ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1610 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1610 ************************************ 14 Apr 1999 From: Jodi McMaster Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You asked whether would be an appropriate name for a Frenchwoman living between the years 1550 and 1600 CE. Before I start, I'd like to clarify the service that the Academy offers. We try to help Societyfolk in choosing and using names that fit the historical cultures they are trying to re-create. Our research can sometimes be used to support submissions to the College of Arms, but that is not our goal and our results are often incompatible with the College's needs. If your main goal is to register a particular name, then we may not be able to help you. A daughter of Constantine the Great was named , and, apparently due to her sainthood, it became a popular name. We found the name as in 13th century France [4]. We found other forms in England, where the name was introduced with the Norman Conquest and usually anglicized as [1]. Here are the Norman forms, from a little earlier than the period that interests you [2, 3]: Constance, 12th-13th C Custancia, 12th-13th C Custance, 1273, 1379 Constance, 1279 While we didn't find any other spellings in northern France, we believe that it continued in use, most likely in the modern French form but possibly also as . In Southern France of the 13th century, the name appears as [5], and [6]. We believe that these spellings continued in use into your period. is a modern French surname that was originally an occupational surname for a painter of heraldic arms [7]. We have no doubt it was used in your period, though by then it would have been an inherited family name. We believe that is a fine name for a 16th century woman from northern France. If you prefer a southern French name, might be a good choice. We hope this letter has been helpful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. Arval Benicoeur, Talan Gwynek, Blaise de Cormeilles, Barak Raz, Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael, Juliana de Luna, Caelin on Andrede, and Maridonna Benvenuti contributed comments and/or research for this letter. For the Academy, AElfwyn aet Gyrwum __________________ References: [1] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988), s.n. Constance. [2] Nicolaa de Bracton, "A Statistical Survey of Given Names in Essex Co., England, 1182-1272", Known World Heraldic Symposium Proceedings 1995 (SCA Inc.), URL: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5145/names.html [3] Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in _A Dictionary of English Surnames_" (SCA: KWHS Proceedings, 1994; WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997), URL: http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/talan/reaney/ [4] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de Picardie, 1967), pgs. 332, 389, 453. [5] Ramons lo Montalbes, "French/Occitan Names From The XII And XIII Century" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997), URL: http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/ramon/occitan/ [6] Chambers, Frank M., _Proper Names in the Lyrics of the Troubadours_ (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1971). [7] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987).