ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2243 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2243 ************************************ 6 Feb 2001 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked if we could find evidence that was used as a given name, or if we could find a similar sounding name appropriate for a Scottish, German, or Dutch man. This letter is a brief answer to your question. Unfortunately, we were unable to find any evidence of as a name of any kind, in any language. We found some Scottish place names that sound similar; they may be appropriate as surnames for a late period Lowland name [1]. We might be able to justify as an English place name and surname; but we found no justification for anything similar as a given name. The most similar given name we know is the Slavic , forms of which were used throughout the Slavic world. It was primarily a masculine name, but was at least occasionally used by women, too. However, we should stress that we have not found any evidence that this name was used in Germany, the Low Countries, or Scotland. If you're interested in any of the possibilities we've discussed, please write us again and we'll send you the full details. We hope this brief letter has been useful. Please write us again if you have any questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Maridonna Benvenuti, Julie Stampnitzky, Dietmar von Straubing, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Walraven van Nijmegen, Talan Gwynek, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Juliana de Luna, and Adelaide de Beaumont. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 6 Feb 2001 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Starting in the late 14th century, there were two main languages spoken in Scotland: Gaelic, spoken in the Highlands, and Scots, spoken in the Lowlands, including the royal court and towns. Gaelic was the same language spoken in Ireland at this time; Scots was closely related to contemporary English. Names were formed quite differently in the two languages, and the two styles of naming did not mix. Therefore, the culture you choose for your persona will determine how your name should be constructed.