ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1316
http://www.s-gabriel.org/1316
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23 Nov 1998
From: Jodi McMaster 

Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel!

You asked about documenting the name <John-Edward Drake> for an
Englishman living between 1150-1350.

First, we'd like to clarify the service that the Academy offers. We try
to help Societyfolk in choosing and using names that fit the historical
cultures they are trying to re-create. Our research can sometimes be
used to support submissions to the College of Arms, but that it not our
goal and our results are often incompatible with the College's needs. If
your main goal is to register a particular name, then we may not be able
to help you. 

The name <Edward>, which derives from an Anglo-Saxon name, was in use
during your period and in that spelling, although it is also found in
the Latin form <Edwardus>. [1]

The name <John>, an Anglo-Norman name, was used throughout our period,
but the spelling <John> is unlikely until at least the late 13th
century. For an earlier persona, you may wish to consider using one of
the following variants [2]:

        Jene (1275)
        Gene (1292)
        Jone (1279, 1372)
        Jon  (1292, 1296)
        Joan (1379)
        Johan (1280)
        Jhoun (1295)

We found several examples of people bearing the surname <Drake>, derived
from Latin via Old English, during your period [2]:

        Robert Drake (1185)
        David Drake (1190)
        Wimund le Drake (1205)
        Geoffrey le Drak' (1225)

The fact both given names were used during the period independently does
not mean that combining them is appropriate. Double given names were not
used in England during our period.  Either <Edward> or <Jone> (or one of
the other spelling variants above) with a documented form of <Drake>
would be an excellent name for your period: <Jone Drake>, <Edward le
Drake>, etc.

You asked about mixing these names, as you were concerned some of them
might be derived from a Celtic language. There is no difficulty with
culture mixing as all of these are found in an English context; none of
them come from a Celtic language. [3]

We hope this letter has been helpful.  Please write us again if any part
of it has been unclear or if you have other questions.  Arval Benicoeur,
Talan Gwynek, Teceangl Bach, Effrick neyn Kenneoch, Aryanhwy merch
Catmael, and Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn contributed research
and/or comments to this letter.

For the Academy,

   AElfwyn aet Gyrwum
__________________

References:

[1] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian
Names_ 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988), s.n. John,
Edward.

[2]  Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_
(London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995), s.n. Drake.

[3]  The word describes a group of languages or cultures, including the
Irish and Scottish Gaels, but also including the Welsh, Cornish, Manx,
and Bretons. All these nations considered themselves quite separate in
our period; no one thought of himself as a Celt.  According to the
Oxford English Dictionary, the word "Celt" first appeared in the       
English language in 1607, "Celtic" in 1656. _The Compact Edition of the
Oxford  English Dictionary_ (New York: Oxford University Press, 1973).