Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Michael81Dus

Actually, "Katrina" or "Katharina" stem from ancient Greek. Some say the origin is "aikaterine" (which might be related to "hekateros" or "hekate"), others (the majority) says it comes from "katharos", meaning pure.

Anyway, the Romans took over that name from the Greek and through Latin it has spread into other languages as well.

While in English the standard form would be "Catherine" (short Kathy), the standard German form is "Katharina" (short Katrin). In some other languages the standard spelling is "Katrina", e.g. in Polish. But, as there were waves of Polish immigration to the western German Ruhr area (which can be traced through family names such as Schimanski or Kowalski), the spelling "Katrina" also exists in Germany. However, the standard German spelling is "Katharina".


20 posted on 08/31/2005 10:59:29 AM PDT by wolf78
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies ]


To: wolf78
However, that standard German spelling is "Katharina".

As in Katharina Witt, the East German figure skating star from the 80's.

27 posted on 08/31/2005 11:50:20 AM PDT by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson