ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1952 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1952 ************************************ From: "Lyghtefote" 13 Mar 2000 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You wanted to know if the Swedish masculine name was used before 1600, and what types of surnames would have been used with it. Here is the information we have found. The modern Danish name and the modern Swedish name ultimately derived from the name of St. Severinus. is found in Denmark from c.1400 on. We find it spelled as in 1403-1540, though the spellings and were more typical for that period. [1] (The represents the Danish slashed .) first came to Norway c.1440; after 1500 it became more common, especially in the form . [2] We haven't been able to determine when the name spread to Sweden, we think it is likely that the name was used there by the 16th century. Therefore, if you wish a 16th century Scandinavian persona, is a fine choice for a name. The most common type of surname in 16th century Sweden was the patronymic surname, e.g., one that identified the bearer's father. The following is a list of common 16th century Swedish patronymic surnames, any of which would be appropriate for you [3,4]: Benctzson B{ae}nchsson Jonsson Magnesson Mansson Mangson Mikelson Nielsson Olsson Pedhersson Persson Rauelson Sweningh son Symonsson Thomasson Tordsson Torgelsson Ulffson Another common type of surname in your period was locative surnames, e.g., ones that identified where the bearer lived. Some fairly typical examples of this are as follows [3]: j Bi{ae}rme 1505 i Kallemor 1513 j Tengelsko 1516 i Rottabryna 1519 j Bakka 16th c. j Blaxmo 16th c. i Dyreby 16th c. i Fors 16th c. i Gaxmakr 16th c. i Gwndersboll 16th c. aff Husaby 16th c. i Michiltorp 16th c. i N{ae}u{ae} 16th c. i Soby 16th c. i Staffuer 16th c. pa Stekerhuset 16th c. j Sygerstada 16th c. and are different spellings of a preposition meaning "in." means "on, in." This is only a small list of the possibilities. If none of them appeals to you, write us again, and we'll see if we can suggest more. 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 Arval Benicoeur, Lindorm Eriksson, Talan Gwynek, Juliana de Luna, Hartmann Rogge, and Amant le Marinier. For the Academy, ~Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 13Mar00 --------------------------------------- References & Notes: [1] Knudsen Gunnar, Marius Kristiansen, & Rikard Hornby, _Danmarks Gamle Personnavne_, Vol. I: Fornavne (Copenhagen: 1936-48). s.n. Severin [2] Kruken, Kristoffer, ed. _Norsk personnamnleksikon_, 2nd ed. (Oslo: Det Norske Samlaget, 1995). s.nn. Severin, S{o|}ren [3] --, _Sveriges Medeltida Personnamn_, Vol. 1- (Uppsala: 1967-) Ha"fte 1, col. 93, Ha"fte 3, cols. 342-3 [4] The {ae} represents the a-e ligature, where the and the share the same middle line.