Besarionis

Besarionis is a Georgian patronymic form derived from the given name Besarion. It appears in traditional Georgian naming as the genitive element meaning “of Besarion” or “son of Besarion.” The construction Besarionis dze is commonly encountered in historical records and serves to indicate paternal lineage before the family surname.

The best-known example in widely available history is the birth name of Joseph Stalin: Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, which translates to “Ioseb, son of Besarion, Jughashvili.” In this usage, Besarionis dze functions as a middle element that identifies the father rather than forming part of a modern surname.

In contemporary Georgia, patronymics as a formal element are not typically used in everyday naming; people usually have fixed surnames, and patronymics appear mainly in formal, literary, or historical contexts. As a standalone name or surname, Besarionis is not widely used today, but it remains relevant for understanding the structure and history of Georgian names and for interpreting historical texts that present names in their patronymic form.