ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1198 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1198 ************************************ 30 Aug 1998 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings, Here's the information we found on the name "Justinus McDugal," which you wanted to use as a Scottish name. In our earlier letter, we reported that is an English name, appropriate for the period between 1100 and 1300 [1]. However, this does not mean that it is an appropriate Scottish name as well. In your period, several languages were spoken in the area that is Scotland today. The major ones were: * Norse, spoken in the far north and the western isles. * English, spoken mainly in the southeast. * Gaelic, spoken through much of the country. * Norman French, spoken by Norman settlers and their Scoto-Norman descendents, mostly in the south. The languages were very different and had different naming customs. There was some mixing of names from the different cultures, but most names were not adopted into all of the cultures. is an English spelling of the Gaelic name "son of Dubgall" [3]. In period, it would have been used literally, i.e. by the son of a man whose given name was . is a Norman name, used in England in your period [2]. We don't have evidence that it was carried north to Scotland either by English-speaking or Norman settlers in the 12th or 13th century, but we think that scenario is not unlikely. However, in order for you to use some form of , you would have to have born to a Gaelic-speaking family. It is considerably less likely that was adopted by Gaelic-speaking families early enough to fit your period. A man named in Scotland in your period would most likely have been a Scoto-Norman or an English speaker, and his name might have been recorded something like "Justin from Conyngham" or "Justin son of Willelm". Since we have found only in England in your period, the most authentic option would be to choose an English name and persona. If you want a Scottish persona, then the name is probably also appropriate for an English or Norman settler or his descendent. The names we suggested in our previous letter would be appropriate for either of these choices. You can find other medieval English names in the "A Dictionary of English Surnames" [2], which is available in most good-sized libraries. On the other hand, if you want a Gaelic name, you'll need to start by choosing a Gaelic first name. If you would like some help with Gaelic names, we recommend that you start by reading "Scottish Names 101" and "Quick and Easy Gaelic Bynames", which you can find on the web at http://www.stanford.edu/~skrossa/medievalscotland/scot_names_101.html http://www.stanford.edu/~skrossa/medievalscotland/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/index.html If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write us again. Effrick neyn Kenneoch, Talan Gwynek and Aryanhwy Prytydes contributed to this letter. In service, Alan Fairfax & Arval Benicoeur Academy of S. Gabriel 30 Aug 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Academy of S. Gabriel Report (Accessed August 17, 1998) http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/showfinal.cgi?551 [2] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). [3] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -