Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 105

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 105

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/105

This is one of the Academy's earliest reports. We are not confident that these early reports are accurate. Please use it with caution.

Greetings,

Here's the information we found on the name "Cecilia" as used in Catalonia around 1580.

We spent some time trying to find a source on Catalan names, and eventually gave up. However, there's no doubt that "Cecilia" is a valid woman's name in Spanish during this period. S. Cecilia, and early martyr was recognized as the patron saint of music from the early 1400's. We found one definite late-period citation for her name, a Carmelite nun named Cecilia Morillas who died in 1570--perfect for your desired period.

Although we didn't find a documented male form of "Cecilia," you could use the form "Cecilio," which would follow the usual pattern for making female names male in Spanish.

It appears that both single and double surnames were used during this period. According to Charles Gosnell's "The Formation of Spanish Surnames," the general pattern for double names is "<given name> <first surname> de <second surname>." However, in the 16th century the names were not generally based on the mother's and father's surnames. The original form was to use a patronymic for the first surname, and an estate name for the second surname--for example, "Cecilia Lopez de Haro." However, by late period this pattern was not always followed, so that you could use two patronymics, two estate names, or some other surname in either location.

Arval D'Espas Nord, Pedro de Alcazar, Ivanor of Sighty Crag, Jaelle of Armida, Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn, and Elsbeth Anne Roth all contributed to this letter.

We hope this has been helpful, and apologize in the long delay getting this letter to you. If you would like further assistance, please let us know.

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel