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Greetings from the Academy of St. Gabriel!
You asked us for more information on the name TegláTecla as an early Welsh name. Two of our members, Talan Gwynek and Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, have discussed suggestions for names with you privately; we don't have anything to add to that part of the discussion. However, here's what we found about TegláTecla.
As you mentioned, the name TecláTegla does appear as a saint's name, Tecla of Iconium. The "Life and Miracles" book written about her includes stories about miracles at the church of Thecla at Llandegley in Powys. [1] It's possible there was a Welsh TecláTegla who inspired these stories, rather than the Greek saint, but that is just speculation, and it would seem unlikely as we have not found a "-la" ending occurring in native Welsh names.
Unfortunately, the appearance of the name of a saint does not mean the name was generally used by the inhabitants to name their children. If (and that's a big if) the Greek "Tekla" had been borrowed into Welsh at a relatively early date, then the name would have developed into "Tegla" in Medieval Welsh by ordinary sound changes in the language, as "Teg-" is found as the first part of several given Welsh names (e.g., Tegwared, Tegfedd).
We did find one instance of the use of "Tecla" recorded in Reims, France, around the year 800 [2]. However, the only definite documentation for the use of the name in Great Britain begins in the 19th Century.
In sum, we can't confirm the use of TegláTecla as a personal name in early Wales, but due to the limited documentation of women's names during the period, we can't completely rule out the possibility. It is better recreation to use a documented name, so we suggest you consider another choice.
We hope this has been helpful. Talan Gwynek and Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn provided research and comments for this letter.
For the Academy,
AElfwyn aet Gwyrum
[1] Farmer, David Hugh, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Oxford University Press, 1982. For more information, link to see also
[2] Morlet, Marie-Therese. Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de L'Ancienne Gaule du VI au XII Siecle. Centre National de la Recherche
[3] Withycombe, E.G., The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press. For more information, link to