Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 160

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/160

This is one of the Academy's earliest reports. We are not confident that these early reports are accurate. Please use it with caution.

Later research turned up additional information relevant to this report. See the end of the letter for details.

Greetings,

Here's the information we found on the name "Morgan."

There is no historic evidence for the use of the feminine name "Morgan" or any variant of it in pre-1600 Europe by actual people. The only definite examples we have of feminine names like "Morgan" date to the fictional character "Morgain" from Arthurian romances. "Morgain" is a French rendering of a mistaken spelling-pronunciation of Morgen (properly pronounced "MORE-yen"), which appears in "History of the British Kings" by Geoffrey of Monmouth, a 12th-century book which was a major source for the Arthurian romances). Geoffrey drew on Welsh sources for his work, but he often used male names for female characters, and "Morgen" is a prime example--it's found as a male Welsh name, but not a female one.

"Morrigan" was used only as the name of the Irish goddess, and not by human beings.

Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn contributed to this letter.

We hope we have been helpful. If we can offer any further assistance, please let us know.

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel

Correction, 3 Jan 2003, Arval: Deleted the discussion of Gaelic Muirgein.