ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2765 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2765 ************************************ 5 Oct 2003 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate name for a woman living in Budapest between 1400 and 1550. Here is the information we have found. is found in the 16th century, so it is appropriate for the later part of your period. This is a modern spelling of the name, but we believe that this is also how it would have been spelled in the 16th century. [1] The modern Hungarian pronunciation of this name is \KOH-loh-rah\, which may also be appropriate for at least the end of your period. The byname derives from the word 'bird', and means 'fowler, bird-catcher; one who raises or trains birds'. (The slash represents an acute accent over the previous letter). The earliest example we have of this name is from 1402 as ; it appears with the accent in 1526 [2, 3]. In modern Hungarian, this name is pronounced \MOH-doh-rahs\; this pronunciation may be correct at least for the latter part of your period. Given the nature of the occupation, we're not sure if this would be an appropriate byname for a woman. It may not be appropriate at all; or it could be that this surname would have implied that the woman was the wife or daughter of a man who actually was a bird-hunter [4]. We unfortunately just don't have enough information for us to make a recommendation. We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Arval Benicoeur, Talan Gwynek, and Juliana de Luna. For the Academy, -Argantguia filia Catmaili -- References: [1] Walraven van Nijmegen, "Hungarian Feminine Names" (WWW: Brian R. Speer, Privately published, 1998). http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1336/magfem.html [2] Ka/lma/n, Bela, _The World of Names: A Study in Hungarian Onomatology_ (Budapest: Akedemiai Kiado, 1978). p. 72 [3] Ka/zme/r Miklo/s, "Re/gi Magyar Csala/dnevek Szo/ta/ra: XIV-XVII Sza/zad" (Budapest, 1993), p.693 s.n. Madara/sz. [4] Further research suggests that it is unlikely that a woman would have been identified by an occupational byname refering to her husband. Hungarian bynames were literal, with the possible exception of landed surnames. A woman might have been identnfied as her husband's wife, but only in a form that omits her given name entirely. For example, means "Steven Bird-hunter's wife". - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Addendum, Arval, 3 Nov 2003 based on comments from Walraven van Nijmegen. Added the period citations for the byname, the pronunication for the given name, and note [4].