ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1788 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1788 ************************************ 14 Oct 1999 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked whether is an appropriate name for an outlaw in 15th or 16th century France. Here is what we have found. We have not found any example of as a name in late-period France. It's not impossible that it was used there in honor of the 3rd century saint : There is a modern French surname that derived from the given name at some point, possibly in the 16th century but possibly not until later [1]. We can't recommend this name as the best re-creation, but we can't rule it out as a possibility. If you'd like a somewhat similar name that definitely was used in your period, you might consider one of these, all recorded in Picardy in the 14th or 15th century [2]: , , , , , , , , , and . The slash in represents an accent on the preceding letter. We also found no example of as a surname, and we're less confident that it is a plausible choice. However, we can offer you some alternatives. The name "the thief" was recorded in Picardy in the 14th century, and we found several other surnames which also described people as brigands of some kind [3]: (14th-15th C), (15th), (15th), (13th), , all from "looter, plunderer". seems to mean "pea plunderer" and is "plunder vine", so some of these may be exaggerated or sarcastic. (14th) from Germanic "swipe". (13th), (14th), (14th) from tollere "take, rob". (13th-14th), (13th, 15th), (15th) from a Germanic "booty, loot". (14th), (13th) from "pillage, plunder" (14th) from "booty" (13th), (14th), (14th), and feminine (13th), from "to pillage" (13-14), (14) "pincher", for a thief (15), (16) "snatcher" (13, 15) "truss dog" (16), a type of snare, for a man who lived by pillage. , (14) from "to lay to waste, sack" (14) similar meaning to the previous. Another byname that's similar in both sound and meaning to is "quick-tempered, one who rages", derived from the word "rage". Other surnames related to this word are , , , [1, 4]. or would be fine 15th century French names. By the 16th century, the French generally used inherited family names rather than individual descriptive bynames. Thus, a 16th century outlaw's surname would not likely have any relation to his occupation. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Maridonna Benevenuti and Talan Gwynek. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 14 Oct 1999 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987), s.nn. Anatole, Fureur. [2] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de Picardie, 1967). [3] Morlet, op. cit., p.202. [4] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Dictionnaire E/tymologique des Noms de Famille_ (Librairie Acade/mique Perrin, 1997), s.n. Fureur.