Traces of Middle Low German in Latvian Proper Names A Brief Overview

This article gives an insight into the role of the Middle Low German (MLG) language in Latvian onomastics. It demonstrates the impact of MLG on the development of the anthroponymic system in Modern Latvian. As regards placenames, we can speak of a phenomenon of a historical,dual naming". The mutual influences between Latvian and German placenames in Latvia have been manifold. The oldest Latvian surnames, in their turn, contain many loanwords from MLG.