ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1495 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1495 ************************************ From: "S Friedemann" 21 Feb 1999 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if was an authentic name for an Englishman. Here is the information we have found. We would like to commend you for your choice. is found from 1066 on, and is a fine English name. [1] The word was used as a nickname meaning 'sharp, quick, smart' at least as far back as the early 11th century (in the Old English spelling ). This nickname continued in use through the Middle Ages in a variety of spellings and eventually became a hereditary surname. The forms that we have found include: 1184, 1296, 1273, 1379, 1379, and 1589. [1, 2] In one study of parish registers from 1601, was the most common spelling. [3] is an excellent Englishman's name for the late 13th century onward. If you'd like your persona to be set in an earlier time, we suggest you consider the Old English spelling ; this spelling is appropriate through the 11th century. 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 Talan Gwynek, Teceangl Bach, and Arval Benicoeur. For the Academy, --Aryanhwy merch Catmael --------------------------------------- References: [1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). [2] Bardsley, Charles, _A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames_ (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980)., s.n. Sharp [3] Hitching, F.K. & S. Hitching, _References to English Surnames in 1601_ (Walton-on-Thames: Chas. A. Bernau, 1910)