ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2315 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2315 ************************************ 28 May 2001 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked whether is an appropriate name for a Japanese woman of the Kamakura period or earlier (i.e. before about 1350). Here is what we have found. The family name is recorded c.1468 in the name . Our Japanese expert (who is Barbara Nostrand, by the way) believes it is more typical of the military houses of the late Muromachi period (1338-1573) than the rustic houses of the Kamakura period (1192-1333). If you'd like a family name better suited to an early period, she suggests -- names built on the element <-be> tend to be quite ancient -- or a family name based on a place name -- another type of name common in the Kamakura period [1]. The given name is a fine name for your period. Names in <-ko> were in use in the Heian period (794-1185) and disappeared in the late Muromachi period [1]. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Solveig Throndardottir. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 28 May 2001 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Solveig Throndardottir, _Name Construction in Mediaeval Japan_ (Carlsbad, N. Mex.: The Outlaw Press, 1994; Potboiler Press, 1999 [Box 30171, Columbia, MO 65205]).