ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1929 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1929 ************************************ From: "Sara L Friedemann" 21 Jan 2000 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if would be an authentic name for a Frenchman living between 1350 and 1400. If that wasn't correct, you asked about . Here is a brief letter with the information we have found. Both choices for your husband's name are perfect. was widely used in France throughout his period; we found examples of it in Paris in 1292, Picardy in the 15th century, and Normandy in the 16th century. [1,2,3] Old French meant "forest-keeper, forest official." Although we didn't find a period example of the byname in France, we can safely assume that it was used: not only does it survive in the modern surname , but it appears in England in the Anglo-Norman forms 1279 and 1327. [4,5,6] The spelling is appropriate for your period. We find examples of in England in the Anglo-Norman forms 1084 and c.1150. These probably meant "from La Riviere," referring to a place called , not "from the river." [4] Old French meant "riverbank, shore," or "region by the banks of a river." [5,6] The spelling , without the preposition, is found as a surname in Normandy in the 16th century. [3] We hope that this brief 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, Maridonna Benvenuti, Amant le Marinier, and Arval Benicoeur. For the Academy, ~Aryanhwy merch Catmael, January 21, 2000 --------------------------------------- References: [1] Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris", Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium 1996 (SCA: Montgomery, Alabama; WWW: SCA, Inc., 1997) [URL:http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html]. [2] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de Picardie, 1967). [3] Cateline de la Mor, "Sixteenth Century Norman Names" (SCA: KWHS Proceedings, 1994; WWW: J. Mittleman, 1997) [URL:http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/cateline/norman16.html]. [4] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). s.nn. Rivers, Varder [5] Greimas, Algirdas Julien, _Dictionnaire de l'ancien franc,ais_ (Paris: Larousse, 1997). s.v. rive, verde [6] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987). s.n. Rivier, Verdier