ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 916 http://www.s-gabriel.org/916 *********************************** ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports * * contain errors that we haven't yet * * corrected. Please use it with caution. * * * ************************************************* From: 13 Apr 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked us about the feminine Irish name as used between 1050 and 1250. (Old Irish ) is a native Irish feminine given name; it is unrelated to the name , which was introduced by the Anglo-Normans [1]. (The names were later associated because of their similar sound.) However, all instances we found of refer to a semi-legendary character; we are therefore doubtful whether it was used by real people. is indeed an Anglicization of the Irish and its earlier form [2,3]. (The '/' indicates an accent over the previous letter.) This name is pre-Norman and so fits nicely into your chosen period. Assuming that could have been used by a real person, then for your period we recommend the spelling (pronounced approximately \SAH-ritch IN-yen ee (H)EE-thuh-khahn\, where is pronouned as in ). The is the feminine equivalent of , so your name would literally mean "Sarait, daughter of O/ Si/decha/n". We hope this has been helpful, and that we can continue to assist you. Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Talan Gwynek, and Arval Benicoeur contributed to this letter. In service, --Walraven van Nijmegen Academy of S. Gabriel [1] Donnchadh O/ Corra/in & Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990) [2] Edward MacLysaght, _The Surnames of Ireland_ (Dublin: Irish Academic Press Ltd., 1985) [3] M.A. O'Brien (ed.), _Corpus Genealogiarum Hiberniae_ (Dublin: The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976)