Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 483

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 483

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/483

Some of the Academy's early reports contain errors that we haven't yet corrected. Please use it with caution.

Greetings,

Here's the information we found on Breton names.

Currently our only source for Breton names are the "Cartularies of Redon," a collection of Breton records from the 9th to 11th centuries. (1) One of our members is trying to put the data from those records into a useful source, but it will be a few months before she has anything definitely helpful.

The data from those sources shows that names used in Brittany have four origins. Many are Frankish or Latin names, similar to the ones used in the rest of France. Breton names are a third source, and a few names are taken from the New Testament. In the records we have New Testament names are rare, but they became increasingly common throughout Europe in later periods. Most of the women's bynames listed either make reference to a relationship ("wife of..." and "daughter of...") or refer to their occupation.

If you could give us a starting place (an initial letter or a particular source would be useful), it would be possible to put together a partial list of names. If you would rather wait for a few months, you should be able to get access to a larger list of names.

Your chosen period is at the beginning of the "Middle Breton" period. For more information on the language and history of Brittany during this period, send for the "Welsh Studies" catalog from Books for Scholars, which has a Breton section. There are also a number of books on Breton history listed there.

Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn researched this letter.

We hope this has been helpful, and that we can continue to assist you.

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel

(1) "Cartulaire de L'Abbaye de Redon en Bretagne" publie par M. Aruelien de Courson, Paris, Imprimerie Imperiale, 1863.