ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3333 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3333 ************************************ 21 May 2007 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if any form of the feminine name was used in Germany, specifically Bavaria, in the 16th century. Here is what we have found. in various forms can be found in England from the 12th century on. [1] This English name does come from Old German roots, but the only example that we've found of the name in Germany is the wife of the 6th-century Langobard king Alboin, whose name was recorded in Latin as . [2] This is the only continental example of the name that we have found. We therefore cannot recommend it as good re-creation for a 16th-century German woman. If you'd like to pick a given name which we know was used in Bavaria, we recommend the following articles: "German Names from Nuernberg, 1497" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/nurnberg1497.html "German Names from Kulmbach, 1495" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/kulmbach1495.html While the data in these articles is from just before the 16th century, name pools don't in general change so quickly that these wouldn't be appropriate for at least the early part of the 16th century. Most are probably also appropriate for the later part of the 16th century; if you find any names which interest you, please write again and we can confirm whether they are suitable choices. 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 Coblaith Mhuimhneach, Talan Gwynek, and Eleyne de Comnocke. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 21 May 2007 -- References: [1] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988), s.n. Rosamund. [2] Drosdowski, Guenther, _Duden Lexikon der Vornamen_, 2nd ed. (Mannheim: Dudenverlag, 1974), s.n. Rosamunde.