ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3148 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3148 ************************************ ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Later research turned up additional * * information relevant to this report. * * See the end of the letter for details. * * * ************************************************* 28 Aug 2006 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if or is an appropriate name for an Italian woman living between 1475 and 1550 in northern Italy. If neither of these bynames is appropriate, you asked if we could recommend ones which are which have a connection to water. You also asked if a whirlpool (gurges) is an appropriate heraldic charge for this place and period. We've found one example of in Italy, in Perugia in 1285. [1] The masculine form was used in Florence between 1282 and 1532 [2,3]. Many feminine Italian names were feminized forms of masculine names [4], so we believe that is also appropriate in your period, though without a clear example of it we cannot recommend it as the best re-creation. We were unable to find any examples of or before modern times. Since you said you were most interested in having a name which contains a reference to water, we thought you might be interested in the family name 'of the fountain', which we find twice in Florence between 1282 and 1532 [5], or , found in medieval Puglia. [10] The word means 'windpipe, throat; situated in the throat of the mountain', and also 'collection of water connected with the cultivation of hemp'. There was a medieval noble family named ; their surname probably is derived from this word. [8] There is also a place name , which we find spelled in 1083 and from the mid-12th century as . This name refers to the gurgling, bubbling turmoil of a lively stream. This place give rise to a byname, which we find in the Latin record of in 1136. [9] We believe that either or is a fine byname for your period. The gurges, or whirlpool, can be found in early English armory. [6,7] However, we haven't found any examples of it in Italian armory, and so we recommend that you do not use this charge in your 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 Talan Gwynek, Maridonna Benvenuti, Ari Ansson, and Sara Marino. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 28 August 2006 -- References: [1] Arval Benicoeur, "Feminine Given Names from Thirteenth Century Perugia" (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1997) http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/perugia/ [2] Friedemann, Sara L., "Italian Given Names from the Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" (WWW: Self-published, 2001-2002) http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/italian/florence1282-1532.html [3] Ferrante laVolpe, _Men's names from Florence, 1427_ (WWW: Self-published, 1996; Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1999) http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/ferrante/catasto/ [4] Uckelman, Sara L., "Masculine/feminine given name pairs from the 1427 Catasto of Florence" (WWW: Self-published, 2005) http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/italian/femmasc.html [5] Herlihy, David, R. Burr Litchfield, and Anthony Molho, "Florentine Renaissance Resources: Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" (WWW: Brown University, Providence, RI, 2000) http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/tratte/ [6] Foster, Joseph, _The Dictionary of Heraldry_ (New York: Arch Cape Press, 1989), p. 96, Rafe de Gorges. [7] Wagner, Anthony Richard, ed. Aspilogia II: Rolls of Arms: Henry III (London: The Society of Antiquaries, 1967), n. 192. [8] di Crollalanza, G.B., _Dizionario Storico - Blasonico delle Famiglie Nobili e Notabili Italiane Estinte e Fiorenti_, 3 vols (Arnaldo Forni Editore, 1886), s.n. Gorgo, p. 492. [9] _Dizionario di toponomastica. Storia e significato dei nomi geografici italiani_, (Torino: UTET LIbreria, 2006), s.n. Gorgoglione, p. 367. [10] Minervini, Pantaleo, _Dizionario dei Cognomi Pugliesi_ (Schena Editore: 2005), p. 209 s.n. Fonte. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Correction by Aryanhwy, 29 March 2009: Removed the original second paragraph of the report, which was a hold-over from commentary and not part of the actual findings.