ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1318 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1318 ************************************ From: "Friedemann, Sara L" 22 Oct 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know about the origin of the name . Here is the information we have found. We were unable to find in any of our sources. We did find an English surname in 1332, derived from the Welsh "dark, swarthy." [1] could be used as an English surname, or could be used as a Welsh descriptive epithet, but neither is a given name and should not be used as such. If you would like help finding a given name to go with this surname, please write again and we'll be happy to help. 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. For the Academy, --Ayanhwy Prytydes October 22, 1998 --------------------------------------- References: [1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995).