ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2295 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2295 ************************************ 18 May 2001 From: Judith Phillips Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked us whether the name was used in France, specifically in Burgundy, between 1100 and 1450. You also inquired about an appropriate and distinctively French surname. Finally, you expressed interest in designing field-only arms appropriate for your period. Here is the information we found. The name was not uncommon in France during your period. In Lorraine, the spelling was somewhat more common than , but both were used. Unfortunately, while we know that the name was used in Burgundy, we don't know which spelling was most typical there. [1] Additional 13th century spellings included , , , , and from Paris [2] and , , , , and from Picardy [3] ; any of these should be appropriate for you. You expressed interest in several kinds of surnames, including locatives, names with the connotation "Anglophile", and descriptive bynames such as . You suggested as a locative whose sound you particularly liked. We found the spelling in 1290 [4]; would be a fine name, though obviously not for a man born in Burgundy.It might well have been used in Burgundy to identify a man originally from Anjou.. If you are interested in other locative names, please write us again; we would be happy to help you find spellings appropriate for your period. We doubt that there was a French surname meaning "Anglophile" in your period, but we think it's a reasonable idea to convey in a name. For example, a man who acted like an Englishman in some way might have been known simply as , "the English[man]". We found the following forms of this name from your period; the notation represents an with an accent (aigu) over it. from Paris (1292) [2]: Bonefoy l'Anglois Michelet l'Englais from Picardy [5]: Langles 13th C Huberts dictus Lengle/s 1295 Petrus Lenglais 1315 Jehan Lenglois 1320 Hues li Engle/s 1333 Johannes li Anglois 1340 Adam Laingle/s 1400 Noel and Jehan Lengle/z 1469 Since you want a name appropriate for a Burgundian, another option would be a surname simply meaning "the Burgundian". We found the following examples in Paris in 1292 [2]: Huguenin le Bourguignon Viennet le Bourgueignon Please note that a name like probably wouldn't have been used within Burgundy: It wouldn't have been a very useful way to distinguish this Thomas from every other Thomas. Surnames of this sort were usually used by people who had moved away from their homes: A Burgundian in Paris was unusual, so his origin was a useful identifier. Finally, you asked about a descriptive byname using a "nice" color, such as . There were several bynames in your period derived from the word , most of which described a person of pallid appearance. Some examples from northwestern France included and (14th c.), and (13th c.) [6]; there are also modern surnames and [7] which were probably used in your period as well, at least in some regions of France. Towards the beginning of your period was spelled and your name would have been something like [8]; this would be an excellent choice for the 12th century. (
  • was pronounced like and rhymes with .) This spelling continued in use through the 13th century, although the final became silent by the end of that century. Note that this name is unrelated to the well-known locative name . In at least the first half of your period, it would have been common for a man to be known by different bynames under different circumstances. For example, might well have been known to some people as and to other as . You also expressed an interest in designing simple, field-only arms, preferably using the color blue. The designs below are characteristic of French armory in your period. Paly azure and argent. Bendy argent and azure. As far as we know, the first of these could be registered with the SCA College of Arms; the second may be too similar to an existing registration. I hope that this letter has been useful to you. Please feel free to contact us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have any further questions. I was assisted in writing this letter by Arval Benicoeur, Talan Gwynek, Adelaide de Beaumont, Julie Stampnitzky, Zenobia Naphtali, Rouland Carre, Elsbeth Anne Roth, and Aryanhwy merch Catmael. For the Acadmey, Adeliza de Saviniaco 18 May 2001 ----------------------------------- References: [1] Jacobsson, Harry, _E/tudes d'Anthroponymie Lorraine les Bans de Tre/fonds de Metz (1267-1298)_ (Go:teborg: Gumperts Fo:rlag, 1955). [2] Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris", Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium 1996 (SCA: Montgomery, Alabama; WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997) [http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html]. [3] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de Picardie, 1967). p. 21, 27 [4] Lebel, Paul, _Les noms de personnes en France_, 6th ed. (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1968) p. 92. [5] Morlet, op. cit., p. 76 and pt. 3 [6] Morlet, op. cit., p. 187 [7] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987). s.nn. Bleu, Lebleu. [8] In Old French the masculine definite article was
  • rather than . Early spellings of include , , , and [9].The final in is required by Old French grammar. [9] Greimas, Algirdas Julien, _Dictionnaire de l'ancien franc,ais_ (Paris: Larousse, 1997). s.v. .