Name «But»

The name But, as well as the similar-sounding name But, were quite common in Ukrainian anthroponymy of the 17th century. For example, in 1649, a Cossack from the Pereiaslav regiment was named But Datsenko, a Cossack from the Chyhyryn regiment was called Bohdan But, and a Cossack from the Poltava regiment was named Bazhan But. Various derived names were formed from the name But, such as Buta, Butash, Butenko, Butko, Butkovskyi, Butovych, Butuk, and others. There are many opinions regarding the origin of the name But. V. Shulhach believes that But is a short form of the compound name Holobut, in which one can see the name *Vyihtih or *Vyiьтёгъ. According to D. Buchko, the name But originates from the ancient Budymyr. V. Horpynych expresses the assumption that the term "but" referred to those Cossacks who, having fallen into Turkish or Greek captivity, worked as shepherds and were called by the ancient Greek word "buvris" (i.e., "shepherd"). The prolonged stay of captured Cossacks in Greece led to their learning the local language, and such individuals were often referred to as translators.Yan Svoboda believes that the name But could have originated as a modification of the Slavic name Bohut. M. Hrkovič traces the name But back to Bud or Budymyr, while Yu. Redko associates it with the appellative "but," meaning "boot" or "young green onion." In the Middle Tisza basin, the name Butha has been used since the 13th century. In 1213, it appeared in documents, particularly in a record about the Bihor county. T. Skulina suggests that the name But may derive from the Russian verb "butet," which means "to become coarser." N. A. Konstantinescu considers several versions of the origin of the Ukrainian surname But.