ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 887 http://www.s-gabriel.org/887 *********************************** ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports * * contain errors that we haven't yet * * corrected. Please use it with caution. * * * ************************************************* 1 Apr 1998 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for suggestions for a period name for which could be a nickname. Here is what we have found. We couldn't find a given name that fits your request, but we do have a suggestion. The modern surname derives from a Middle English word , meaning "red". A woman of 13th or 14th century England who had red hair or a florid complexion might have been called "Margaret the Red". The usage is older still: The Middle English word derives from an Old English word (the represents a long ), which was used in names. For example, we found [1]: Leofwine se Reade 1016-20 Aluric {th}ane Reda c.1100-30 The word is pronounced \RAD\ or \RA-d@\, where the \A\ is the vowel in and \@\ is a schwa, like the vowel in . To build a complete name, you'll need to choose a given name to go with the descriptive byname. You can find a list of appropriate English names on the web: Feminine Given Names in 'A Dictionary of English Surnames' http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/reaney/ I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Talan Gwynek and Margaret Makafee. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -