Kipsigis Naming System

The Kipsigis are a Nilotic tribe living in Kenya. They make up the Kalenjin ethnic group and speak Kipsigiis language which falls under the Nandi-Marakweta languages cluster. The

Mercy Cherono from the Kipsigis tribe and Kibet from the Marakwet tribe. The traditional first names of the Marakwet are switched gender-wise unlike the other Kalenjin tribes.

Kipsigis observe a naming system which is similar or the same to the other Kalenjin. The system observes that every name of a person, object or place has a meaning.[1] The system has been subject to westernization and attrition to linguistics due to the Kenyan adoption of Swahili language as a lingua-franca and the dynamic view that indigenous languages are provincial or backward.

Naming is referred to as Kogoochinet-aab Kainaiik. Names are referred to as Kainaiik.

Names of People

Firstname (Kip/Kib Name)

The first name of the Kipsigis males is prefixed by the term Kip and then added a cervix descriptive of the prenatal, natal or post natal places or time or weather and situations. It was to be widely used before initiation and rarely after, only as the mother mourns a dead soldier son or during divorce.

A Table of the Kipsigis/Kalenjin Masculine First Names
Kip-name Meaning notable personalities
Kipkorir Of sunrise
Kipyegon Shortly to sunrise
Kipkoech Born with the rising sun
Kimutai Of early morning David Kimutai Rotich,
Kipng'eno with the awakening sheep Prof. Moses King'eno Rugut,
Kipng'etich with the awakening cattle
Kibet Of the daytime
Kiprono Of the returning sheep Moses Kiprono arap Keino, Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, Prof. Richard Kiprono Mibey, Magerer Kiprono Langat, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot,
Kiprotich/Kiprotug Of the returning cattle Prof. Davy Kiprotich Koech
Kiplang'at Of the evining
Kipkemoi/Kipkemboi Of the night
Kipkurui/Kipkirui Of the sleep-time Kipkurui Misogi,
Cheriot/Cheruiyot John Cheruiyot Korir, Peter Cheruiyot Kirui, Edwin Cheruiyot Soi,
Kipjumba/Kipchumba 'Caucasoid' - Metro-sexual/Metropolitan
Kiprop Of the rain
Kipsang' Of the open John Korir Kipsang,
Kibii Within the compound
Kibor To succeed on an endeavour
Kipruto In adventure or travel
Kiptoo In hosting of guests
Kipchirchir In haste William Kipchirchir Samoei Ruto,
Kipketer Around and about the eaves
Kipkurgat Of the doorway
Kipkoskei Whose first sneeze was delayed at birth
Kipng'eny Within and about salt lick rocks
Kimetet Prof. Jonathan Kimetet Araap Ngeno
Kipturturi or Kibuigut Stamerer
Kipkemei Of the dry season/famine
Kipkalya During ratification of peace Kipkalya Kones,
Kipsiele In moment or event of drinking beer Paul Kipsiele Koech,
Kiprugut Hunger/famine Wilson Kiprugut arap Chumo


Patronymic 'Araap' Surname

After males were initiated at about their late teenage and early adulthood, they would come out as having achieved citizenship of the Kipsigis jurisdiction and would be accorded a patronymic surname derived from the first name of the father. For instance, if the father is named Kiptoo, his son after being initiated is accorded the name Araap Too.

Firstname (Che/Chep names)
A Table of the Kipsigis/Kalenjin Feminine First Names
Chep- name Meaning Notable Personalities
Chepkorir Of sunrise
Chepkoech Born with the rising sun
Chemutai Of early morning
Chepng'eno with the awakening sheep Hellen Chepngeno,
Chepng'etich with the awakening cattle
Chebeet Of the daytime Emily Chebet,
Cherono Of the returning sheep Dr.Joyce Cherono Laboso, Mercy Cherono,
Cherotich/Cherotug Of the returning cattle
Chelang'at Of the evining
Chepkemoi Of the night
Chepkirui/Chepkurui Of the sleep-time Dr.Gladys Chepkirui Ngetich, Lineth Chepkurui,
Chepchumba 'Caucasoid' - Metro-sexual/Metropolitan Joyce Chepchumba,
Cherop Of the rain
Chesang' Of the open
Chebii Within the compound
Chepwogen Took a longer natal period
Chebor Within the compound
Cheruto In adventure or travel
Cheptoo In hosting of guests
Chepchirchir In haste
Chepketer Around and about the eaves
Chepkurgat Of the doorway
Chepkoske Whose first sneeze was delayed at birth
Chepng'eny Within and about salt lick rocks
Chepkemei Of the dry season
Chepkalya During ratification of peaceful tidings
Chepsiele/Chesiele In moment or event of drinking beer


Matronymic 'Tab' Maiden Name

Other female names

A barren woman however could marry another woman under marriage custom called Kitunji Toloj in order to ensure that she had children to pass on her property. She is thus taken for a "man" i.e. had to pay for dowry. She is then referred to as Chemenjo or Chepotipiik.[2]

Names of Places

Naming of places followed acquisition of territory of another 'foreigners' or establishment of new village settlements. Places were usually named after trees, wildlife, prominent personalities and/or peculiarity of the locality. Place names could also have been borrowed after successful expeditions of territory expansion thus names of such earlier inhabitants may be retained.

Sampled Place Names of Towns and jurisdictions within Kipsigisland
Place Location Origin of Place Name Meaning
Belgut Kipsigis Burning Mouth
Kabianga Kisii Cannot
Cheptenye Kipsigis Retundant, slant growth
Sigowet Kipsigis 'Sigowet tree'
Soin Kipsigis Hot lowlands
Kiptere Kipsigis A place of ceramic pots
Kipkelion Kipsigis A place of the 'Keliek tree'
Londiani Maasai
Kericho Maasai
Kapsuser Kipsigis A place/ the home of weavils
Chemosit

Giant river located there

 Kipsigis Giant/Bear
Bureti
Chemosot
Chesingoro
Litein Kipsigis/Maasai named after a rock used for sharpening tools or weapons synonym is liteito
Cheplanget Kipsigis Leopard
Kapkatet Kipsigis A thorny place
Kaplong Maasai
Sotik Kipsigis/Maasai
Ndanai Kipsigis/Maasai
Chebilat Kipsigis A place of lightning and thunderstorms.
Rongena Maasai
Sotit
Kenyagoro
Bomet Borrowed Swahili Night cattle padock
Kapletundo

References
  1. Fish, Burnette C. (1995). The Kalenjiin heritage : traditional religious and social practices. Africa Gospel Church. p. 217. ISBN 0-9620406-6-5. OCLC 40199906.
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16871435. Missing or empty |title= (help)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.