Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 192

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 192

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/192

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

Greetings,

Here is the information we have on the name "Catelin" as used in 15th-century Brittany.

We think that "Catelin" is a reasonable name for your time and place. We have surprisingly little information on French names, and no information at all on names in Brittany. Despite this, we have several reasons to believe that "Catelin" would have been used--but would not have been pronounced "CATE-lin."

We know that forms of "Catherine" which substituted "l" for "r" were popular in both England and France throughout the late Middle Ages. The French forms "Catheline," "Cathelat," and "Cateline" are documented to the 13th century, and the undated forms "Cathelot," "Cathelet," and "Cathelin" are also mentioned. (1) Based on these examples, we feel fairly confident saying that "Catelin" is a reasonable form as well.

Based on standard French pronunciation and forms of "Catherine" from other languages, this name would most likely be pronounced "CAHT-e-lin" or "CAHT-e-LEEN" (primary accent on the first syllable, secondary accent on the last syllable). Neither modern nor medieval French pronounce "Cate" as a single syllable, or use "a" to represent the English "long a" sound.

We would be happy to help you find a surname that would be appropriate for you period and language as well. You may be aware of traditionally Breton surnames, and we may be able to make some suggestions as well.

Zenobia Naphtali, Arval D'Espas Nord, and Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn contributed to this letter.

We hope this has been helpful.

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel