(male) The usual English form of the old Roman family name Antonius, which is of uncertain (probably Etruscan) origin. The spelling with -th- (not normally reflected in the pronunciation) represents a learned but erroneous attempt to associate it with Greek anthos ‘flower’. In the post-classical period it was a common name, borne by various early saints, most notably a 3rd-century Egyptian hermit monk, who is regarded as the founder of Christian monasticism.
Variant: Antony.
Short form: Tony.
Cognates: Irish: Antain(e). German, Dutch, Scandinavian: Anton. French: Antoine. Spanish: Antonio. Catalan: Antoni. Portuguese: António. Italian: Antonio. Russian, Bulgarian: Anton. Polish: Antoni. Czech: Antonín (from Latin Antoninus). Croatian: Ante, Antun. Slovenian: Anton. Hungarian: Antal. Lithuanian: Antanas (from Latin Antoninus).
Danish and Swedish: patronymic from the personal name Bo ‘farmer’ (see Boe).
Chinese 薄: according to legend, some descendants of Shen Nong, a legendary emperor (2734–2697 bc), were granted an area named Bo in modern-day Shandong province, and adopted the place name as their surname. Additionally, an official of the state of Song during the Spring and Autumn period (722–481 bc) was granted a town named Bo in modern-day Henan province, and his descendants also adopted the place name as their surname. The character also means ‘thin’ or ‘slim’, and ‘weak’.
Chinese 伯: from the name of Bo Yi, a famous adviser to the model emperors Shun and Yao around 2200 BC. This character also means ‘oldest brother’, and is often used as a personal name with this sense.
Vietnamese: unexplained.
Other Southeast Asian: unexplained.