ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2255 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2255 ************************************ From: "Sara L Friedemann" 31 Mar 2001 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if or would be an appropriate name for a 16th century Englishwoman. Here is the information we have found. In one study of names from Chesham between 1538 and 1636, was the most common spelling of the name modernly spelled . [4] Other forms that we found in the 16th century are [1,2,3]: Jeyes 1538-1600/1 Jeys 1538-1600/1 Joyes 16th c. Joyese 1538-1600/1 Joyse 16th c., 1545, 1538-1600/1 Joyce 16th c., 1538-1600/1 All the names with <-o-> would be pronounced like the modern name , while names with the <-e-> would be pronounced \DJAYS\ or \DJ@EES\, where the \@\ represents the sound of in or , and the dipthong \@EE\ almost but not quite rhymes with . is a fine choice for your surname; we find it spelled as or in 1536. [5] We cannot recommend for your period. Although it was used in England in the 13th and 14th centuries [6], we have not found evidence that it remained in use in the 16th century. [9] However two related surnames are found in your period: 1576-78 and 1598. Either of these would be appropriate. [7,5] We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you will not hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter were provided by Maridonna Benvenuti, Juliana de Luna, Julie Stampnitzky, Adelaide de Beaumont, Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, and Mari neyn Brian. For the Academy, ~Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 31Mar01 --- References & Notes: [1] Talan Gwynek, "Late Sixteenth Century English Given Names" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997) [URL:http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/talan/eng16/]. [2] 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/]. [3] Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Names and Naming Practices in the Registers of the Church of St. Mary's, Dymock" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1999) [URL:http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/mari/dymock/]. [4] Garrett-Pegge, J. W., _A Transcript of the First Volume, 1538-1636, of the Parish Register of Chesham, Buckingham County_ (London: Elliot Stock, 1904), Facsimile Reprint: (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc., 1993) [5] Bardsley, Charles, _A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames_ (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980). s.n. Burdett, Jacobs [6] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). s.n. Jacob [7] Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Names of Members of the Frobisher Voyages, 1576-1578" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1999). [8] Hitching, F. K., and S. Hitching, _References to English Surnames in 1601 and 1602_. (Walton-on-Thames, 1910-11; Baltimore: republished for the Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1998, ISBN 0-8603-0181-3). xliv [9] The surnames , and are recorded in 1601-1602 [8]. However, these were all surnames of Dutch people living in England, and therefore we can't recommend them as appropriate English surnames.