Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 730

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/730

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

Greetings,

Here's what we found about the German name "Elke."

We didn't find any medieval examples of "Elke," but we did find "Alke," which is described (as you suggested) as a diminutive for "Adalheid" which is common in northern Germany. (1)

We found both "Alke" (2) and "Alk" (1) used in 1347.

We aren't sure whether "Elke" is a reasonable variant form of "Alke" for period. It's possible, but our sources only mention "Alke." Even if "Elke" is a historical possibility, it's clear that "Alke" was a much more common form.

Arval Benicouer, Talan Gwynek, and Blaise de Corneilles 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

(1) Stark, Franz, _Die Kosenamen der Germanen: eine Studie_ (Wiesbaden: Dr. Martin Sa:ndig oHG., 1967 [1868])

(2) Bahlow, Hans, _Mittelhochdeutsches Namenbuch nach schlesischen Quellen_ (Neustadt (an der Aisch): Degener, 1975).