ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2782
http://www.s-gabriel.org/2782
************************************

15 Nov 2003
From: Femke de Roas 

Greetings from the Academy!

You asked us whether <Kathryn Seelye> would be appropriate for a 
woman in the lowlands of Scotland in the 14th-16th centuries.  Here 
is what we found:

There are a number of forms of <Katherine> used in Scotland and 
Enlgand between 1300 and 1600. [1,2,3]  We did not find an example of 
the spelling <Kathryn>.

   Catarine        1360
   Kaithren        1623
   Katerina        1477 
   Katheryne       1509 
   Kathren         1632 
   Kathrine        1589 
   Katrina         1548 
   Katrine         1499
   Katryne         1509-1528
   Catharine       1459
   Catrina         1551
   Katherine       1550-1557
   Katerine        1464
   Catering        1521
   Catte           1531-1548
   Katering        1521
   Katherene       1543
   Katherin        1502-1543
   Katring         1521-1523
   Katte           1521
   Katty           1513
   Kitte           1520-1531
   Kytte           1543
   Katheryne       1604
   Katheryn        1583
   Katryne         1455-1532


The byname <Seelye> is likely to be derived from the Old English 
word <s{ae}lig>, meaning "happy, blessed."  Examples include <Seli> 
ca. 1200 (Lincolnshire), <le Seli> 1205 (Herefordshire), <Cely> 1255 
(Shropshire), <Sely>, <Celi> 1275 (Worcestershire) [6].  All of these 
are English examples of the 
name.  The Scottish examples <Seleman> 1371, and <Selyman> ca. 1300 
derive from the same root [7, 8].  The symbol {ae} represents the Old 
English character 'ash,' which is not found in modern English and is 
pronounced like the 'a' in 'hat.'

With these examples in mind, we consider <Katheryn Sely> to be a fine 
choice. 

We hope this letter has been useful to you.  Please don't hesitate to 
write to us again if any part of this letter was unclear or if you 
have further questions.  Research and commentary on this letter were 
provided by Talan Gwynek, Adelaide de Beaumont, Arval Benicoeur, 
Maridonna Benvenuti, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Margaret Makafee,  Julie 
Stampnitsky, and Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn.

For the Academy
Femke de Roas
______________________________________________________________________

References

   


[1] Gwynek, Talan, (Brian M. Scott), "A List of Feminine Personal 
Names Found in Scottish Records," parts 2 and 3.
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/scottishfem/

[2]  Krossa, Sharon L., "Early 16th Century Scottish Lowland Names," 
2001.
http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/lowland16/

[3]  Friedemann, Sara L., "Names of women mentioned in the Perth 
Guildry Book 1464-1598," (WWW: Self-published, 2003).
http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/perth.html

[4]  Pears, Brian, "Marriages from the Durham St. Oswald Registers
(1538-1734)" (WWW: GENUKI, 1996).
http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/BOL.html
http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/SED.html

[5]  "16th and Late 15th Century Feminine Given Names from the Orkney 
Islands"

[6]  Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English 
Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). 
s.n. <Sealey>, <Sellman>

[7] Bardsley, Charles, _A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames_ 
(Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980).  
s.n. <Sellman>

[8]  Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, 
Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986).
s.n. <Seleman>