ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2969 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2969 ************************************ 30 Dec 2004 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate name for an Englishman living between 1200 and 1350. Here is a brief letter with the information we have found. With a few minor changes in spelling, your name is perfect for your period. was in use throughout your period, but this spelling was used in contexts where Latin was used (primarily written documents and university or church settings where Latin was spoken). We also found the following examples which we believe represent the standard spoken English form: 1273, 1284, and c.1440. [1] We therefore recommend you pronounce your name \ahl-is-SAHN-der\ rather than using the modern pronunciation \al-eks-SAND-der\. We found a number of spellings of the city name before, during, and after your period: [2,3,4] Ormeschirche, from a 14th century copy of a document written between 1189 and 1191; 1286 Ormeskierk, 1203 Ormiskirke, Ormiskyrke, Ormeskirke, Ormeskyrke, found in documents from 1232 to 1552, with the earliest spellings actually being taken from 14th century copies of the 13th century documents. Ormeschurche, Ormeschurch, c.1300, 1317 Ormeskyrk, 1382 The correct way to form a byname from one of these spellings depends both on your period of interest and your location in England. In the early part of your period, a preposition would still be used with the name of the city; in Latin and French contexts it would be 'of' and in English contexts it would be . Thus, an early spoken English form of your name is and an an early written Latin form is . By 1350 in the south of England, it was not uncommon for the preposition to be dropped; however, it was still used in the north of England, so a documentary form such as is appropriate for your entire period, but a late-period spoken form is more likely in the south. [5] 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 Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, Ursula Georges, Gunnvor silfraharr, and Juliana de Luna. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 30 December 2004 -- References: [1] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988). s.n. Alexander [2] Ekwall, Eilert, _The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names_, 4th edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991). s.n. Ormskirk [3] _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. Ormskirk [4] Fenwick, Carolyn C. ed., _The Poll Taxes of 1377, 1379, and 1381, Part I: Bedfordshire-Leicestershire_, Series: Records of Social and Economic History, new series 27 (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press for the British Academy, 1998, ISBN: 0-197-26186-8). [5] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). s.n. Wilden has an eample of 1327 [6] Franklin, Peter, _The Taxpayers of Medieval Gloucestershire: An Analysis of the 1327 Lay Subsidy Roll with a New Edition of its Text_ (Dover, NH: Alan Sutton Publishing Inc, 1993). pp. 30, 31, 42, 49 has , , , , and .