ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2867
http://www.s-gabriel.org/2867
************************************

13 Nov 2004
From: Josh Mittleman 


Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!

You asked for help constructing a European place-name that might have 
been used before 1600 for a region of land encompassing a number of 
towns or villages.  You said your goal was to have a name derived from 
some form of the personal name <Gerhard>.  We'd like to apologize for 
the long time this report has taken; we hope it will still be helpful 
to you.

Unfortunately, we can't recommend <Girardy> as a French place-name.
The similar-sounding place-names <Picardy> and <Normandy> are not
useful models: they are of ethnic origin, derived from names that
originally meant "land of the Picards" and "land of the Northmen" [1].

However, we can offer you several other possibilities based on various
historical examples we have found.  The Old Germanic <Gerhard> evolved
into different forms in different Western European languages.  We will
focus on French, both because you asked about <Girardy> as a possible
French place-name, and because we have the most data to guide us in
that language.  In Old French, <Gerhard> evolved to several forms,
most commonly <Ge/rard> or <Ge/rart> and <Girard> or <Girart> [2, 3].
The slash in the name represents an acute accent mark on the preceding
letter.

The first step is to look at actual French place-names derived from
<Gerhard> [4].  Each of these names was originally a compound of the
given name and a toponymic term describing a settlement or topographic
feature.  They are organized below by the toponymic term; and each
name is given first in its modern form, followed by one or more
medieval examples, many of them in Latin.

* Composed with Old Norse <topt> 'a toft'

    Gratot: <eccl. Beate Maria de Graartot> 1332

* Composed with Latin <boscus> 'a wood', Old French <bosc>

    Bosgue/rard-de-Marcouville: <Bosc Gerard> 1046-48,
      <Boscus Guerardi> ca.1240
    Le Bosc-Gue/rart: <de Bosco Guerardi> 1198, <Boscus
      Guerardi> 1337

* Composed with Latin <campus> 'a field', Old French <champ>

    Changeard: <Campus Geart> ca. 1240, <Chamjart> 1249,
      <Champ Geard> 1270

* Composed with Latin <fons> 'a fountain', Old French <font>, though
    that element later disappeared

    Gehard: <ecclesia de Fonte Gehardi> 11th c., <Prior
      Fontis Girardi> 1237

* Composed with Latin <mansionile> 'dwelling with a plot of
    land', Old French <maisnil> or <menil>

    Giromagny: <Girardmaigny> 1426, <Giradmengny> 1533, <Giramaigny>  
     1655 [5]

    Jarme/nil: <Geharmaingni>, <Geharmaingny> 1433,
      <Jehairmennil> 1435, <Geharmesnil> 1493

* Composed with Old High German <meri> 'a lake'

    Ge/rardmer: <Geramer> 1285, <Giralmeiz> 14th c.,
      <Giralmeix> 14th c., <Giralmer> 1418, <Geroltzse>
      1426, <Geroltzse/e> 1484; in the 14th and 15th c.
      forms <Gerald> has been substituted for <Gerard>, and
      the last two forms have been influenced by German
      <See> 'a lake'.

* Composed with Latin <mons> "mountain", Old French <mont>

    Ge/rardmont: <Gerartmont> 1091

* Composed with Latin <vallis> 'valley', Old French <val>

    Graval: <Gerarval> 1177, <ecclesia de Girardi valle> ca.
      1240

* Composed with Latin <villa> "estate"

    Graville-Saint-Honorine: <Gerarvilla> 1148, <Guerarvilla> 1272,
      <Guerardivilla> 1337, <Grarville> 1337

You could of course copy one of the medieval examples in this list; or
you could construct a new place-name based on these models using a
different toponymic element.  Here are some other elements commonly
used in French place-names that might reasonably be combined with
<Gerhard> to construct a name for a medieval place.

* Composed with <court> "estate":

    <Sehoucourt> 1257 derives from <Sewald> [6] or <Sevulf> [7] +
    <court>.  <Gerhard> + <court> might produce <Geracourt>.

* Composed with <chastel> "castle" (Latin <castellum>)

    <Castrum Arnulfum> 1182, <Castrum Bernart> 13th c., etc. [8].  We
    recommend <Chastel Girart>.

* Composed with Latin <insula> "island", Old French <isle> or <ille>

    Modern <Cohartille> derives from <Gunhard>, recorded as <Gunhardi
    insula> 1136; <Gohardi insula> 1180; <Gonhartile> 1227;
    <Couhartille> 1228; <Gouhartile> 1259; <Conhartille> 1529 [9].
    The analogous name based on <Gerhard> is <Gerartille>.


Some French place-names were simply given names used as place-names.
For example, <Frouard> is simply the given name <Frodhard>.  It
appears in medieval records as:

   Froardum                1156 
   Finis de Froart         1206
   ecclesia de Frowardum   1402
   Frouart                 1311

The same thing happened with the given name <Fulchard>, which
underlies the modern place-name <Foucard>, recorded as
<Foucartescales> ca.1240 and as <Fourcart Escalles> 1337 [10].  In the
same way, <Gerhard> would probably have produced place-names <Ge/rard>
or <Gue/rard>, depending on the local dialect.


A large class of French place-names derive from a given name plus the
Latin suffix <-iacum>, which denotes possession [11].  From the given
name <Theodoard>, the Latin <Toarciacum> produced modern <Thouarce/>.
The name <Gibahard> produced modern <Giversy>, recorded as <Giversei>
1200; <Juvercei> betw. 1201 and 1212; <Gibarceies> 1254; and <ecclesia
de Gibersy> 14th c [12].

Predicting a medieval form of a place-name derived from <Gerhard> +
<-iacum> requires some analysis of how the sounds were likely to
evolve.  Old French <Ge/rard>, <Ge/rart> was pronounced with a final
\t\ sound, just like the Old French versions of <Theodoard> and
<Gibahard>, so we would expect that it would evolve into an \s\ sound
as it did in our two examples.  The suffix <-iacum> evolved into
different forms in different regions of France, so we can recommend
<Gerarcy> for a place in the north or northwest of France, <Gerarcey>
in the east, and <Gerarce/> in the west [13].


Another possibility is a compound of <Gerhard> with the Germanic
suffix <-ingas>.  This might be particularly attractive to you,
because it denotes an association of people under a leader, brought
together for political, economic, or defensive advantage.  In a rough
sense, the name would mean "Gerhard's people" [14].  Here are some
examples of place-names derived from a Frankish given name plus
<-ingas>.  All of the places were in French-speaking areas heavily
influenced by German, particularly the departement of Moselle in the
northeast.  Each example below starts with a normalized form of the
underlying given name, in capitals, followed by examples of modern
place-names derived from it and medieval spellings [15].

  WICHARD: Wicardenne (<Wicardenges> 1208; <Wycardenghes> 1315;
  <Wicardengues> 1505).

  BONO: Bonningues-le\s-Ardres (<Boninges>, <Boninghes> 1084;
  <Boninghae> 13th c.; <Boininges> 1296); Bonningues-le\s-Calais
  (<Boninghes> 1173, <Boininges> 13th c.).

  THEODO: Thianges (<ecclesia de Tyangiis> betw. 1121 and 1142;
  <Guillelmus de Tiengiis> 1245; <Thianges> 1287).

  FLORO: Floranges (<Floringas> 893; <Florichingas> 898; <Florengis>
  1147; <Florenges> 1200; <Florchinga> 1280; <eccl. de Florchanges>
  1361).

  GIBALD, GIBOLD: Gue/blange (<Gueboldanges>, <Guebledanges> 1354;
  <Guebeldanges> 1393; <Gebledange> 1415).

  GINNO: Gue/nange (<Gananges> 1269; <Guinanges> 1303; <ecclesia de
  Guinanges> 1361).
  
  GUNTHARD: Pontardennes (<Guntardinges> 1227; <Gunterdinges> 1227;
  <Gondardinghe> 1399; <Condardenghes> 14th s.; <Wontadenghe> 1443;
  <Pont d'Artengues>); obviously the modern form is the result of folk
  etymology.

  LANDRAMN: Lantremange (<Ladremenges> 1130 or 1131; <Landermenges>
  ca.1135; <Lantremenges> 1239); the place is in Belgium.

  LEUDBERHT > LIEDBERHT, LIDBERHT: Libertange (<Libertinges> 1262;
  <Libretenges> 1335).
  
  LUSTO: Luttange (<Lustanges> 962; <Lustinges> 1130; <Luestanges>
  1242; <Luttange> 1242; <Luettange> 1396).

  MARO: Marange-Silvange (<Marenges> 1181; <Mairainge> 1237; <eccl. de
  Mairanges> 1361); Marange-Zondrange (<Mairinga> 1121; <Maringes>
  1130; <Meringa> 1180; <eccl. de Menranges> 1361).

Based on these examples, we can say that a compound of <Gerhard> with
<-ingas> could plausibly have produced Old French place-names
<Gerardanges> or <Gerardingues>.


In summary, we can't support <Girardy> as a French place-name derived
from the given name <Gerhard>, but we can offer several alternatives.
Our constructions are listed below in spellings plausible from the
14th century on, followed by the meaning of the original hypothetical
place-name and the approximate pronunciation of the Old French name.
In the pronunciations, \zh\ stands for the sound of the <j> in French
<je> "I" or the <s> in <measure>.  \l^\ represents the sound of <ll>
in French <million> or <gl> in Italian <degli> "of the".  \ah~\ and
\eh~\ represents nasal vowels, \ah~\ as in the French <dans> "in" and
\eh~\ similar to the vowel in the first syllable of <dengue fever>.
\@\ stands for the sound of the <a> in <about> or <soda>.

