant settlements. He might stay with a household an entire week, receiving payment in money or produce, along with food and lodging.
In almost every village there was also a farmer who could make simple repairs, patching older shoes at least enough to prolong their life. The poorer population often went barefoot for much of the year, receiving used shoes from more affluent neighbors or relatives for the coldest months.
Shoemakers were therefore an indispensable part of rural society, and their surnames remain a living testament to a craft that shaped everyday life for centuries.
Surnames Starting with S and Š:
- Sadar: Sadar (1544, 1575), Sader (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572)
- Sajer: Sayer (1544)
- Sever: Sauer (1544), Seuer (1544, 1558, 1572), Sewar (1558, 1572), Sewer (1558), Sheuer (1544)
- Selč: Seltz (1505, 1544, 1574), Selz (1544)
- Selič: Selitz (1558)
- Senič: Senitsch (1558)
- Simko: Sÿmko (1505)
- Skasa: Skassa (1505)
- Skubic, Skubec: Schkhubitz (1558, 1574), Schkhupiz (1572), Schkubetz (1575), Schkubitz (1558, 1575), Sckhupiz (1572), Scthubez (1572), Skhubetz (1544), Skhubitz (1544), Skhübitz (1574), Skubatz (1544), Skubitz (1575), Skubizev (1572)
- Skinder: Skinder (1505)
- Slade: Slade (1544, 1558, 1572, 1575), Släde (1575)
- Slana: Slana (1505), Slanna (1544, 1558, 1572), Slänä (1575)
- Slek (?): Slegkh (1575)
- Slinka (?): Slincka (1505)
- Singer: Singer (1544, 1558), Sinnger (1572), Sÿnger (1544)
- Sirk: Sirickh (1544, 1558, 1574, 1575), Sirigk (1544), Sirigkh (1544), Sirrickh (1572), Syrigkh (1572), Sÿrickh (1575), Sÿrigkh (1572)
- Sirimek (?): Sirimsheckh (1544)
- Sitik: Sittickh (1572)
- Smrekar: Smreckar (1558), Smreckhar (1544), Smregkher (1575), Smrekar (1505)
- Smerka (?): Smerka (1505)
- Smarker (?): Smaregkher (1574), Smarögkher (1572)
- Smrke: Smirke (1505)
- Smole: Smole (1544, 1558)
- Sodar: Soder (1558)
- Somoze (?): Somoze (1572)
- Staber (?): Staber (1572)
- Stopic: Stöpitz (1558, 1575)
- Starič: Staritz (1505, 1558), Stäriz (1574)
- Starkus (?): Starckuß (1544), Starkuß (1558)
- Sterlikar: Sterlihar (1575)
- Stopar: Stepar (1558), Stopar (1558, 1572), Stoparr (1574, 1575), Stopper (1544)
- Stopič: Stopitz (1558), Stopiz (1572), Stopizev (1574)
- Strari (?): Strari (1558)
- Strmec: Stermetz (1544, 1558, 1575), Stermez (1574), Stermitz (1505, 1572)
- Strmole: Starmalle (1572), Stermole (1544, 1558, 1574), Stermolle (1575), Stormolle (1572)
- Suhar, Suher: Suchar (1558, 1572), Sucher (1544, 1574, 1575)
- Suk: Suckh (1544), Sukh (1544)
- Suša: Susha (1544)
- Sušek: Susheck (1544)
- Sušel: Sushel (1544)
- Sušic: Suschitz (1544, 1558)
- Šac: Schatz (1544)
- Šahman: Schacman (1505)
- Šanca: Schanntza (1574), Schannza (1572), Schantzin (1505), Schautza (1544)
- Ščetina: Schetina (1505, 1544, 1558), Schettina (1572, 1575), Shetina (1572)
- Ščetinc, Ščetinec: Schettinitz (1574), Schettinz (1572)
- Ščefik (?): Scheÿffing (1505)
- Ščinkovec: Schinckhouitz (1575), Schinkhouiz (1572), Schinkowiz (1558)
- Šega: Schega (1544, 1572)
- Šegetic: Schegetiz (1558)
- Šemic, Šemica: Schamitza (1558), Schemmitz (1558)
- Šenav: Schenau (1572), Schenaw (1558, 1575)
- Šenič: Schenitsch (1572)
- Šerp, Šerep: Scherep (1544, 1558), Scherp (1558)
- Šetinc: Schetenitz (1558)
- Šiman: Sÿman (1575)
- Šime: Sÿme (1505)
- Šimec, Šimic: Schimetz (1544, 1558), Schimmtz (1544), Sÿmetz (1505)
