Surnames and Personal Names under U and V in Stična’s 16th-Century Manorial Records
The surname Vodopivec and attitudes toward water in the 16th century
Surnames that became established in the Slovene lands during the 15th and especially the 16th century were often derived from nicknames connected to everyday habits, physical characteristics, occupations, or particular life circumstances. Among them, the surname Vodopivec stands out and immediately raises an intriguing question: why would someone, in a period when alcoholic beverages were widely consumed, be defined by drinking water?
This article uses the surname Vodopivec as a starting point for a broader insight into attitudes toward water and beverages in the 16th century in the territory of present-day Slovenia. The explanation of the surname is closely linked to everyday dietary habits, the availability of safe drinking water, the role of alcohol in daily nutrition, and contemporary awareness of the dangers posed by contaminated water. Understanding these circumstances helps us better grasp why a person who (regularly or primarily) drank water could be distinctive enough to be identified—and remembered—by this habit.
The origin and meaning of the surname Vodopivec
The surname Vodopivec originated from a nickname meaning “one who drinks water (willingly or habitually)”. Semantically, it was most likely formed in relation to the word “pivec”, which in older sources could mean simply “one who drinks”, but often more specifically “one who drinks alcoholic beverages”. A Vodopivec was therefore someone who, in the eyes of the community, stood out because he drank water instead of wine, beer, or other alcoholic drinks—whether by personal choice, for health reasons, moral or religious restraint, or due to poverty.
Nicknames of this type were strongly socially marked. They should not be understood as neutral descriptions, but rather as labels assigned by the community. Once such a nickname became fixed and began to be passed on to descendants, it developed into a hereditary surname.
What people in the Slovene lands drank in the 16th century
In wine-growing regions (Lower Carniola, Styria, the Littoral), wine was the basic everyday beverage. It was consumed by all social classes, often diluted with water. Wine was not merely a source of pleasure but an important part of daily nutrition, providing calories and being considered safer than many water sources. Viticulture was widespread even among the peasantry, making wine more readily available than it is today.
Beer was common especially in towns and market settlements, as well as in northern and Alpine regions where viticulture was less developed. It was brewed domestically or in urban breweries, usually in a weaker form than modern beer. Like wine, beer was regarded as a “safe” drink, since the brewing process reduced the risk of disease.
Mead was consumed primarily in areas with developed beekeeping. Distilled spirits were already known in the 16th century, but they were not yet widespread. Distillation techniques existed, yet spirits were generally more valuable and less common in everyday life than wine or beer.
Attitudes toward water: necessity, risk, and caution
Water was essential for life, but at the same time potentially dangerous. Although people in the 16th century had no knowledge of microbiology, experience taught them that “bad water” could cause illness. Drinking water came from wells, springs, streams, and rivers, which were often exposed to contamination from waste, livestock, latrines, and craft activities.
Waterborne illnesses and poisonings were common, particularly in towns. For this reason, the use of alcohol in daily nutrition was partly a pragmatic solution. Diluted wine or beer was often safer than untreated water. This means that drinking water regularly could, in certain environments, be the exception rather than the rule—and thus sufficiently noticeable to give rise to a nickname.
Water as a strategic and political factor
The importance of water was not limited to everyday life; it also played a crucial role in military and political contexts. In the medieval and early modern periods, poisoning or contaminating wells was a known tactic during sieges of towns and fortresses. If an attacker cut off access to water or contaminated it, this could force the defenders to surrender quickly, regardless of their food supplies.
Such examples further illustrate how precious and vulnerable drinking water was, and how well people understood its significance. In this context, it is clear why attitudes toward water were shaped by great caution, and why the choice of beverage was often a matter of survival rather than preference.
Vodopivec as a reflection of everyday reality
The surname Vodopivec is therefore neither a curiosity nor a humorous oddity, but a valuable historical reflection of everyday reality in the 16th century. It speaks of dietary habits, health risks, social distinctions, and collective perceptions of what was considered “normal” and what stood out. For genealogists, such a surname is also a reminder that surnames are an important source for understanding the living conditions of our ancestors—often revealing far more than might appear at first glance.
Surnames Starting with U and V:
- Urbas: Urbes (1572)
- Videc: Vedez (1572), Videtz (1544, 1558, 1575), Videz (1544, 1572)
- Vidič: Viditz (1558, 1574)
- Verjer: Verier (1575)
- Vernič: Vermitz (1558)
- Vermuk: Vermug (1575), Vernuch (1572)
- Verner: Vernar (1544, 1558), Verner (1558, 1574, 1575), Vernner (1558, 1572)
- Verčer: Vertscher (1574), Vertsher (1572)
- Višer: Vischer (1575), Visher (1558, 1572)
- Višgar: Vishgar (1572)
- Višnaver: Vischnauar (1574), Vishnevar (1572)
- Vodenik: Vodenigk (1544)
- Vodopivec: Vodopiuiz (1572)
- Vodovič: Vodouitz (1558)
- Vrbič: Vrbitsch (1544, 1558, 1572, 1575), Vrbitsh (1544, 1572)
- Vuk: Vug (1572), Vüg (1505)
- Volk: Vulckh (1572)
- Vurga: Vurga (1558)
Personal Names Starting with U and V:
- Urban: Vrban (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Vrbann (1505, 1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Vrbe (1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575)
- Urh, Ulrik: Vlirch (1544), Vlrich (1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575), Vrich (1505, 1574)
- Valent, Valentin: Valannt (1558), Valant (1505), Valennt (1558), Valent (1505, 1544, 1558), Vallanndt (1558), Vallant (1544), Vallendt (1572), Vallenndt (1572), Vallent (1505, 1544)
- Vencelj, Venčeslav: Vanze (1572), Venntze (1544, 1558, 1574, 1575), Venntzl (1544), Vennze (1544, 1558, 1572), Vennzel (1572), Ventze (1544), Venze (1544, 1572)
- Viktor: Victarius (1505)
- Vid: Vide (1544, 1558, 1572, 1574, 1575)
- Urša: Vrscha (1574), Vrschana (1544)