ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3236
http://www.s-gabriel.org/3236
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1 Dec 2006
From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael 

Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel!

You wanted to know if <John Marvell, known as Jack> is an authentic
16th-century English masculine name.  Here is what we have found.

In England from the 12th century on, the name <John> became
increasingly popular until in the latter half of the 16th century, 15%
of all men in England were baptized <John>. [1]  It's therefore an
excellent choice for your name.

In England, <Jack> developed as a nickname both of <John> and of
<James>.  For example, a man whose name is recorded as <James> in 1291
also appears as <Jack> in 1291. Another man appears both as <James>
and as <Jakemin> 1302.  Additionally, in 1332 we find one <Jak del
Thorp>. [3]  By the 14th century, <Jack> was so common that it had
become established as a synonym for 'man' or 'boy'. [4]  While we don't
have any explicit 16th-century examples, we have no reason to doubt
that <Jack> continued in common use as a nickname of <John> and
<James> throughout our period until modern times.

In 1524 we find a record of a man named <Roger Marvell>, so this
surname is also a good choice. [2]

The only part about your name that we cannot endorse is the
construction.  We have no examples of people recorded as <X Y, called
Z> where <Z> is a given name.  However, this is no reason why you
couldn't use <John Marvell> in some circumstances and <Jack Marvell>
in other circumstances; it's just that you wouldn't be known as <John
Marvell called Jack> or <John Marvell known as Jack>.

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 Maridonna Benvenuti, Mari neyn Brian, and Adelaide de
Beaumont.

For the Academy,
-Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 01 December 2006

--
References:

[1] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian
Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988), s.n. John

[2] Reaney, P.H., & R.M. Wilson.  A Dictionary of English Surnames
(London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995), s.n. Marvell 

[3] ibid., s.nn. Jack, James

[4] Withycombe, op. cit., s.n. Jack