- Šimon: Schimon (1544)
- Šinkovec: Shinkhouitz (1575)
- Škelj: Schkel (1544)
- Škinder (?): Schkinder (1544)
- Škrbina: Schkherbina (1544)
- Škrajenc, Škrjanec: Tschkurÿanitz (1505), Schkorÿantz (1544)
- Škufca, Škufica: Schkhufitza (1574, 1575), Schkhufiza (1572), Schufiza (1558), Sckhuffiza (1572)
- Šlepah (?): Schleipach (1544), Schlepech (1558)
- Šlinter (?): Schlinter (1558), Shlimetter (1572)
- Šmerc: Schmetz (1544)
- Šmic (?): Schmiz (1572)
- Šmid: Schmid (1544, 1558), Schmidt (1544, 1572), Shmidt (1572), Smid (1505)
- Šmrkelj, Smrkelj: Schmareckher (1558)
- Šnajder: Schneider (1575), Schneÿder (1505, 1572), Shneider (1558)
- Šoreb, Šorep (?): Schörrep (1575), Shorrepp (1572)
- Šolc: Söltz (1572)
- Špendal: Spanndl (1558), Spendall (1505), Spendl (1544), Spenndell (1572), Spenndl (1572, 1574)
- Šraj: Schraÿ (1572), Schreÿ (1505, 1544, 1558, 1575), Shraÿ (1572)
- Štafelj: Staffl (1572)
- Štrajn: Strain (1572, 1574)
- Štajner: Sthaÿner (1575)
- Štancel: Staintzl (1558), Stanntzl (1574, 1575), Stannzl (1572), Stannzll (1572), Stantzl (1544), Stänntzl (1558, 1574)
- Štangelj: Stangl (1572)
- Štefe: Steffe (1505)
- Štepic: Stebitz (1558), Stepitz (1505, 1544, 1558, 1574, 1575), Stepiz (1572), Stepizev (1558), Stepÿtz (1558)
- Štepec: Stepez (1544, 1572), Steppez (1572), Sthepezev (1544)
- Šterkus: Sterkhus (1572), Sterkhüß (1574)
- Štenucen (?): Schtenutzen (1558)
- Štober (?): Stober (1574)
- Štofl: Stoffl (1558, 1572)
- Štofman: Stoffann (1572), Stöffann (1572)
- Štoncel: Stonnezl (1544)
- Štravs: Strawß (1505), Straß (1558)
- Štrečnil (?): Strechnil (1544)
- Štrukelj: Struckl (1544), Strukhell (1544)
- Štrus: Struß (1572, 1575), Strüß (1574)
- Štular: Stular (1575), Stullar (1572)
- Štulc: Stulz (1544, 1572), Stülitz (1574)
- Štulic: Stulitz (1575)
- Šturm: Sturm (1558), Sturmb (1572), Sturumb (1574)
- Šuf (?): Schueff (1544)
- Šule: Schulle (1572)
- Šuncel (?): Suntzel (1572), Sunzl (1574)
- Šunta: Schunta (1505, 1558)
- Šuša: Schusa (1505), Schuscha (1574), Schusha (1558), Schussa (1505), Shusha (1572)
- Šušič: Schuschiz (1572), Schusitz (1505)
- Šušil (?): Schushil (1558), Schushill (1558)
- Šusl: Schusl (1544, 1572), Schussel (1575), Schusshl (1575), Schussl (1572, 1575)
- Šuštar: Schuesster (1544), Schuester (1505), Schueßter (1558)
- Šuštaršič: Schustaritsh (1558), Schüsterschitz (1574), Shustertshitsh (1572)
- Švajnic: Schweinitz (1575), Schweintz (1572)
- Švarc: Schwärtz (1505)
Personal Names Starting with S and Š:
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- Sebastjan, Boštjan: Sebastian (1544, 1558, 1574, 1575), Sebastiann (1572), Sewastia (1572), Sewastian (1572), Sewastiann (1572), Sewasttan (1572)
- Simon: Siman (1574), Simmon (1558), Simon (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Symon (1558), Sÿmon (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572, 1575), Sÿmonn (1572), Sÿmonnn (1572), Sÿmonns (1572)
- Štefan: Stefann (1572), Steffan (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Steffann (1505, 1572), Steffanns (1572), Steffano (1505), Steffen (1505), Stefpann (1572), Stepan (1558), Stepfan (1572), Stepfen (1505), Stephan (1544, 1575), Stephani (1572), Stephann (1544), Stephen (1544), Stiffan (1544), Stäpann (1572)
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- Špela: Spela (1544, 1558)