Alvitus

Alvitus is a masculine given name well attested in medieval Galicia. Other attested spellings include Aluitus, Albitus, Aloitus, Aloytus, Albittus and Aloittus.^[1] The Romance forms are Alvito, Aloito, Aloyto and Albito.

The etymology of Alvitus is uncertain. It may be of pre-Roman origin. A proposed derivation from the Latin name Albus is unlikely. It has been proposed as a hypocoristic form of Álvaro and as a name of Gothic origin. The name Alvith is attested among the Heruli.^[1][2]

People with the name include:

• Alvito Nunes (died 1015), count of Portugal
• Aloito (bishop of Mondoñedo) (fl. 1040)
• Alvito (bishop of León) (died 1063)

The patronymic form is Alvites or Alóitez. Examples include:

• Hermenegildo Alóitez (born c. 898), Galicia nobleman
• Nuno Alvites (fl. 1017–1028), count of Portugal

References

1. Lidia Becker, Hispano-romanisches Namenbuch (Max Niemeyer Verlag, 2009), pp. 148–149.
2. Ana Isabel Boullón Agrelo, Antroponimia medieval galega (ss. VIII–XII) (Max Niemeyer Verlag, 1999), p. 128.