Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 485

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 485

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/485

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 "Caitlin" and "Sorcha," which you wanted to use as 14th-century Irish names.

We got our information from "Irish Names" by O'Corrain and Maguire, which is the source used by the SCA as the standard for information on Irish first names.

"Caitlin" is a form of "Katherine." O'Corrain and Maguire aren't completely clear about which forms were used in which times, but we're fairly comfortable saying that the form "Caitilín" (with an accent on the final "i") could have been used in the 14th century. (1) This name would be pronounced "kaht-leen."

"Sorcha" is described as a "fairly common" name in medieval Ireland. It's pronounced "SORE-khah," where "kh" is a "throat-clearing" noise like the one found in "loch" or "Bach."

Most Irish women were also identified with a patronymic (a name which tells who their father is). The most common form for the 14th century is "inghean <father's name>," which means "daughter of <father>." "inghean" is pronounced something like "IN-yen." If you'd like some suggestions for possible male names to use in a patronymic, let us know and we'd be happy to help.

Lindorm Eriksson, Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte, Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn, and Arval Benicoeur contributed to this letter.

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

In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel