Variant spellings were considered to be one name. From these distributions an analysis was made of the language from which each name was derived. The lists of citations were also analyzed for construction patterns and types of by-names. Patronymic by-names distinguish an individual by his father's name. Toponymic by-names designate individuals through the use of their place of origin.
Epithets are personal descriptions of the bearer, usually in adjectival form.
Some individuals use more than one of these by-names at a time and the use of combinations can be suggestive of certain things, such as an elevated station. In the data compiled, it was unusual for a woman to bear any by-name, but those who did used only a patronymic.