ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3038 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3038 ************************************ 4 Apr 2005 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael (no address) Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate surname for a Scottish man living any time before 1600. Here is the information we have found. Starting in the late 14th century, there were two main languages spoken in Scotland: Gaelic, spoken in the Highlands and Western Isles; and Scots, spoken in the Lowlands, including the royal court and towns. Gaelic was the same language spoken in Ireland at this time; Scots was closely related to contemporary English. Names were formed quite differently in the two languages, and the two styles of naming did not mix. Therefore, the culture you choose for your persona will determine how your name should be constructed. The modern surname is a shortening of the modern Scots surname or . [1,2] This Scots surname is found as and in 1684; these are the earliest instances that we have found in Scotland. [2] In English records from late-16th, early-17th century Ireland, it is found as and . [3] All of these derive from the Gaelic byname or 'son of Aodh'. [2] The bynames and were pronounced roughly \mahk AY-@\ and \mahk EE\, where \@\ is the sound of in or . [4] Where to go from here depends on what interests you more: An Irish name recorded in English using or , or a Gaelic name using or . If the latter interests you, we recommend the following article: "Quick and Easy Gaelic Names" http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/ This will tell you everything you need to know about basic Gaelic name constructions. For the 16th century, you might also consider these articles for chosing your given name: "Scottish Gaelic Given Names" http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/gaelicgiven/ "Historical Name Generator: Sixteenth Century Irish and Scottish Gaelic Names" http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/hng16gaelic/ On the other hand, if you'd rather use something that looks and sounds more similar to , we recommend the following article as a good source to pick your given name from: "Names and Naming Practices in the Fitzwilliam Accounts from 16th Century Ireland" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/lateirish/fitzwilliam.html In either case, if you have further questions please write us again and we'll be happy to help. You had also expressed interest in heraldic arms. Once you have settled on a time and place for your persona, we'll be happy to help you design appropriate arms. We should warn you that it was rare for a Gael in our period to bear arms. 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 Arval Benicoeur, Adelaide de Beaumont, Talan Gwynek, Ursula Georges, Juetta Copin, and Juliana de Luna. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 04 April 2005 -- References: [1] MacLysaght, Edward, _The Surnames of Ireland_ (Dublin: Irish Academic Press Ltd., 1985, ISBN 0-7165-2366-3). s.n. MacQuay [2] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986). s.n. MacQuay [3] Woulfe, Patrick, _Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames_ (Kansas City: Irish Genealogical Foundation). s.n. mac Aoidh [4] This is just an approximation; the pronunciation of varied significantly from one Gaelic dialect to another in 16th century Ireland.