ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2923 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2923 ************************************ ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Later research turned up additional * * information relevant to this report. * * See the end of the letter for details. * * * ************************************************* 20 Nov 2004 From: Femke de Roas Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked us if might be an appropriate name for an English-speaking 14th century Cornishwoman living near Bude. Cornwall during the 14th century was home to both people whose native language was Cornish as well as people who spoke English. You indicated that you were interested in a name suitable for an English- speaking woman, so we have focused our reserach on that option. Most of the English-speaking residents of Cornwall during this time lived either in a town or in the eastern parts of the region. A woman in this area usually had a typical English name. We have found no examples of the name in any period source available to us. Modern sources derive the name from the Cornish word for 'elm' and indicate that it created in modern times [1, 2]. This sort of name is typical of modern Cornish naming, but does not fit the naming patterns found in medieval Cornwall. Therefore, we recommend that you select a different given name. The surname derives from several placenames in Cornwall and Wiltshire. Examples from your period include 1324, 1326, 1362, 1340, 1356 [3, 4, 5]. It is a fine surname for your period. The spellings with are more typical of Cornish than English, so in an English context we recommend . Here are some lists of names from Cornwall in your period. Please note that these spellings may not be correct for English in the 14th century. Some have been modernized, others Latinized. Feel free to contact us for an English spelling if you find a name or two from this list you would like to use [6]: 14th C Joan Alice Maud Marina 15th C Joan Alice Isabel Elizabeth Gunneta Margaret Margery Maud Agnes Cecily Emmota Isolda Janyn Juliana Katherine Lucy Marina Mariona Nicola Oura Sibilla Mariona 16th C Joan Margery Beatrice Elizabeth Alice Matilda Katherine Christine Thomasine Eweth Nicola Eleanor Emma Meliora Cecilia Again, most of these names are of English origin, though there are a few whose origin is uncertain. We do note that , at least, is considered to be exclusively Cornish. Its first recorded use is in 1218, and several variants were popular as late as the 17th and early 18th centuries, making it a fine choice [2]. You can find more examples of English names from Cornwall that might be appropriate for your persona in these articles: Feminine Names from 14th Century Exeter http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/exeterfem14thc.html Feminine Names from Devon, 1238 http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/devonfem1238.html 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 Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Arval Benicoeur, Talan Gwynek, Caitriona inghean ui Bhraonain, Mor inghean Chathail, Iago ab Ada, Mari neyn Brian, Ursula Georges, and Barak Raz. For the Academy, Femke de Roas November 20, 2004 ______________________________________________________________________ REFERENCES [1] Daire, "Celtic Female Names of Cornwall," (WWW: Self-published, 2004). http://www.daire.org/names/celtcornfem.html [2] Bice, Christopher, _Names for the Cornish_ (Padstow, Cornwall: Lodenek Press, 1975); Names for Girls s.nn. , . [3] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995); s.n. . [4] _Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society_, Edited by Victor Watts, Edited in association with John Insley, Margaret Gelling (Cambridge University Press: January 2004); s.n. Deverill. [5] G. Pawley White, _A Handbook of Cornish Surnames_, (Camborne, Cornwall: G. Pawley White, 1972); s.n. . [6] Fox, H.S.A. & O.J. Padel, eds., _The Cornish lands of the Arundells of Lanherne, fourteenth to sixteenth centuries_ (Exeter : Devon and Cornwall Record Society, 2000); pp. 151-152, 158-161, 163- 164, 168-169, 171-172, 175, 178, 180-181, 183-186, 194-195. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Correction, Arval, 9 Dec 2004: The form was listed twice in the paragraph on the surname; this was just a typo.