ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1241 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1241 ************************************ From: "S Friedemann" 16 Sep 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if or were used as English, Welsh, or Irish feminine names between 1100 and 1400, and what their meanings were. You also asked about arms incorporating a Welsh dragon. Here is what we have found. We found in England in 1206 and 1221 [1]. We haven't found it used in any other time or place in period. We didn't find as a name in any time or place. If you let us know where you found these names, perhaps we can find more information on them. The "Welsh dragon" is a red, walking dragon. We were not sure if this was what you meant when you spoke of using a Welsh dragon in your arms. Dragons were not found in British heraldry until the late 13th or 14th century. The "wyvern," a two-legged winged dragon, first appeared in English rolls of arms in a roll of arms at the time of Edward I (1272-1307). The first certain usage is in the Parliamentary Roll circa 1312. The four-legged winged dragon does not appear until quite late in period. [2,3] If you'd like to use a dragon on your arms, we suggest that you use a wyvern. 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, Talan Gwynek, and Zenobia Naphtali. For the Academy, --Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael September 16, 1998 --------------------------------------- References: [1] Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in _A Dictionary of English Surnames_" (SCA: KWHS Proceedings, 1994; WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997) [2] Brault, Gerald J., _The Rolls of Arms of Edward I_, Aspilogia III, 2 vols. (London: Boydell Press, 1997). [3] Dennys, Rodney, _Heraldic Imagination_ (New York: Clarkson and Potter Inc., 1975), p.119]