ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 950 http://www.s-gabriel.org/950 *********************************** ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports * * contain errors that we haven't yet * * corrected. Please use it with caution. * * * ************************************************* From: "S Friedemann" 7 May 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for our help checking the construction, pronunciation, suitability, and spelling of and (or used in England in 1279 [1]; this makes a fine choice for your period. we find in 1243-4 [1], and would thus be an appropriate choice. However, is not quite so easy. It appears likely that such spellings are intended to distance the name from its actual source, Old English , and Middle English , which mean "death." It could also be from the Old English "tinder," which is found in the Middle English as . [1] The spellings from around your period that we found are 1196, 1221, 1272, and late 13th century. We suggest that you use the spelling , which is most authentic for your period. It is pronounced more or less . [1] When names like or were written in Latin records, the bynames (descriptive surnames) were usually left untranslated. The Latin form of is , so your name would have been written or . We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you will not hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Talan Gwynek. For the Academy, Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin --------------------------------------------------------- References: [1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995)