ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2421
http://www.s-gabriel.org/2421
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5 Dec 2001
From: (Josh Mittleman)
Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!
You asked our help choosing a name appropriate for a Scot living on the
Border in the 16th century. This letter is a brief answer to your
question.
Naming customs in the Borders were essentially the same as in the rest of
the Lowlands. The most significant differentiation between Border names
and other Lowland names is that certain family names were common along the
Border simply because that's where those families lived. It's conceivable
that particular given names were popular among those families, and much
more likely that certain given names were popular in individual families;
but we don't have the resources to do that kind of analysis. Our best
advice, therefore, is to choose a popular Lowland given name and combine it
with the surname of a Border family.
For given names, the best source we can recommend is the masculine given
name list in "Early 16th Century Scottish Lowland Names", which you can
find on the web at:
http://www.MedievalScotland.org/scotnames/lowland16/
These names appear in records from 16th century Aberdeen; to ensure that
you get one that was also used in the Borders, we recommend you choose one
of the more popular names. The most popular men's names were <Johne>,
<Willeam>, <Alexander>, <Andro>, <Dauid> (where the <u> represents a \v\
sound), and <Thome> [1].
Here is a list of some family names found along the Border [2]. We've
listed each name under its modern spelling, followed by one or more period
spellings. Quotations and dated spellings come from Scottish records,
mostly between 1450 and 1650 [4]. Spellings preceded by an asterisk (*)
were recorded in 16th century Durham and Northumberland, on the English
side of the Border [3], but are probably appropriate in Scots, too. Some
of the names were also recorded in Aberdeen and are listed in reference
[1]; those spellings would be reasonable for a Border name, too.
In the West Borders:
Armstrong: <*Armstrong>, <*Armstronge>, <*Armestronge>, <*Armestrog>,
<*Ermstrong>
Carlisle: <Carlile> 1451, <Acairhyll> 1577, <Cairlell> 1635, <Carlele>
1592, <Carleill> 1631, <*Carlile>, <*Carliole>, <*Carlell>
Carruthers: <Carrutheris> 1460, <Carruderys> 1460, <Carruderes> 1572,
<Carruderis> 1537, <Caruderis> 146, <*Corruddas>, <*Corrodas>
Crosar: <Crosar>, <Crosare> and plural forms 1475, 1526, 1537, 1564, 1587,
<*Croser>, <*Crosyer>, <*Crosier>, <*Croyser>
Elliot: <Elwald> 1502, <Eleot> 1624, <Ellote> 1639, <Eluat> 1556,
<Elwald> 1561, <Elwalde> 1494; plural <Eluottis> 1570, <*Elwould>.
Glendinning: <Glendowyn> 1408, <Glendonwyn> 1467, <Glendynwyn> 1451,
<Glendynwyne> 1504, plural <Glenduningis> 1587, <Glendonying> 1599,
<Glendoning> 1599, <Glendowyn> 1493, <Glendunwyn> 1488, <Glendynwyng>
1530, <*Glendeninge>, <*Glendyning>
Graham: <Grahaym> 1532, <Grahem> 1561, <Graheme> 1547, <Grahym> 1464,
<Graiham> 1591, <Graym> 1467, <Grayme> 1522, <Grehme> 1550, <*Graime>,
<*Gram>, <*Grame>, <*Graym>, <*Grayme>, <*Greame>
Hepburn: "In the sixteenth century there were Hepburns of Hailes,
Waughton, Smeaton, Bolton, Alderston, Bearford, Humbie, Keith, Nunraw,
and Monkrigg." <Hopburn> 1589, <Hebrune> 1562 mentioned s.n. Pringle,
<*Hebbourne>
Irvine: <Irvine> 1455, 1587, <Eirryn>, <Erevein> 1587, <Hurven>,
<Irewing>, <Irewyne> 1519, <Irrewin> 1550, <Irrewine> 1568, <Irrewing>
1572, <Irruwing>, <Irrwin>, <Irrwing>, <Iruin> 1602, <Iruyn> 1514,
<Iruyne> 1493, <Irvein> 1534, <Irveyn>, <Irvin>, <Irving>, <Irvinge>
1641, <Irvinn>, <Irvyng> 1596, <Irvyn> 1500, <Irwan>, <Irwen>,
<Irwing>, <Irwyng> 1593, <Irwynn>, <Urwen> 1547, <*Urwin>
Johnstone: <Jonstoun> 1451, <Johnston> or <Jonston> 1463, <Johnnston>
1609, <Jhonestowne> 1609, <Jhonstoun> 1616, <Johanstoun> 1450,
<Johnestoun> 1493, <Johnestoune> 1530, <Johnnestone> 1530,
<Johnnestoun> 1608, <Johnnestoune> 1558, <Johnnstoun> 1503,
<Johnstounne> 1575, <Jonhesone> 1491, <Jonhstone> 1499.
Nixon: <Nykson> 1398, <*Nixon>, <*Nixson>, <*Nickson>, <*Nicson>,
<*Nyxon>
And in the East Borders:
Cockburn: <Cockburn> 1574, <Cogburne> 1567, <Cokbrvne> 1637, <Cokbrwn>
1531, <Cukburn> 1467.
Cranston: <Cranstoun> 1423, <Creinstoun> 1449, <Cranstoun> 1451,
<Crenestoun> 1515, <Cranstone> 1451, <Cranestowne> 1641, <Craynston>
1427, <Crenestone> 1534
Douglas: <Dawgleiss> 1540, <Dogles> 1633, <Douglace> 1504, <Douglase>
1429, <Dougleische> 1583, <Dougles> 1529, <Dovglas> 1499, <Dowglace>
1511, <Dowglass> 1559, <Dulglace> 1454, <*Douglas>
Edgar: <Edzer> 1618, <Edgear> 1508, <Edyear> 1591, <Edzair> 1574,
<Edzaire> 1516, <Edzare> 1602, <Edzeare> 1591, <*Edear>, <*Edgar>,
<*Edger>. Note: 'z', 'ge', and 'y' in the Scottish spellings all
represent the same sound, similar to the <y> in <yet> but with a
little more emphasis. The 'z' is a transcription of the letter yogh,
which is written something like an elongated '3'; using 'z' for this
letter is a common modern editorial convention.
