ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 767
http://www.s-gabriel.org/767
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* NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports     *
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From: "Brian M. Scott" 
22 Mar 1998

Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel!

You asked about documenting <Frederick von Holstein der toll> as a
period German name meaning 'Frederick from Holstein the Mad'.

<Frederick> is an English spelling.  The standard modern German form
of the name is <Friedrich>; this spelling can occasionally be found
toward the end of the SCA period, but we would not expect to see it in
the Middle Ages.  Medieval spelling was of course quite variable, but
<Friderich> seems to be the most common form. [1, 3, 4]  <Frederich>
is found in Silesian sources; since it appears to be a Low German
variant, it might be quite appropriate for someone from Holstein. [1]

The modern German surname <Holstein> has arisen from several 
common German place-names, one of which is indeed <Holstein> itself. 
The citation <Emmely Holsteinin> 1382 shows the feminine form and
demonstrates that <Holstein> existed as a byname by the end of the
14th century. [2]  Thus, <von Holstein> is a perfectly good period
byname, though the forms <Holstein>, <Holsteiner>, and <der
Holsteiner> are probably more common.

The medieval German byname <Toll> or <Tolle> has several origins. In
some cases it was occupational for a toll-taker, from Middle Low
German <toll> 'toll, customs'.  In others it was from Middle High
German <tol> or <dol> 'strong, capable'.  And in yet others it may
have been originally a pet form of <Bertold>. [1, 2]  Since you
indicate that the meaning is important, you may want to consider other
bynames.

One possibility is <Tollhase>, literally 'mad hare', used of foolish
or oddly-behaved persons.  (The reference is to the peculiar behavior
of hares during the mating season, which also gave rise to the English
expression 'mad as a March hare'.)  It appears as <Tollehassche> 1451
and <Tollhosse> 1470; since the modern spelling of <Hase> occurs in a
byname as early as 1173, <Tollhase> should be an authentic period
spelling. [2]

Another possibility is <Narr> 'fool', which is attested at least from
1350. [2]

The remaining question is how to put the pieces together
authentically.  Most people used just one byname at a time, though
they might use different bynames on different occasions.  Thus,
depending on context or whim you might be <Frederich Tollhase> or
<Frederich der Narr> on one occasion and <Frederich von Holstein> on
another.  Regardless of what form(s) of the name you register, if any,
it would be very authentic actually to use more than one form.

When two bynames were used simultaneously, prepositional bynames
like <von Holstein> were generally placed last, and the other byname
was reduced to its essentials.  Thus, <Frederich Tollhase von
Holstein> and <Frederich Narr von Holstein> are quite reasonable;
<Frederich der Tollhase von Holstein> and <Frederich der Narr von
Holstein> are rather less so, and we don't recommend them.

The remaining possibility is to use a non-prepositional form of the
locative and place the nickname at the end.  In the name <Frederich
Holstein der Tollhase>, which might have been found in the later
Middle Ages, <Holstein> is probably an inherited byname, while <der
Tollhase> is almost certainly a genuine nickname.  (You could equally
well substitute <der Narr> for <der Tollhase>.) 

Arval Benicoeur and Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn also 
contributed to this letter.  We hope that it has been useful and that
you will write again if you have any further questions.

For the Academy, 

Talan Gwynek

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References:

[1] Bahlow, Hans.  Mittelhochdeutsches Namenbuch nach schlesischen
Quellen (Neustadt (an der Aisch): Degener, 1975).

[2] Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann.  Etymologisches Woerterbuch der
Deutschen Familiennamen (Limburg a. d. Lahn: C. A. Starke-Verlag,
1957-60).

[3] Mulch, Roland.  Arnsburger Personennamen: Untersuchungen zum
Namenmaterial aus Arnsburger Urkunden vom 13.- 16. Jahrhundert
(Darmstadt & Marburg: Hessischen Historischen Kommission Darmstadt and
the Historischen Kommission für Hessen, 1974).

[4] Socin, Adolf.  Mittelhochdeutsches Namenbuch nach Oberrheinischen
Quellen des Zwoelften und Dreizehnten Jahrhunderts (Hildesheim: Georg
Olms Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1966).