Origin of the name Goncharov, or Who is potter

The surname is a generic name that passes from father to children (with rare exceptions). Every person has tried to find out about the origin of his name and its meaning at least once in his life. Many now even make up a genealogical tree, along which it is possible to track how the surname passed from generation to generation. In this article we will talk about where the name Goncharov came from .

Who is a potter?

The origin of the name Goncharov comes from the occupation, unlike other "speaking" Russian names. Since ancient times, people have learned to make household items from various materials. At first they made it out of stone, then they adapted themselves to turn out wooden utensils and utensils from stone with stone scrapers.

As the "growing up" of mankind and increasing the intellectual abilities of the ancients, people learned to take natural clay, mix it with water and mold out any products from the resulting mass. But they were not strong enough. Probably, one day a clay object fell into the fire and got stronger there. So people realized that roasting attached strength to clay pots.

In the Old Slavonic language "gerno" meant a horn, a kiln for roasting. Here are the origins of the origin of the name Goncharov. By the way, in the Indian language there is also an analog of this term - ghrnas, which means "heat" or "heat".

Birth of craft

The man needed to store in some way water, grain, flour. It was necessary to make utensils for eating. So there was an ancient profession - a potter. This craft and is the main of the versions of the origin of the name Goncharov.

People were able to improve the technology of clay products and created a potter's wheel. It is known that the potter's wheel appeared in the III millennium BC! At first it was manual: with one hand the master rotated the round table, and the second - formed the product.

Later both hands were released: they invented a mechanism, which could be untwisted. It was a real leap forward! Immediately improved quality, increased the number of manufactured dishes. Pottery became very profitable, the basics of craft were passed on from generation to generation.

Even now, in the age of high technology, every person knows who the potter is. And now pottery is in demand. Here are just products made of clay now do not by hands, but in factories. But painting is most often done manually. The pottery circle still exists, but as a colorful subject of national craft in some regions of Russia. Handwork has always been and remains in price. A worthy profession became the basis of the origin of the name Goncharov.

Prevalence of last name

Since dishes were needed for people in all ages, the potter's profession became very popular. This master craftsmen trained boys who, having grown up, opened their pottery shops. In Russia, and all over the world, there were their unsurpassed masters of pottery.

Pottery really became an art. In addition to utensils potters created souvenirs: statuettes, flower vases, toys and even clay brooches! And the profession became a surname! Gonchar is a father, and his children are a potter's son, a potter's daughter. This is the origin of the name Goncharov. The suffix "s" played its role, which, by the rules of the Russian language, means belonging to something or someone.

The descendants of the first potter could no longer engage in family business, but they continued to be so popular among the people - the Goncharovs. In ancient archives this name has been mentioned since the XV century.

Famous name

This name in Russia is very popular. And now everyone who reads this article now has at least one Goncharov among relatives or acquaintances. Surely he does not do pottery.

There are a lot of famous people with the name Goncharov or Goncharova.

For example, the great Russian writer, literary classic Ivan Alexandrovich Goncharov (1812-1891 gg.), Who created the famous novel Oblomov.

Natalie Goncharova (1812-1863 gg.) - Any schoolboy knows who does not skip literature lessons! The name of the wife of the great Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin is immortalized by his work. Natalie Goncharova was a representative of the genus, who owned a linen factory.

Goncharovs - this name was worn by well-known noble families in the Russian state. In all there were twelve.

About the connection with fire

The ancient Slavs were superstitious, therefore for them the potter's profession was shrouded in mysticism and fear. It was believed that the master, who works with fire during the burning of clay, has a connection with the underworld.

Archaeologists during the excavations found pots with a cross on the bottom. This is explained as follows: the potter after work put in the center of the circle a piece of clay and depicted a cross on it. He did this so that at night the dark forces kept away and did not rotate the potter's wheel.