ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2330 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2330 ************************************ From: Lisa and Ken Theriot 12 Jul 2001 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if would be an appropriate name for an Irish woman living between 1000 and 1250. Here is the information we have found. is a modern spelling of a name which appears in early Irish as . A woman called was the mother of an 11th century Irish king, so it is perfect for your period [1]. It was pronounced \DOR-y@n\, where \@\ stands for the sound of in or . seems to have fallen out of use in the late medieval period; the 11th century example is the last we have before modern times. However, based on similar names which were more common, we believe that the spelling is appropriate for the early part of your period and is appropriate later [2]. The spelling would definitely not be found before about 1200. Around 1200, a major change in the spelling of Gaelic names occurred; the written form was altered to more nearly reflect the spoken form. Your spelling of 'daughter' is appropriate after 1200; earlier the same word was spelled . Both were pronounced \EEN-y@n\. is a modern Gaelicized form of . was adopted by Scottish Gaels in the medieval period [3, 4, 5], but evidently did not come into use in Ireland until it was brought in by Scottish Gaelic families. Irish records include reference to non-Gaelic foreigners named dating from 1124 [6]; however, we have found no native Irish use of this name earlier than the likely example recorded in 1504 [7]. The closest example we have to the modern name is , recorded in 1522; however, this is an Irish citation of the exploits of a Scottish man, so it's possible that nothing like was used in Ireland until modern times [8]. We believe that the form , pronounced \AH-l@k-SAHN-dar\ or \AH-l@-SAHN-dar\, is appropriate for an Irish man's name only from about the 14th century [9]. We have no evidence that any form like was used in pre-1600 Ireland; accordingly we cannot recommend it as a good recreation. If you wish to set your persona in the 11th century where is most appropriate, we recommend that you choose another name for your father. You will find a number of possibilities in the following article: 100 Most Popular Men's Names in Early Medieval Ireland http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/irish100/ Any name from this list would be suitable for your father's name; you will use the genitive (possessive) form. For example, means 'Ailell's daughter'. would be a fine name for the 11th century; we'd expect later [10]. If you would like pronunciations of some of these names, or if none of these names interests you and you'd like more suggestions, please write again. We will be most able to help if you give us some guidelines, for example, "starting with A" or "beginning with the sound of ". We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Arval Benicoeur, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Effrick neyn Kenneoch, Mari neyn Brian, Talan Gwynek and Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn. For the Academy, Adelaide de Beaumont 12 July 2001 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References: [1] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990), s.nn. Doirend. [2] Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Index of Names in Irish Annals: Feminine Names" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 2000). The name has the same ending element as . We find it spelled in the very early period, later, and in modern use. http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/AnnalsIndex/Feminine/ [3] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988), s.n. Alexander. The name was probably introduced to Scotland by Queen Margaret, sister of the Anglo-Saxon exile Edgar Atheling, who named her 3rd son, the future Alexander I, born 1080. Although she was English, she had previously lived in Hungary and may have encountered the name there; none of Margaret's children were given what we would consider Gaelic names. [4] Munro, Jean and R. W. Munro, eds., _Acts of the Lords of the Isles 1336-1493_; Scottish History Society, Fourth Series, Volume 22 (Edinburgh: Blackwood, Pillans & Wilson, 1986), p.281 (table 1, note 5); p.6. Authors note the inscription "Alexander de Hyle filius et heres domini Engusii filii Dovenaldi domini de Hyle" 1286-94. The same man's seal bore the legend "S' Alexandri de Isle"; he signed correspondence as "Alexander de Insulis". A later Latin document recorded in 1354. [5] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.nn. Macintaylor, Alexander, MacAlexander. received a grant of lands in Stirlingshire in 1330; these are modernized spellings of the names, so this isn't reliable; but it does show some form of in use. is recorded in 1392 and in 1481. [6] Donnchadh O/ Corra/in & Mavis Cournane, "The Annals of Ulster" (WWW: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork, Ireland, 1997). Entry U1124.5 is "Alaxandair m. Mael Choluim ri Albanin bona penitentia mortuus est" recording the death of Alexander, King of Scotland. (The first four digits are the year of the events recorded.) http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G100001/ [7] Donnchadh O/ Corra/in & Mavis Cournane, "Annals of the Four Masters", six volumes (WWW: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork, Ireland, 1997-98). Entry M1504.10 states, "Flaithbertach mac Failge mic Briain Mic Caba do mharbhadh le/ Brian mac Alaxandair Oicc Mic Ca/ba", or "Flaherty, son of Failge, son of Brian Mac Cabe, was slain by Brian, son of Alexander Mac Cabe." Although the Mac Cabes were originally a Scottish family, many moved to Ireland in the 14th century, so we believe this person is Irish [6]. (The first four digits are the year of events recorded.) http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G100005E (v.5, M1501-M1588) [8] Cournane, Mavis, Vibeke Dijkman, and Ivonne Tummers, "Annals of Connacht" (WWW: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork, Ireland, 1997). Entry 1522.6 records "fecht Albanac aige fa mac Meic Domnaill .i. Alusdur", or "a Scottish contingent commanded by the son of Mac Domnaill called Alusdar". (The first four digits are the year of the events recorded.) http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G100011 [9] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. Maccabe notes that members of this Scottish family are first recorded in the Irish annals in 1368 when members of the family migrated to Ireland as mercenaries. We don't believe the name is likely in Ireland before about this time. [10] Should you choose a name for your father that begins with the letter C, F, S, or P, there are additional changes of spelling required by Gaelic grammar. Please write us again if you would like more information, or read this article available on the web: Lenition in Gaelic Orthography http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotlang/lenition.shtml