   Geracourt       "Gerhard's estate"  \zhay-ra-koor\
   Chasteau Gerard "Gerhard's castle"  \shahss-toh zhay-rar\
   Gerartille      "Gerhard's island"  \zhay-rar-tee-l^@\
   Gerard          "Gerhard's place"   \zhay-rar\
   Guerard         "Gerhard's place"   \gay-rar\
   Gerarcy         "Gerhard's place"   \zhay-rar-see\
   Gerarcey        "Gerhard's place"   \zhay-rar-see\
   Gerarce/        "Gerhard's place"   \zhay-rar-say\
   Gerardanges     "Gerhard's people"  \zhay-rar-dah~-zh@\
   Gerardingues    "Gerhard's people"  \zhay-rar-deh~-g@\


We hope that this letter has been useful and that you will not
hesitate to write again if any part is unclear, or if you have any
further questions.  I was assisted in writing this letter by Iago ab
Adam, Juetta Copin, Leonor Martin, Talan Gwynek, Gunnvor Silfraharr,
Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Adelaide de Beaumont, and Juliana de Luna.


For the Academy of S. Gabriel,

  Juetta Copin & Arval Benicoeur
  12 Nov 2004 

- - - - -

Notes

[1] There is a modern French surname <Girardy>, but it isn't based on
a place-name; it probably originated as a patronymic from the
masculine given name <Girardin>.  Moran/Morin Family Page: Girardy
(WWW: Privately published, accessed Nov 2004).
http:://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hollow/9366/html/girardy.html

[2] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de
l'Ancienne Gaule du VIe au XIIe Siecle_, three volumes (Paris: Centre
National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1972), I:99c.

[3] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Dictionnaire E/tymologique des Noms de
Famille_ (Librairie Acade/mique Perrin, 1997), s.n. Ge/rard.

[4] Morlet, _Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de l'Ancienne Gaule
du VIe au XIIe Siecle_, III:317a,b.

[5] Dauzat, Albert & Ch. Rostaing, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de
Lieux de la France_ (Paris: Librairie Larousse, 1963), s.n. Giromagny.

[6] Dauzat and Rostaing, s.n. Socort.

[7] Morlet, _Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de l'Ancienne Gaule
du VIe au XIIe Siecle_, III:442b.

[8] Dauzat and Rostaing, s.n. Chateau.

[9] Morlet, III:386a.

[10] Morlet, III:306b.  Other examples from the same source, all based
on given names that include the deuterotheme <-hard>:

  ANDHARD (226a): Andard (<Andard> 11th c.; <Andardum>,
  <Andart>, 1125, 1138).

  TRUDHARD (292b): Troarn (<Troardum> ca.1025; <Truardo>,
  <Truardun> 1059; <Trowarnum> ca.1150; <Troarn> 1338);
  subsequently attracted to <Trudarn>.

  GAISHARD (321a): Gueschard (<Gaisart> ca.1150; <Gaissart>
  1210; <Gaiscart> 1177; <Gayssart> 1301; <Guaissard> 1470).

  GEROARD (319a): Pontgerouard (<Persona de Pontis Geroardi>
  ca.1330). 

  GODOLHARD (334a): Goulard (<G. de Guulardo> 1068; <S.
  Burchardi, filii Suivini de Walardo> ca.1070; <Le menoiar
  du Goulart> end of the 13th c.).

  HRODHARD (367b): Rohard (<Molendinum de Rohardi> 1332).

  LIETHARD > LETHARD, LITHARD (395b): Liart (<Liart> 1214;
  <de Liardo> ca.1312). 

  SICHART (443b): Sickert (<van Sichert> 1482; <Sigger>
  1568); Sequehart (<Terra Segardi> 1147; <Sekehart>
  ca.1175). 

  SINHARD (446a): Senard (<Senart> 1188, 1220).

  WADHART (456a): Waha (<Wahart> 934; <Wahar> 1201); Gahard
  (<eccl. de Gahardo> 15th c.).

[11] Timms, Brian. "The Place Names of France: with special reference
to the Charente". (WWW: Studies in Heraldry. 10 April 2002).  "The
derivation is from -iacus, a Latin suffix of the Gallo-Roman period,
denoting simply possession. For example, 'the villa of Aurelius' was
written as Aureliacum, which became Aurillac, Cantal."
http://www.briantimms.com/toponomy/topogroups.htm 

[12] Morlet, III:284b, III:326b.

[13] The sound \t\ went first to \ts\ and then to \s\.  The normal Old
French outcome of intervocalic <c> when preceded by <a> is \ey\ as in
<eye>, later becoming \eh\, as in <baie>, from Latin <baca>.  However,
it's clear that final \ee\ is also a possible development, and in fact
Morlet (III:12), presumably referring to the modern forms, says that
<-iacum> typically yields <-y> in the north and northwest, <-e/> in
the west, and <-ey> in the east.  The suffix in any form is of
Gallo-Latin origin and is mostly northern.

  Pope, M.K., _From Latin to Modern French_ (Manchester: Manchester
  University Press, 1966), ss. 308-9, 404,531, 683.

  Morlet, _Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de lAncienne Gaule
  du VIe au XIIe Siecle_, III:12.

[14] Smith, A.H., _English Place-Name Elements_ (Cambridge: At the
University Press, 1956), s.v. -ingas.

[15] Morlet, III, pp. 472b, 271a, 285a, 306a, 327a, 328b, 339a, 390a,
394b, 399b, 410a.