In the best-known version of the Europa myth, Europa—the daughter either of Phoenix or of Agenor, king of Phoenicia—was abducted by Zeus, who had disguised himself as a white bull. For those not familiar with the UK, Coventry is an industrial city in Warwickshire, England. We have thousands of names from cultures around the world. Last Names by Origin. The origins of this phrase aren't known, although it is quite probable that events in Coventry in the English Civil War in the 1640s play a part. In 1863, when Alice was 11, something happened to cause the family to ostracize him. This phrase was common in industrial disputes in Britain in the mid-twentieth century. FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found. There are a number of theories. Other versions link Europa with Demeter, the goddess of earth and agriculture. Your last name gives you a sense of identity and helps you discover who you are and where you come from. Do you have an Indian last name? They point to the Akkadian word erebu, meaning “sunset,” and reason that, from the Mesopotamian perspective, the western-setting sun descended on Europe. as are testy, or have been guilty of improper behaviour, On a proper submission, the penitent is recalled, and welcomed by the mess, as just returned from a journey to Europa was one of only 41 of these minor deities who were thought worthy of naming. by officers of the army on such of their brethren We have thousands of names from cultures around the world. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. speak to or answer any question he asks, except relative not worthy the cognizance of a court martial. Those were the divisions that Ptolemy used when he laid out his map of the world in the Guide to Geography (Geōgraphikē hyphēgēsis) in the 2nd century CE. Dodgson had developed a close relationship with the Liddell's daughter Alice. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It is well-known for its two cathedrals; the modern cathedral being built in 1962 to replace the old cathedral, which was destroyed during an intense German bombing raid in 1940. Zeus spirited her away from Phoenicia to Crete, where she bore him three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon. This behaviour often takes the form of pretending that the shunned person, although conspicuously present, can't be seen or heard. A competing theory locates the eponym for Europe in mythology, specifically in the many versions of stories about the goddess Europa, some of which date back millennia. The first known citation of the allusory meaning is from the Club Book of the Tarporley Hunt, 1765: "Mr. John Barry having sent the Fox Hounds to a different place to what was ordered ... was sent to Coventry, but return'd upon giving six bottles of Claret to the Hunt.". No one knows for sure the origin of Europe’s name, but it certainly stuck. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn. There are a number of theories. The ancient Greeks divided the world into three major units: Europe, Asia, and Libya, the last of which referred to the known northern portion of Africa. Anyone who was considered to be unsupportive of the workforce was in danger of finding that his/her workmates refused to acknowledge their existence. A well-known example of someone being sent to Coventry is Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), after his falling out with the Liddell family. Other scholars have argued that the origin for the name Europe is to be found in the Semitic Akkadian language that was spoken in ancient Mesopotamia. Discover the meaning and history behind your last name. One of the oldest versions identifies Europa as one of the Oceanides, the 3,000 sea nymphs who occupied a lower tier in the hierarchy of Greek mythology.