ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3009 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3009 ************************************ 28 Mar 2005 Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You asked if we could recommend given names appropriate for a noble woman born around 1071 in or around what is today Normandy. Here is what we have found. Most sources from late 11th-century Normandy were written in Latin, though the spoken language at this time was a dialect of Old French. Below is a list of feminine names from late 11th- and early 12th-century Latin documents in and around Normandy. [1] We have added to these some names found in England in the 12th and 13th centuries that are derived from Old French names that were imported by the Normans; they are marked with an asterisk. [2] Some of these English spellings may not be appropriate for France, but we've included them because it is quite reasonable for a woman born in Normandy in 1071 to end up in England. Lastly, we have added some additional 12th-century forms found in other Latin-language documents from France; these are marked with a plus sign. [3] Most of the names on this list are Latinized, generally by adding one of the feminine grammatical endings <-is>, <-ia>, or <-a>. In some cases, the original name can be recovered simply by dropping that suffix, e.g. <Aelizia> probably represents Old French <Aeliz>. In other cases, the Latin form differs from the French name in other ways, often preserving an archaic form of the name, e.g. <Adeliza> which probably also represents an Old French name like <Aeliz>, <Aaliz>, <Aliz>, etc. In this list, an <x> between two dates indicates that the name is found in a source which dates from sometime between the two, and 'e.' stands for 'early'. Absendis Ada Adelaidis Adelidis Adilidis Adelaida Adelida Adelaisa Adeleisa Adeliza * Adeliz 1154x89, ca.1190 * Atheleisia 1219-20 = Aelesia 1219-20 = Aeleis 1219-20 * Aelisia 1190 * Aelizia 1180 * Alesia 1200 * Aliz 1154x89, 1185, 1200-1, 1202 * Ahelis 1188 * Ahelissa 1188 * Alis 1200, 1214 * Alicia 1219 * Alote ca.1191 * Alot 1203 + Adelais e.12th c. + Aalaida 1111 + Aalidis 1122 Adela Adelina * Edelina 1214 * Athelina 1221 = Edelina 1221 * Aalina 1154x89 * Aelina 1160x65 * Alina 1211 Advenia Agnes * Angnes 1211 * Annais 1218 * Annas 1194 * Anneis 1154x89 * Annes 1170x76 + Angnes 1180 Alberada Albereda Albereia * Albreda 1185, 1198, 1187x1215, 1218, 1221 * Albree 1221 * Aubreda 1219 + Alberada 1113 Albercia * Amanda 1221 Amelina * Amelina 1221 + Amelina 12th c. * Amia 1193 * Amicia 1189, 1207, 1210 + Amicia e.12th c. * Anastasia 1221 * Anestasia 1219 Ansfrida Ansfriedis Anffridis * Argentina 1196, 1204 Ascelina * Acelina 1195 * Ascelina 1195, 1205, 1207, 1210, 1214, 1228 Avenia -- may be a form of <Advenia> Avicia Avitia * Auicia 12th c., ca.1175x86, 1199, 1204, 1228 * Auisia 1221 * Auizia 1154x89 Avisa -- may go with <Avicia>, but may be a variant of <Havisa> Awunda + Aunda 1165x70 Axidis Basilia * Basilia 1134x40, 1165, 1154x89, 1177, 1219, 1220, 1221 Beatris Beatrix * Beatrix 1187x1215, 1209 * Beatriz 1210 * Beatricia 1204 Beliardis * Bele 1194 * Belsant 1190 * Belsante 1185 Bencelina Benscelina * Bencelina 1207 Benedicta + Benedicta 12th c. Berta * Berta 1143x47, 1205x15 * Bertha 1205x15 + Berta 1105 Bona Bona Filia Bonanata * Cassandra 1182x1211, 1208 Catherina Caterina * Catelin 1198 * Katelin 1198 * Caterina 1214 * Katerina 1208 * Catin 1177, 1200 + Katherina 12th c. Cecilia * Celestria 1206, 1221 Cintoria * Clara 1210 * Clarell' 1219 * Claricia 1150x60, 1199, 1219 * Clericia 1175x86 * Clarice 1191 Constantia * Constancia 1189x99, 1230 * Custancia 1189x99 * Cussata 1230 Deifrida Delicata * Dionisia 1154x89, 1207 * Deonisia 1212 Duvelina * Duze 1219 Eddeva -- though found in Normandy, this is a name of English origin, from OE <Eadgifu> * Egelina 1207 * Eglentina 1213 * Einilda before 1200 * Elena 1187, 1204, 1208, 1213x15, 1219 * Helena 1210 Elisabeth Elisabet Elizabet * Elizabez 1207 + Helisabeth before 1120 + Isabellis 12th c. * Elysant 1190 * Helisent 1221 Emitia -- may be a form of <Amicia> Emma Emmelina * Emelina 1154x89, 1199x1215, 1221 * Emmelina 1154x89 * Emelin 1208 * Emelot 12th c. * Emeloth 1221 * Engeleis 1202, 1205 * Engeleisia 1200 * Engelise 1190 Eremburgis Eremburga Ermengardis Erma Ermelina Ermenildis Ermeneldis * Eufemia 1188, 1205, 1210, 1221 * Eufemma 1200x11 Eulalia * Eilaria 1200 * Elaria 1212 * Eularia 1200, 1212 * Eustachia 1200, 1214, 1222 Eva + Eva 12th c. Fredissendis Genovefa + Genovefa bef. 1120 * Gilia 1154x89, 1201 * Gillota 1198 Gisla * Gisla ca.1110 Godelina * Godelina 1148 * Gracia 1200, 1213 * Gratia 1221 * Grecia 1201, 1213 Hahewisa Hathvidis Hatvidis Hatvid Hathvisa Hatvisa Hatuisa Hadwisa Haduisa Hadvis Havidis Havisa * Hawis 1115, 1203, 1208 * Hawisa 1209, 1219 * Hawisia 1204, 1214, 1215 + Hadvisa 1102 + Havisa before 1120 Hebreia Helvisa * Heilewis 1189 * Heilewisa 1160 * Helewis 1189x99 * Elewisa 1221 + Helvisa bef. 1120 Heluina Herleva Hersinda * Hersent 1166, 1208 + Hersendis 12th c. Hesa Heza * Hilda 1154x89, 1192, 1200 * Hilde 1201, 1203, 1210 Hildeburgis Hildiburgis + Heldeburgis 1102 Hildiarda * Hildiard' 1206 * Hyldeiard 1228 + Hildegardis 1101 Hodierna * Hodierna 1198 * Odierna 1195, 1213 Hugolina * Hugolina 1219 * Ida 1175, 1195, 1207, 1230 * Yda 1201 Iseldis * Hysode 12th c. * Iseuda 1214 * Isolda 1200, 1219 * Isouda 1214 * Ysolt 1201, 1204 * Ysoude 1186x1210 * Ysout 1200 * Iuetta 1166, 1175, 1201, 1221 * Iuette 1212 * Joia 1195 * Joya 1195 * Joiha 1200 * Johi 1200 Juliana * Giliana 1194, 1198 * Juelina 1201 * Juheta 1200 * Juetta 1189x99, 1201, 1212, 1214 * Joetta 1219 * Juwete 1227 + Juliana 12th c. Justa Kenilda * Lecia 1172x80, 1221 * Letia 1194 Lescelina * Lecelina 1207, 1220 Leodegardis Legardis * Legarda 1230 * Ligarda 12th c. + Ligardis 12th c. Lucia Lutia * Lucia ca.1150, 1198, 1205, 1221 * Luce ca.1230 Mabilia * Mabilia ca.1150, 1185, 1212, 1214, 1219, 1221 * Mabillia 1200 * Mabill 1202 * Mabill' 1203, 1221 * Mabella 1189 * Amabilia 1185, 1202, 1218 * Amabilis ca.1150x60, 1197, 1200, 1219 * Amabilla 1200 * Amabillia 1208-9 * Amable 1154x89, 1200 * Maysant 1197 * Meisent 1154x89 * Moysant 12th c. * Moysent 1154x89 Margarita * Margareta 1189, 1207 * Magge 1200 * Magot 1208 * Magota 1208 * Mogg 1195 * Mogge 1195 + Margarita 12th c. * Margeria 1195, 1219 * Marjoria 1199, 1211-2 * Magge 1200 Maria * Maria 1186, 1219 * Mariot 1185, 1210 * Mariota 1195, 1200, 1219 * Malle 1221 * Maleta 1219 * Malina 1212 * Malota 1221 * Molle 1203 Mathildis Mathilda Maltildis * Mactilda 1154x69 * Mactildis 1154x89 * Matildis ca.1150, 1154x89, 1179, 1209 * Matill' 1206 * Matillis 1135x65, 1205, 1215 * Mautild 1199 * Mahald 1172x80 * Mahalt 1154x89 * Mahaut 1190 + Mahildis 12th c. * Melisant 1213 * Melisent 1201, 1221 * Melisentia 1208 * Milesent 1208 * Milisendis 1179 Murieldis -- this may be just an odd variant of <Murielis> Murielis Muriellis Muriela * Muriella 1199, 1203 * Muriel 1195, 1221 Naria -- this may be an error for <Maria> * Nicholaa 1207-8 * Nicolaa 1207-8 Oda Odelda Odelina * Odelina 1198, 1219 + Odelina 12th c. Odila * Oriolda 1206-7 * Oriholt 1206-7 * Osanna 1160, 1208 Osmoildis Papia Petronilla * Petronilla 1189x99, 1206, 1214 * Prudence 1203 * Prudencia 1210 * Prudentia 1221 Racildis * Rametta 1195, 1228 * Regina 1203 * Reina 1214 Reneldis * Ragenel 1192 * Ragenhild 1208 * Ragenild 1198, 1219 * Ragenilda 1203-4 * Renilla 1220 Richildis Richeldis Riceldis * Richild 1186x88, 1212 * Rikilda 1198 + Richeldis 1102 * Richolda 1213 * Ricolda 1151x54 Rohaidis Rohaida Rohaisa Rohais Rosia Rosza * Roheis 1164 * Roheisia 1198 * Rohesia 1164, 1199, 1219 * Roesia 1199x1220 * Roes' 1219 * Roysia 1226-7 * Sabina 1186x1210, 1220 * Sabilina 1197 * Sarra ca.1160, 1212, 1219 * Sedehanna 1218-9 * Sedania 1221 * Sedaina 1221 Seifrida Sefridis Sibilla * Sibilla 1199, 1219 Supplicia Susanna * Susanna 1194, 1206, 1213 + Susanna 1108x38, 12th c. Teuscenda Tescelina * Theophania 1206 * Theffanie 1206 * Tephania 1154x89 * Teffania 1206 Tola Wimara Guimara Wimarcha * Wimarc 1219 * Wimarca 1154x89 In many cases we can make reasonable guesses at what spoken form is being represented by the Latin documentary form. If any of these names interest you, please write us again and we'll be happy to give you further information. If a noble woman in your period had any byname at all, she would have had a byname based on a relationship to her husband, son, father, or brother. Less common were bynames based on a location, perhaps the name of the lands which her family held, e.g. <Emma de Lavelle> or <Milesendis de Salmuro>. [4] If you would like help forming byname sof either of these types, we'll be happy to help. 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 Florens van Flardingh, Talan Gwynek, Walraven van Nijmegen, Arval Benicoeur, Maridonna Benvenuti, Gunnvor silfraharr, Fiora Soranzo, and Juliana de Luna. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 28Mar05 --- [1] Delisle, Leopold, ed., _Rouleaux des Morts du IXe au XVe Siecle_ (New York: Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1968 [1866]). [2] Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in _A Dictionary of English Surnames_" (SCA: KWHS Proceedings, 1994; WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1997). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/ [3] 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). Individual names can be found in this source by using the index at the end of volume II. [4] Dominique Barthelemy, E/le/ments d'Anthroponymie Fe/minine d'apre\s le Cartulaire du Romceray d'Angers (1028-1184 environs), in Monique Bourin and Pascal Chareille, eds., _Gene\se Me/die/vale de l'Anthroponymie Moderne_ (Tours: Universite/ de Tours, 1992), t.II, pp.67-80.