ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2452 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2452 ************************************ 10 Jan 2002 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if , meaning "Thomas the Large," would be an appropriate name for a Welsh man living between 1050 and 1250. Here is the information we have found. The Welsh borrowed the name from the English as early as 985, though it was not until the 13th century that its use was widespread. Though still fairly rare at the end of your period, it is a fine choice of given name. [1,2] The spelling was used most often as a documentary form, usually in Latin; a vernacular (spoken) form used at this time was , pronounced \TOH-mahs\, where \OH\ is the sound of in . [3,4] We also found the vernacular diminutives and in 1292-93. [5] is the usual modern spelling of the Welsh word meaning 'large.' Towards the end of the 13th century we find it recorded most often as , with the more modern form just coming into use. [1,2,5] The change from to in the initial letter of the word reflects a process of Welsh grammar called "lenition"; it is a softening of the initial consonant that is required in some circumstances, including when a word is used as a byname following the given name. In your period, the byname or would have been pronounced roughly to rhyme with the English word ; or has only one syllable. A name consisting of just a given name and a single byname was relatively common in the late 13th century [2], and so is a fine choice for the end of your period. In Latin records, it would have been written as . We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't hesitate to write again if you have any further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Will Dekne, Arval Benicoeur, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Ursula Georges, Juliana de Luna, and Julie Stampnitzky. For the Academy, -Argantgui filia Catmaili, 11Jan02 -- References: [1] Morgan, T.J. and Prys Morgan, _Welsh Surnames_ (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1985). s.nn. Mawr, Thomas [2] Jones, Heather Rose (aka Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn), "Names and Naming Practices in the Merioneth Lay Subsidy Roll 1292-3", in Known World Heraldic Symposium Proceedings, 1991 (SCA: Laurel, Maryland, 1991). [3] Thomas, Graham C. G., ed., "The Charters of the Abbey of Ystrad Marchell" (The National Library of Wales, 1997). [4] Jones, Francis "The Subsidy of 1292 [covering Abergavenny and Cilgerran]" in _The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies_, 13 (1950): 210-230). [5] Pierce, T. Jones "Lay Subsidy Account 242/50 [A.D. 1293]" in BBCS vol.5 part 2 (May 1930) p.142-8. (manor of Nevyn)