ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3201 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3201 ************************************ 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 French woman living between 1150 and 1500, but preferably in the 13th century. Here is what we have found. or (where represents an e-diaresis) is a moderately rare name in modern French, but we have found no examples before the middle of the 20th century. [1,2] It appears to be a French-style feminization of , a modern variant of the medieval Breton masculine name . [6] We've not found any feminine form of during our period. We therefore recommend that you do not use it as your given name. If you'd like to consider alternatives, we've listed below women's given names beginning with which we find in Paris in 1292: [3] Galienne Genevieve Genevote Gennevote Germainne Gersant Gervese Gile Gileite Gilete Gille Gilleite Gilon Ginnade Girout Gonteut Gontier Grace Guibour Guibourc Guillemete Guiote If you are interested in the pronunciation of any of these names, please write us again. You can also find other suitable choices in source [3]. We did not find any French place called . If you constructed this place name on the basis of the in Paris, we have to note that this is the only example of this type of name that we've found. As the is a rather special type of place (and not one where people generally lived), we don't believe it's safe to generalize from this to an analogous construction like . On the other hand, a byname such as or is a fine choice; we find both of these in Paris in the early 15th century, and believe that both, particularly is appropriate for the late 13th century as well. [4,5] 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, Arval Benicoeur, Ari Ansson, and Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 20 October 2006 -- References: [1] "Tout sur le pre/nom GWENAELLE" (WWW: auFeminin.com, 1999-2006) http://www.aufeminin.com/w/prenom/p7401/gwenaelle.html [2] "Le pre/nom Gwenaelle" (WWW: Le Journal des Femmes, no date) http://www.linternaute.com/femmes/prenoms/prenom/4620/2002/gwenaelle.shtml [3] Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris", Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium 1996 (SCA: Montgomery, Alabama; WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997). http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html Some of the names are listed in this source with a grave accent on an . These accents are modern editorial editions and are not appropriate for the 13th century. [4] Friedemann, Sara L., "French Names from Paris, 1421, 1423 & 1438" (WWW: privately published, 2002-2003). http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/paris1423.html [5] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987), s.n. Deschamps [6] De Courson, M. Aure/lien, _Cartulaire de L'Abbaye de Redon en Bretagne_ (Paris: Imprimerie Imperiale, 1863).