Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 212

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 212

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/212

Some of the Academy's early reports contain errors that we haven't yet corrected. Please use it with caution.

Greetings,

Here's the information we found on the name "Melchior Imhoff der Stille" as an early 16th-century name used in Nuremburg. Your own intuitions were correct--"Melchior Imhoff" is an ideal name for the era, but the nickname "der Stille" would not be an appropriate addition. We've added some comments on the name elements.

We were impressed with the quality of your research and your understanding of the importance of a historical name. Few people write us with so much preparation already done or with a willingness to modify their names based on historical practice.

The nickname "Stille" (not "der Stille") was used in German-- Brechenmacher notes Hein. Stille (1240) and Heilmannus dictus Stille (1337). However, by your persona's time surnames were set and nicknames were no longer incorporated into written names. This nickname evolved into the surnames "Stille" and the more common "Stiller," either of which would be appropriate for your persona.

Our research supports all of your own findings. We did want to clarify that the name "Melchior" is not found in the Bible, although the name was applied to a Biblical character. Based on the wording you used, we weren't sure if you already knew this and wanted to mention it. We agree that "Melchior Imhof/Imhoff" would be a perfect name for 16th-century Nuremberg.

Marten Broeker, Walraven van Nijmege, Zenobia Naphtali, Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn, and Lindorm Eriksson contributed to this letter.

If we can be of any further assistance, please let us know.

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel