ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2404 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2404 ************************************ 11 Nov 2001 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked our help choosing a period French name with a given name appropriate for a warrior, and a surname that means "badger". This letter is a brief answer to your question. The only way to identify medieval French names that were particularly appropriate for a warrior is to look at the names they actually used. Most men of the noble class were warriors, so any name used by a medieval French nobleman probably fits your requirement. We have a list of such names on the web: French Names from Two Thirteenth Century Chronicles http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/crusades/ Note that the names in that article are given in modern spellings. We can provide you the original spelling of any particular name. Another approach that might appeal to you is to pick a name of a historical or literary knight who was famous in medieval France. Names of warriors in the Song of Roland -- , , -- and great knights from the romances -- , -- probably became popular in 13th century France because of their literary associations [1]. Names of historical heroes -- the crusaders and -- were probably also popularized by their bearers' exploits. We can provide you with 13th century spellings and pronunciations of any of these names. If you'd like to look further, we can also recommend some of the romances and histories that were popular among the chivalric class in medieval France. We can also offer you a longer list of 13th century French given names: An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html Note that this list mixes masculine and feminine names; the gender is indicated by the byname. Anything accompanied by any of the words , , , or is feminine. Feel free to contact us to check any particular name. The Old French word for "badger" was . We've found both and a diminutive form used as descriptive surnames in 13th century Picardy (northwestern France). In that culture, they were used for people known for their bad temper [2]. It's worth noting that badgers had a pretty bad reputation in medieval western Europe. A 13th century bestiary refers to them as "unclean" [3], and in 15th and 16th century England the phrase "stinking brock" (a synonym for "badger") meant "a stinky or dirty fellow" [4]. However, we have a 13th century example of a French crusader "John the Weasel" [5], so an uncomplimentary reference to an animal is certainly authentic! In short, a name like is a perfect choice for a young warrior in 13th century France. We thought you might also be interested in using a badger in your heraldic arms. It was quite common for a man in medieval France to choose the main charge in his arms to make a reference to his surname, so a man named might very well have used a badger as his emblem. We haven't found evidence of badgers in medieval French heraldry, but they appear in English arms by the second half of the 14th century [6]. If you'd like to pursue this possibility, we'll be happy to help. We hope this brief letter has been useful. Please write us again if you have any questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Talan Gwynek, Will Dekne, Adelaide de Beaumont, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Juliana la Caminante de Navarra, Julie Stampnitzky, Margaret Makafee, and Ursula Georges. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 11 Nov 2001 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Villehardouin, Geoffroy, _La Conque^te de Constantinople_, ed. & trans. Edmond Faral (Paris: Socie/te/ d'E/dition Les Belles Lettres, 1961), chapters 1, 5, 6. [2] 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.218. [3] Barber, Richard, trans., _Bestiary being an English version of the Bodleian Library, Oxford M.S. Bodley 764 with all the original miniatures reproduced in facsimile_ (London: The Folio Society, 1992), p.108. [4] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995), s.n. Brock. [5] De Joinville, Jean, _Histoire de Saint Louis_, M. Natalis de Wailly, ed. (Paris, 1874), ch.392. [6] Chesshyre, Hubert & Woodcock, Thomas, _Dictionary of British Arms: Medieval Ordinary_, vol. I (London: The Society of Antiquaries of London, 1992), p.211 the seal of Brockhull, 1380; p.289 arms of Travers of Lancashire "Argent, three badgers gules" betw. 1377 and 1399.