Gordon: <Gordon> 1408, <*Gordon>
Haig: "From the year 1412 the family of Haig of Bemesyde invariably used
the form of Haig."
Home: <de Hume> 1408, <Hume> 1451, <Hoom> 1661, <Hoome> 1498, <Houme>
1577, <Hovme> 1517, <Howm> 1488, <Hoym> and <Huym> 1488, <Hoyme> 1550,
<Hum> 1464, <Hvvm> 1544, <Hwime> c.1530, <Hwym> 1581, <*Home>, <*Hume>
Ker: <Ker> 1467, <Carr> 1491, <Car> 1515, <Kere> 1493, <*Carr>, <*Carre>,
<*Car>, <*Kar>, <*Karre>
Nisbet: <Nesbit> 1493, <Nisbit> 1446-56, <Nechisbet> 1649, <Neisbit> 1468,
<Nesbeth> 1574, <Nesbut> 1450, <Nesbuth> 1452, <Neisbayt> 1574,
<Nezebet> 1507, <Nezebeth> 1537, <Nisbert> 1554, <Nisbite> 1616,
<Nysbet> 1546, <Nysbit> 1467, <*Neasbyt>, <*Nesbet>, <*Nesbit>,
<*Nesebit>
Pringle: Derived from 13th century <de Hoppryngill>; <Pringle> 1484,
1490, <Pringill> 1515, <Hoppryngill> 1573, <Oppringill> 1562,
<Hoppringeile> 1555, <Hoppringil> 1503, <Hoppringill> and <Hoppringle>
1567, <Pringel> 1470, <*Pringle>
Redpath: <Redpeth> 1486, 1655 <Rypat> 1545, <Reydpeth> 1555, <Redpecht>
1548, <Reidpeth> 1566, 1602, <Ridpetht> 1557, <Reidpetht> 1558,
<Redpetht> 1516, <Rippeth> 1562, <*Rippeth>, <*Ryppeth>
Riddall: <de Riddel> c.1150, <Riddell> 1785, <*Riddell>
Rutherfurd: <Ruthyrfurd> and <Ruthyrfurde> 1451, <Ruderford> 1581,
<Ruderfourd> 1530, <Ruderfurd> 1545, <Ruderfurde> 1574, <Rudirfurd>
and <Ruthyfurd> 1544, <Ruyerfurd> 1589, <Ruyrfuird> 1592,
<Rwtherforde> 1464, <Rwtherfurd> 1584, <*Roderford>, <*Roderforde>,
<*Roderforth>, <*Rudderfoothe>, <*Rutherford>, <*Rutherforth>,
<*Rudderforth>, <*Ruderforth>. The <y> that appears in place of <d>
or <th> in some spellings represents the letter thorn (which looked
exactly like <y> in this period), which was pronounced here like
<th>.
Scott: <Scot> 1395 and 1611, <Scoit> 1603, <Scoitt> 1600, <Scotte> 1641,
<Scoyt> 1623, <*Scot>, <*Scott>, <*Scotte>, <*Skot>, <*Skott>
Swinton: <Swyntoune> 1530, <Swontoun> 1628, <Swentoun> 1603, <Suentoun>
1512, <Suyntoune> 1637, <Sweintoun> 1624, <Swenton> 1539, <Swentoun>
1549, <Swyntoune> 1633.
Trotter: <Trottar> 1478, 1479, <Trottare> 1479, <Trotter> 1512, <Trotar>
1630, <*Trotter>
Trumble: <Trumbul> 1452, <Trimbill> 1507, <Trumble> 1586, <Trumble> 1609,
1649, <Trumbel> 1497, <Trumbul> 1603, <Trimbulle> 1531, <Trombill>
c.1570, <Tromboul> 1547, <Troumbull> 1510, <Trumbill> 1567, <Trumbyll>
1544, <Trumpbill> 1556, <*Trumbel>, <*Trumbell>, <*Trumble>,
<*Trombell>, <*Tromble>
Any combination of the given names and family names we've listed here would
be an excellent choice for a Borderman of your period. We'll be happy to
provide the correct pronunciation for any particular name. Note that a
particular man's name would likely have been spelled in different ways: All
the spellings of <Rutherford> list above, for example, could have been used
for the same person.
We hope this brief 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 Effrick neyn Kenneoch, Adelaide
de Beaumont, and Talan Gwynek.
For the Academy,
Arval Benicoeur
5 Dec 2001
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References
[1] Sharon L. Krossa (Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte), "Early 16th Century
Scottish Lowland Names" (WWW: Privately pubished, 1 Nov 2001).
http://www.MedievalScotland.org/scotnames/lowland16
[2] Sir Iain Moncreiffe of That Ilk & Don Pottinger, "Scotland of Old: Clan
Names Map" (Bartholomew, 1983). The map shows 16th century locations of
Scottish families.
[3] Julie Stampnitzky, "Surnames in Durham and Northumberland, 1521-1615"
(WWW: privately published, 2001).
http://www.yucs.org/~jules/names/parish/surnames.html
[4] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and
History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986). In most cases,
the headword we use above is the headword in Black. <Trumble> is discussed
s.n. Turnbull.
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Correction, 11 Oct 2002, Arval: Clarified the notes on the name <Crosar>.