ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3274 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3274 ************************************ 28 Feb 2008 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of St. Gabriel You asked for help in forming a pre-1600 name for your son using some form of the name . You indicated that you are willing to consider any location or time period. Here is what we have found. First of all, we'd like to apologize for how long it has taken us to complete this report. We hope that the information is still useful to you. and derivatives of are present in various locations during our period. Since you are undecided about the location with which the name will be associated, we have listed options by location and period. FRANCE The name was commonly spelled in French, as seen in from Picardy in 1280 [3] and from Paris in 1292 [4]. was pronounced roughly \MEE-l@\, where \@\ is the sound of in or . ENGLAND English possibilities are numerous. In the 12th and 13th centuries we find: <(filius) Mile> between 1150 and 1160, 1148 [10], c. 1225, 1230 [1] <(filius) Miles> 1177, 1297 [1] The English is also pronounced roughly \MEE-l@\. , at this date, was probably pronounced \MEE-l@s\. In the 16th century there are a number of variant spellings: 1584, 1596 [5] 1573-1592 [5]; 1568/9, 1581, 1614, 1616 [6]; 1541 [7]; 1523 [8] 1541 [7]; 1552, 1565, 1578, 1590, 1607, 1613 [6]; 1523 [8] 1611 [6] 1541 [7] 1538/9 [11] and were both pronounced roughly \M@ee-l@s\, and and roughly \M@ee-lis\. We do not have enough information to say how and were pronounced. WALES In the 16th century the English name also shows up in Wales, where we see it used in 1547, 1555, 1557, 1565, 1571, 1589, and 1614 [10]. If you wish to have your son use the specific name , we recommend that you pick either 16th century England or 16th century Wales. If you will choose one of these options and write back to us, we will be able to advise you on construction of a complete medieval name. I hope this letter has been useful. Please write to us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Talan Gwynek, Adelaide de Beaumont, Wenyeva atte Grene, Ursula Georges, Mari neyn Brian, Brygyt Strangewayes, Arval Benicoeur, Eleyne de Comnocke, and Coblaith Mhuimhneach. For the Academy, Guaire mac Guaire and Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 28 February 2008 ----------- References: [1] Withycombe, E.G. _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988) s.n. . [2] Reaney, P.H., & R.M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995) s.n. . [3] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de Picardie, 1967), p. 381. [4] Geraud, Hercule, _Paris sous Philippe-le-Bel: d'apre/s des documents originaux et notamment d'apre/s un manuscript contenant Le Ro^le de la taille impose/e sur les habitants de Paris en 1292_ (Paris: Crapelet, 1837), p. 167, column 2. [5] Uckelman, Sara L., "16th Century Names from Ormskirk Parish Registers" (WWW: privately published, 2001-2). http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/ormskirk/ [6] Uckleman, Sara L., "English Given Names from 16th and Early 17th C Marriage Records" (WWW: privately published, 2006-7). http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/parishes/parishes.html [7] Uckleman, Sara L., "Index of Names in the 1541 Subsidy Roll of London" (WWW: privately published, 2005). http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/london1541.html) [8] Karen Larsdatter, "An Index to the 1523 Subsidy Roll for York and Ainsty, England," (WWW: privately published, undated), s.n. Miles http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/york16/given-masc-alpha.htm [9] Von Feilitzen, Olof. _The Personal Names and Bynames of the Winton Domesday, in Martin Biddle, ed., "Winchester in the Early Middle Ages", Winchester Studies 1_ (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1976). p. 165. [10] Uckleman, Sara L., "Some 16th & 17th C Welsh Masculine Names" (WWW: privately published, 2002). (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/welsh/welsh.html) [11] Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Names and Naming Practices in the Registers of the Church of St. Mary's, Dymock", (WWW: privately published, 1998-9). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/dymock/