ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3153 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3153 ************************************ 14 Aug 2006 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate name for a Welsh lady living any time before 1600. You also asked about the arms "Per chevron azure and argent, in base a raven rising, wings displayed." Here is what we have found. The only example of that we've found is in the tales of Culhwch and Olwen. [1] The names in these tales were not generally used by real people until modern times. We therefore cannot recommend for any pre-modern era. A form of is a good choice for your father's name. In the 13th century, we find the spellings and ; these forms have been influenced by English-language spelling. [2] In the 15th and 16th centuries we find the more typically Welsh spellings , , , and . [3,4] During the 13th through 16th centuries, the Welsh word for daughter was spelled ; is the standard modern spelling of the word. The byname is a fine choice. If you would like to chose a more appropriate given name to use with this byname, we recommend that you look at the names in the articles cited in footnotes [2], [3], and [4]. In medieval armory, hawks and ravens are generally shown "close" (standing with their wings folded) or "rising" (standing with wings raised, about to take off). [5] While we haven't found any specifically Welsh examples of ravens or hawks rising, we believe that this is still reasonable re-creation for your period and place. 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 Juliana de Luna, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, and Eleyne de Comnocke. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 14 August 2006 -- References: [1] Gruffudd, Heini, _Enwau i'r Cymry/Welsh Personal Names_ (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 1984), s.n. Tangwen [2] Jones, Heather Rose (aka Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn), "A Simple Guide to Constructing 13th Century Welsh Names" (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1996). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/welsh13.html [3] Jones, Heather Rose (aka Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn), "Snapshot of a Cantref: The Names and Naming Practices in a Mawddwy Court Roll of 1415-16" (WWW: Self-published, 2001) http://www.heatherrosejones.com/names/welsh/mawddwy1415.html [4] Jones, Heather Rose (aka Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn), "A Simple Guide to Constructing 16th Century Welsh Names (in English Contexts)" (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1996). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/welsh16.html [5] Academy of S. Gabriel Report #1069 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1069