ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2388 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2388 ************************************ From: "Sara L Friedemann" 28 Nov 2001 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if would be an appropriate name for a Frenchman living between 1200 and 1550. Here is the information we have found. is found in Bordeaux between 1470 and 1520. [3] It is an excellent choice for your name. Other forms that we found are and in Paris in 1292, and in the 15th century, and , , , and in 13th-15th century Nice. [2,7,8] While we did find examples of forms of in French romances from your period, we were unable to find any explicit evidence that this name was used by actual people. [5] This may indicate that the name was not used or that our data is incomplete. Without evidence of its use, we can't recommend it as good re-creation. Additionally, the practice of using double given names, or a given name and a middle name, was vanishingly rare in France at the beginning of your period, and did not come into popular fashion until after 1600. [9] We recommend that you use just as your given name. is the name of a historical region of France. [1] Though the byname "of Valois" was associated with the ruling family of , we find no evidence that it was restricted to the royal family. However, people in the Society may likely assume that by using the surname you are claiming association with the royal family. If this is not your intent, we can offer some suggestions. The form is actually a relatively rare byname, and it is more likely that a man from Valois would be known by the adjectival form of the byname. Such a form would be simply without the preposition. [4] would be a fine name for virtually all your period. We hope that this letter has been useful to you, and that you will not hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter were provided by Maridonna Benvenuti, Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, Adelaide de Beaumont, Gunnvor silfraharr, Blaise de Cormeilles, Dietmar von Straubing, and Will Dekne. For the Academy, ~Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 28Nov01 --------------------------------------- References: [1] "Valois", Encyclopedia Britannica (WWW: Britannica.com, 2000) http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=76697&tocid=0&query=valois [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] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names Found in Commercial Documents from Bordeaux, 1470-1520" (WWW: privately published, 2000) http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/bordeaux.html [4] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987). p. 160, s.n. Edouard [5] The name does appear in romance literature of the period [6]; it usually refers to one of the various kings of England named , or other Englishmen. We found a few more examples of fictional characters named , but this usage is not enough for us to be able to recommend the name for real people in your period. [6] Flutre, Louis-Fernand, _Table des noms propres avec toutes leurs variantes, figurant dans les romans du Moyen Age e/crits en franc,ais ou en provenc,al et actuellement publie/s ou analyse/s_ (Poitiers: Centre d'e/tudes supe/rieures de civilisation me/die/vale, 1962). s.n. Edouard [7] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de Picardie, 1967). [8] Compan, Andre/, _E/tude d'Anthroponymie Provenc,ale: Les Noms de Personne dans le Comte/ de Nice aux XIIe, XIVe, et XVe Sie\cles_, thesis at the Universite/ de Paris IV, Dec. 1975 (Paris: Librarie Honore Champion, 1976). [9] Jean-Baptiste Thiers, 'Traite/ des superstitions selon l'E/criture Sainte, les De/crets des Conciles et les sentiments des Saints Pe\res et des the/ologiens', Paris, 1695