Синовете на Абдуллах
The Sons of Abdullah

Summary/Abstract: The author traces the usage of the name Abdullah and the surname “Son of Abdullah” in sources from 6th to 20th century which originate from the territory of Islam and Arabic script. She analyzes inscriptions from Bulgaria where one can meet these names and the short form of Abdullah – Abdi, a derivative from the root abd (‘slave’, ‘servant’) as well as some composite anthroponims with an ‘Abd-’ component, etc. Greater part of the monuments has not been published so far. They were discovered during field work in Pazardzhik, Kazanlak, Kardzhali, Momchilgrad, Mlechino, Dzhebel, Plovdiv, Rakitovo, Sofia, etc. The epigraphic material from 121 Bulgarian towns and villages has been examined. In 16 of the settlements monuments registering the names under question have been found. Research and other different sources (manuscripts, epigraphs, documents, coins, legends) quoted by the author evidence that most of the people called with these names were not Muslims by birth. They got new names (and surnames) after converting to Islam. The names have been used since the establishment of Islam till nowadays.

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