ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1574 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1574 ************************************ 20 May 1999 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel. You asked for documentation for the name in France between 1100 and 1600. Here's what we found. We do not recommend the name for a French woman between 1100 and 1600. We found no evidence that either or was used in France during that time. Various forms of the name are popular in Iberian Christian kingdoms from the 10th century on. We found the form between 1050 and 1200 and in the 16th century. [1, 2] The name is found in Italy in the 16th century, but apparently did not find its way into the rest of Europe until after Saint Teresa of Avila was canonized in 1622. We found no example of in France during your period. is a Greek name. It was common in Byzantium, and we found examples during your period in Sicily and Russia. However, we found no example of the name in France during your period. On the other hand, the surname is perfect for a Frenchwoman from between 1100 and 1600. It derives from either the medieval masculine given name or its feminine form [3, 4]. Until the 14th century or so, the surname would have identified one of your parents. That is to say, a medieval was either the daughter of a woman named or, more likely, of a man named . Later in period, would usually have been an inherited surname. So, if you want a French name, we recommend that you choose a different given name. Several lists of French given names are available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/docs/#france. On the other hand, if you prefer to use the given name , we recommend you consider a Spanish name. You can find some information about period Spanish names on the web at http://www.s-gabriel.org/docs/#spain. 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 d'Espas Nord, Blaise de Cormeilles, Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvyn, and Talan Gwynek. In Service, Margaret Makafee --------------- References and Notes. [1] Diego Mundoz, _A Partial List of Leonese and Castillian Given Names 1050-1126_ (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997). http://www.panix.com/~mittle/diego/reilly.html [2] Elsbeth Anne Roth, _16th-century Spanish Women's Names_ (WWW: Self-published, 1998). http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~kvs/fnames.html [3] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987) [4] Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris", Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium 1996 (SCA: Montgomery, Alabama; WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997). http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html