Sake, Sasker en Sint Licklisgae

Abstract

In this article the origin of two Frisian names is explained. (a) It is made likely that the name Lykle derives from Nikolaas. There are two other shortenings of this name, viz. Nykle and Laas. The form Lykle probably owes its origin to the speech of children. Strikingly the present village of St. Nyk, which ca. 1500, is usually referred to as Sinte Nycolaesgae is also (once) found as S. Liclisgae. (b) The man's name Sake (and later the woman's name: Saakje) are derived from medieval Saksgêr, which led to Saksker. The man's name Saske (also a woman's name) is likewise derived from Saksker/Saksger. In all these cases we must assume phonetic simplifications.