Semen (antroponym)

Semen /ʂemen/ or Xemen /ʃemen/ is a medieval given name of the Vascon area. It is based on the Basque root seme < senbe 'son' as found in the ancient Aquitanian name Sembetten. The explanation by the Biblical name Šim’ōn (Simon) is less convincing.

It is widely known on both sides of the Pyrenees in the following forms:

• Semen or Semeno fem. Semena
• Semero fem. Semera
• Scemeno (in Villabáscones)
• Xemen or Xemeno fem. Xemena
• Ximeno fem. Ximena (French Chimène)

By adjunction of the suffix -ez, it produces the Iberian patronyms:

• Portuguese: Ximenes /ʃimeneʃ/
• Spanish: Ximénez, Jiménez /ximeneθ/

Notes and references

• Medieval Vascon names