Mundzuk

Etymology

The etymology of the name "Mundzuk" is disputed. It is recorded as Mundzucus by Jordanes, Mundiucus by Cassiodorus, Μουνδίουχος (Moundioukhos) by Priscus, and Μουνδίου (Moundiou) by Theophanes of Byzantium. A Germanic etymology was proposed by Karl Müllenhoff in the 19th century: he noted the similarity of the name's second element to that of the Burgundian king Gundioc and the Frankish king Merovech. According to Gerhard Doerfer, the name can be derived from a Gothic *Mundiweihs, from mund- (protection) and weihs (battle). Gottfried Schramm rejects a Germanic origin for the name because Mundzuk must have been born before 373, when the Huns and Goths first came into contact.

Gyula Németh and László Rásonyi argued that the name is a transcription of Turkic munčuq, munʒuq, minʒaq, bunčuq, bonʒuq, mončuq, with the potential meanings of "jewel, pearl, bead" or "flag". Gerhard Doerfer argues that this derivation is unlikely because in the oldest Turkic inscriptions this word is written beginning with a b (*bunčuq) rather than an m.