ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1095 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1095 ************************************ From: "S Friedemann" 19 Jul 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked if would be an authentic Irish masculine name. Here is the information we have found. (the slash represents an accent over the previous letter), is an Irish name, pronounced \KALE-ahn\. [2] is a late period spelling of an English surname, found as and circa 1470 and circa 1560. [1] However, while Irish and English name elements were frequently mixed after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the spelling of such elements was usually very altered in the process, creating a name whose spelling was either entirely Irish or entirely English. We did not find anything similar to in any Irish names, but if you are interested in preserving the 'hawk' element of your name, we suggest you consider the name , derived from words meaning 'hawk-like.' [2] , "Caola/n [male] descendant of Se/aghdha" or "Caola/n son of [a man called] O/ Se/aghdha," would be one way that you could combine these two elements in an authentic Irish name. It is pronounced \KALE-ahn oh SHAY\. Alternatively, if you're more interested in the sound of the name, rather than being Irish, is quite similar and would make an excellent English name. [3] We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you will not hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Arval Benicoeur, Charles O'Connor, Rouland Carre, Talan Gwynek, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, and Walraven van Nijmegen. For the Academy, --Arianuia filia Catmaili July 19, 1998 -------------------------------------------- References: [1] Woodcock, Thomas, Janet Grant, & Ian Graham, _Dictionary of British Arms_, vol II. (The Society of Antiquaries of London, 1996). [2] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990). [3] Nicolaa de Bracton, "A Statistical Survey of Given Names in Essex Co., England, 1182-1272", Known World Heraldic Symposium Proceedings 1995 (SCA Inc.).