ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2789 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2789 ************************************ 12 Nov 2003 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate name for a 15th century French woman. Here is the information we have found. Your given name is fine. In one study of names from early 15th century Paris, is the 3rd most popular name. [1] In Brittany, we find it in 1480, as well as numerous examples from the 16th century. [2] We believe is related to the surname or , which is derived from the word , a variant of 'to weave'. [3] We believe that the surname would have been spelled in the 16th century. [4] While we don't have any explicit evidence that was used in that period, and so we cannot recommend it as the best recreation, we think it is a not unreasonable choice for your name. It would have been pronounced \tay-TREL\. 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 Adelaide de Beaumont, Talan Gwynek, Iago ab Adam, Chuo no Minamoto Toramistu, Maridonna Benvenuti, Arval Benicoeur, Juliana de Luna, and Richenda de Jardin. For the Academy, -Argantgui filia Catmaili, 12Nov03 -- References: [1] Friedemann, Sara L. (aka Aryanhwy merch Catmael), "French Names from Paris, 1421, 1423 & 1438" (WWW: privately published, 2002). http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/paris1423.html [2] Jones, Heather Rose (aka Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn), "Given Names from Brittany, 1384-1600" (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 2001). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/latebreton/ [3] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Dictionnaire E/tymologique des Noms de Famille_ (Librairie Acade/mique Perrin, 1997). s.n. Te/tre [4] Modern French in and derives from Old French . Although the became silent well before the 16th century, the modern spelling did not come into use until later. Similarly, modern French <-eau> derives from Old French <-el>. In this case the modern spelling is found as early as the 13th century, but the older spelling continued in use alongside it down to the present day, especially in surnames. It is likely that and were both used in the 16th century. However, there is just a little more uncertainty attached to the spelling , so we think that is slightly better historical re-creation.