ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1359 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1359 ************************************ From: "Brian M. Scott" 25 Oct 1998 Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You asked about the suitability of as an English feminine name in the period 1050-1150. We have found in 1206 in Northumberland and in 1221 in Worcestershire, and we have six more instances of the name in Essex between 1182 and 1272. [1, 2] Starting in the late 12th century and continuing into the early 14th century there was a fashion in England for unusual feminine given names; some were Classical, while others were more fanciful. [3]. seems to have been one of the latter sort, though it was apparently more popular than most such. We have not found any names of this type earlier than the late 12th century; our earliest examples are from a generation or two after 1150. As you know, the byname is recorded in 1184 in Westmorland. [3] This is about the time that we first find such names as , and indeed Northumberland, where we find the given name in 1206, is almost next door to Westmorland. On the available evidence we think that 1150 is at least a generation too early for to be plausible, but would be an excellent choice for an out-of-the-ordinary but authentic name in the North of England from the late 12th through the 13th century. I hope that this has been helpful and that you won't hesitate to write again if you have further questions. For the Academy, Talan Gwynek ===== References: [1] Talan Gwynek, 'Feminine Given Names in _A Dictionary of English Surnames_' (SCA: KWHS Proceedings, 1994; WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997) http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/reaney/ [2] Nicolaa de Bracton of Leicester, 'A Statistical Study of Given Names in Essex Co., England, 1182-1272', in the 1995 Midrealm Heraldic Symposium Proceedings (SCA: 1995; WWW: J. Mittleman) http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5145/names.html [3] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995); pp. xl-xli; s.n. Lauder.