ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2989 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2989 ************************************ 28 Mar 2005 Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate name for a Norman man living in the 12th century, possibly near Yorkshire. Here is the information we have found. The main holdings of the de Warennes were in Surrey, but there were also extensive holdings in Yorkshire, so that is a good place to set your persona. [1] With minor changes in spelling, your name is perfect for your period; Hamelin Plantagenet and Isabella de Warenne had a son named Jeffery, born c. 1160. [4] (This is a modern spelling of his name, and not necessarily what he was known by during his lifetime.) In your period, Latin was used as the primary written language, while the spoken languages were Middle English and Anglo-French. We will therefore be suggesting both Latin and vernacular spellings. The modern name derives from a conflation of several Continental Germanic names that were usually Latinized , , , and . [2] The name is found as or in Old French. [8] The great majority of 12th century records are Latinized, so it is hard to determine what the appropriate spoken forms of the name are. In this case, we look at (i) instances of how the name was recorded in late Old English, (ii) instances of the name that appear to be only very lightly Latinized, and (iii) the history of Old French phonology. Examples of that we found in Old English records from the 11th and 12th centuries include 1087 and sometime between 1090 and 1115, 1096, 1114, and 1127. [3,6] (The <{dh}> represents the letter edh, which looks like a backwards '6' with a cross-bar). These names were pronounced roughly: Gosfrei \gohz-fray\ Goisfri \goyz-free\ Gosfri{dh} \gohz-freeth\ Gosfrei{dh} \gohz-frayth\ We also found sometime between 1115 and 1140 a ; this spelling is a probably lightly Latinized form of Old French or . [7] and were pronounced something like \djef-RAY\ in early Old French, though in England the stress eventually shifted to the first syllable in accordance with English speech habits, making the name \DJEF-ray\. We don't know how rapidly this change proceeded, but we think that the Old French pronunciation, \djef-RAY\, probably remained dominant throughout your period. In the 13th century we start seeing spellings that more closely resemble the modern forms: 1203, 1210, 1243, 1273, 1273, 1273, 1293, and 1296. [2,5] You'll note that none of these spellings are ; we haven't found this spelling during or after your period, and so do not recommend that you use it. The standard English spelling of the family name, or , is found as early as 1086; either of these is a fine choice. In 1187, we find a man recorded in Latin as [2] In conclusion, we can recommend Anglo-Norman-French for the earlier part of your period and for the middle and later part of your period, with the Latin forms and being appropriate throughout. In Middle English by the end of your period, the would probably have become . [10] If you are interested in re-creating a member of the 12th century Warenne family, you might also want to adopt a variant of their arms. If this appeals to you, please write us again and we'll be happy to help research plausible designs. 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 Gunnvor silfraharr, Talan Gwynek, Walraven van Nijmegen, Margaret Makafee, Kolozsvari Arpadne Julia, Arval Benicoeur, and Barak Raz. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 28 March 2005 -- References: [1] Jones, Nigel, "Consibrough Castle: South Yorkshire's Best Kept Secret" (WWW: Conisbrough Castle.org, no date) http://www.conisbroughcastle.org.uk/wealthy.htm [2] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). s.nn. Jeffray, Warren [3] Forssner, Thorvald, _Continental-Germanic Personal Names in England in Old and Middle English Times_ (Uppsala: K.W. Appelbergs Boktryckeri, 1916). s.n. Gosfrid [4] "Organization of the Plantagenets" (WWW: Plantagenet Organization.com, 2004) http://www.plantagenetorganization.com/plant/PS28_088.HTML [5] Bardsley, Charles, _A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames_ (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980). s.n. Geoffrey [6] Clark, Cecily "The _Liber Vitae_ of Thorney Abbey and its 'Catchment Area'" (in Jackson, 321-38 [9]), p. 345. [7] ibid., p. 338 [8] Clark, Cecily, "Domesday Book -- A Great Red-Herring: Thoughts on Some Late-Eleventh-Century Orthographies" (in Jackson, 156-67 [9]), pp. 161-3. [9] Jackson, Peter, ed. _Words, Names and History: Selected Writings of Cecily Clark_ (Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 1995). [10] Mosse/, Ferdinand, _A Handbook of Middle English_, trans. James A. Walker (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1968). p. 187-9