ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2843 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2843 ************************************ 9 Mar 2004 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if there are any 13th century French bynames meaning 'the Irishman', 'the priest', 'from the Canton of Gallavally', or anything indicating Catholic ties. You also asked if we could suggest sources for information on French mottos or slogans. Here is the information we have found. During your period, anyone in Western Europe who was a Christian was a Catholic; therfore, it doesn't make sense to try to distinguish Catholics from any other person associated with the Christian church. The university in Paris was a magnet for Christian scholars from all over Europe. Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising at all for an Anglo-Irishman to be in Paris in the 13th century. In fact, one list of university scholars from the early 14th century mentions , , , and , all Anglo- Norman men from Scotland. [1] The last men were recorded with a byname meaning "Scottish". Thus, we would not be surprised to find an English man from Ireland recorded with a byname meaning "Irish". The Old French word for "Irish" is or , which we find in 1125. [2] Though we have not found any instance of this word being used as a byname, we wouldn't be surprised at this usage. In the late 13th century Paris, we find examples of the following bynames: [3] , "the Englishman" "the Scot" "the Dane" "the Fleming" and many others. We do think it unlikely that an Irishman in France would be known by as specific a byname as "of Gallavally"; the majority of foreign people that we have found recorded in Paris that have a byname indicating where they are from have bynames that are very general, like the ones cited above. We cannot recommend as good recreation using your modern SCA branch name as part of your name. We also do not think it likely that an Irish Gael would be found in Paris. In a 1292 census of Paris, we find a number of men recorded as 'the priest'. [3] This is a fine choice for your byname. We do not have any sources on French mottos from your period, or even information that they existed, and are sorry that we cannot help you with this question. 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, Ursula Georges, Juliana de Luna, Mari nyk Brian, Talan Gwynek, and Jo. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 09Mar2004 -- References: [1] William J. Courtenay, _Parisian Scholars in the Early Fourteenth Century_ (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.) [2] Greimas, Algirdas Julien, _Dictionnaire de l'ancien franc,ais_ (Paris: Larousse, 1997). s.v. irois [3] Geraud, Hercule, _Paris sous Philippe-le-Bel: d'apre/s des documents originaux et notamment d'apre/s un manuscript contenant Le Ro^le de la taille impose/e sur les habitants de Paris en 1292; re/production de l'e/dition de 1837, accompagne/e d'un avant-propos et d'un index des noms de personne contenus dans 'Le Ro^le de la Taille' de 1292 par Caroline Bourlet et Lucie Fossier_ (Tu"bingen: Max Neimeyer Verlag, 1991).