Kato Deftera

Location and Geography

Kato Deftera is a village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus, approximately 11 kilometers south-west of the capital city, Nicosia. It is situated near the village of Pano Deftera, which is about three kilometers away.

Etymology

The origin of the name "Deftera" has several versions. The most widely accepted theory is that it comes from the Greek word "defteras," meaning "the man who keeps the book account" (defteria). Another possible explanation is that it is derived from the Greek phrase "to Defteri," which refers to the second plow of the fields ("deftero"). This latter interpretation is currently the prevailing view.

History

Historically, Kato Deftera has had a mixed population of Greek and Turkish Cypriots. According to the Ottoman census of 1831, Christians (Greek Cypriots) made up the majority of the population at that time. However, unlike other communities with mixed populations, the Turkish Cypriots in Kato Deftera did not adopt an alternative name for their community.

Demographics

The total population of Kato Deftera is not specified in the available sources. However, it is worth noting that the village has a relatively small population, as indicated by one source stating that the genus (presumably referring to the village or its inhabitants) has a total population of 4.44 people.

References

* Communities in Nicosia District
* Ottoman census of 1831