ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3197 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3197 ************************************ 20 Oct 2006 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an authentic name for a Scottish Gaelic man living between 1050 and 1300. Here is what we have found. The Gaelic , pronounced \GEER-ick\ with a hard \G\, was the name of a 9th century Scottish ruler and was in use, though rare, in the 12th century. [1,2] A more common name in the 12th century was , which means "servant of [Saint] Giric" and which remained in use at least to the early 13th century. [3] The modern Gaelic adjective means 'Scottish, Irish' [4]; it is related to the noun 'a Scot, an Irishman'. [5] However, the evidence we have points to being a fairly recent coinage. During your period, the standard descriptive byname meaning 'Scottish' is , which we find in Irish Gaelic records in 1065, 1375, and 1401. [6] We therefore recommend as a better choice than . However, we would like to note that you would only be known as if you were no longer living in Scotland; in Scotland, you'd most likely be known by a patronymic byname, e.g., one based on your father's given name. If you'd like more information about authentic Scottish Gaelic patronymic bynames, please let us know. 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, Talan Gwynek, Coblaith Mhuimhneach, and Mari neyn Brian. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 20 October 2006 -- References: [1] "Donald II", Encyclopedia Britannica (WWW: Britannica.com) http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=31403&query=giric [2] Krossa, Sharon L. (Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte), "A Simple Guide to Constructing 12th Century Scottish Gaelic Names", (WWW: Privately published, 18 June 1997). http://www.MedievalScotland.org/scotnames/simplescotgaelicnames12.shtml [3] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. Malgirg. [4] Dinneen, Patrick S. _Foclo/ir Gaedhilge agus Be/arla_ (Dublin: Irish Texts Society, 1979 [1927]), s.v. scotach [5] Royal Irish Academy, _Dictionary of the Irish Language: based mainly on Old and Middle Irish materials_ (Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 1983), s.v. scot [6] Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Index of Names in Irish Annals" (WWW: Academy of S. Gabriel, 2001-2006). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/AnnalsIndex/