ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2353 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2353 ************************************ 8 Oct 2001 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked whether is an appropriate name for any part of pre-1600 Europe; you noted that we had previously found it in use in 9th century France [1]. You asked us what sorts of surnames would be appropriate in that period. Here is what we have found. was recorded in Reims (in Champagne near Picardy) in the 9th century; the masculine form was recorded in Strassburg (in Alsace) in 778 [2]. In Continental European documents of this period, people are almost always identified by a single name rather than the name and byname (like ) that became the norm throughout Europe in the later Middle Ages. Some nicknames were recorded, but they were evidently for the most part very informal. In France in particular, one-element names predominated until the mid-11th century [3, 4]. If you want to register your name with the SCA College of Arms, you will need to add a second element, even though that would make your name less authentic. If you want to pursue this option, write us again and we'll discuss the possibilities in more detail. You told us you would consider other cultures & periods where your name might also be appropriate. We didn't find itself, but we did find several similar names. and are recorded in 13th century England; they were probably pet forms of and , [5]. In later-period northern England, we find several names that were probably pet forms of [6] Alie 1613 (which might have been Latinized for documentary purposes) Alle 1605, 1607 Allea 1589 (Latin context, probably only a documentary form) Alley 1604, 1605 Elie 1612 Ely 1611 The name was recorded for a Jewish woman in 14th century France [7]. If any of these alternatives interests you, we'll be happy to give you the correct pronunciation and help you choose an appropriate surname. We have a fairly good collection of lists of 16th century English surnames online; you can find them at http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/eng1450to1600.shtml 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 Talan Gwynek, Adelaide de Beaumont, Juliana de Luna, Julie Stampnitzky, and Aryanhwy merch Catmael. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 8 Oct 2001 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Academy of Saint Gabriel reports 991 and 2136 http://www.s-gabriel.org/991 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2136 [2] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de l'Ancienne Gaule du VIe au XIIe Siecle_, three volumes (Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1972), I:32b. [3] Schwarz, Ernst. Deutsche Namenforschung. I: Ruf- und Familiennamen (Go"ttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1949): p.63f. [4] Bourin, Monique, "France du Midi et France du Nord: Deux Syste\mes Anthroponymiques?", pp.179-202 in Bourin, Monique, Jean-Marie-Martin, and Francois Menant, eds., _L'Anthroponymie: Document de l'Histoire Sociale des Mondes Me/diterrane/ens Me/die/vaux_, Collection de l'E/cole Franc,aise de Rome, 226 (Rome: E/cole Franc,aise de Rome, 1996), p.191. [5] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995), s.n. Ell. [6] Several sources at the GENUKI (UK and Ireland Genealogy) website (WWW, GENUKI, 1996). Marriages from the Durham St Oswald Registers (1538-1734) http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/DSO.html Marriages from the Whickham Registers (1534-1654) http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/WHK1579.html Marriages from the Durham St Mary South Bailey Registers (1559-1837) http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/DSL.html Marriages from the Long Newton Registers (1564-1837) http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/LON.html Marriages from the Houghton-le-Spring Registers (1563-1699) http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/HSP1563.html Marriages from the Aycliffe Registers (1560-1837) http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/AYC.html [7] Friedemann, Sara L. (aka Aryanhwy merch Catmaeil), "Jewish Given Names found in _Les Noms des Israe/lites en France_" (WWW: Self-published, 2000). http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/levy/