ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 973 http://www.s-gabriel.org/973 *********************************** ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports * * contain errors that we haven't yet * * corrected. Please use it with caution. * * * ************************************************* From: "S Friedemann" 2 Aug 1998 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know what Highland Scots Gaelic spellings and pronunciations of and were used between 1250 and 1400. Here is the information that we have found. Unfortunately, we were unable to find evidence that any form of was used in period in Scotland. It is a modern anglicization of the Irish name , pronounced \KEEV-een\, which was later spelled . (The slash in represents an accent over the previous letter). [2] was rarely used in Scotland until after the reign of Charles I, so it would not be a good choice for a period Scottish name. It also isn't a Gaelic name, though it has been used since about the 16th century as an equivalent of the unrelated Gaelic name . Late in our period, there were two languages spoken in Scotland: Gaelic, which was the same language as in Ireland, and Scots, which was closely related to English. From about the 14th century onward, Gaelic was spoken mostly in the Highlands, while Scots was spoken in the Lowlands and towns. Prior to 1400, names were usually recorded in Latin, though we do have some examples of names in Scots. Scottish scribes often used similar-sounding, familiar names in place of Gaelic names: for , for , and for . For example, one 16th century Gael's name is recorded in one place as and in another as . [1] If you want a Gaelic-speaking persona, then you should choose a Gaelic name. would be a fine choice. At the beginning of your period, around 1250, it was pronounced \TAHR-dhel-vahkh\, with the \dh\ as in , and \kh\ representing the harsh, rasping sound in Scottish or German . In the late 13th and 14th century, we think it would have been pronounced something like \TAHR-yel-vahkh\, and the evidence suggests that by the mid-15th century, it was \TAHR-lahkh\. Although was not associated with until the late 15th century at the earliest, it was certainly used during your period [1]. As we noted above, Gaelic was rarely used as a written language in period Scotland. Throughout your period, your name would have been recorded in Latin, though toward the very end, it might have been written in Scots. The examples listed below that we found are of how the name was recorded. [1] Since these examples are all from 1400 and on, these were probably all found in documents written in Scots. Therthelnac Makdonenalde 1251 (A misreading of the name .) Tarlocht M'Ene V'Carlycht 1573 (Also found as Based on some early 15th century examples we've found, we think that at the end of your period, might also have been recorded as or . In Latin, might have been recorded as [1]. You will want to choose a surname, too. A Gaelic speaker in your period would have been known first and foremost as his father's son, e.g. "Tairdhealbhach son of Domhnall." The change in spelling from to is possessive, equivalent to the change from to . If you'd like some help choosing your father's name and putting it in the right form for use in your surname, please write us again and we will be happy to help. 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 Alan Fairfax, Arval Benicoeur, Effrick neyn Kenneoch, Talan Gwynek, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, and Teceangl Bach. For the Academy, --Arianuia poetissa de Cair Mirdin August 2, 1998 ----------------------------------------------------- References: [1] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.nn. Charles, Charleson, MacCarlich, MacKerley, Tarlachson [2] O/ Corra/in, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, _Irish Names_ (Dublin: The Lilliput Press, 1990).