ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3346 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3346 ************************************ From: Coblaith Mhuimhneach 12 Aug 2008 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked us to evaluate as a name for a 13th-century Briton. We are pleased to assure you that this is an entirely plausible name for your chosen period and culture. In fact, one of our sources mentions a whose name was recorded in Bedfordshire in 1294. [1] Before the Norman Conquest the name is found only once in English records, as the name of a priest. After the Conquest its popularity increased quite rapidly, and by the 13th century it was one of the most common English masculine names. [2] developed from the Old English given name <{AE}lfr{ae}d>, where {AE} represents an a-e ligature (an a and an e that share a common vertical stroke). In 13th-century England the use of unmarked patronymics (that is, using the personal name of one's father as one's own byname) was common. [3] In addition to the mentioned above, we found a in 1275, a in 1327 and a in 1332. [4] I hope this letter has been useful. Please write 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 Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Ursula Georges, Maria Abramsdottir, Eleyne de Comnocke, Talan Gwynek, and Margaret Makafee. For the Academy, Coblaith Mhuimhneach ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ References: [1] Reaney, P. H., and R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995); s.n. . [2] Ibid. s.n. . [3] Gwynek, Talan, and Arval Benicoeur, "A Brief Introduction to Medieval Bynames" (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1999) http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/bynames/ [4] Selte/n, Bo, _The Anglo-Saxon Heritage in Middle English Personal Names_, Volume II (Lund: CWK Gleerup, 1979); p. 17.