Gothic Names |
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It is a common misconception that medieval English naming practices centred on a relatively small number of personal names. While this is indeed true for the later medieval period, the Anglo-Norman period (which lasted from the Conquest on down to the beginning of the fourteenth century or so) provided a much larger variety of available and relatively common personal names. While certain of these were more popular than others, they did not dominate naming practices to the extent that names such as John, Thomas, Richard, and William for males and Anne, Elizabeth, Cecily, and Margaret for females did in later centuries. Furthermore, the popular names in the 13th century did not necessarily maintain their popularity in later years. The male names Roger and Simon and the female names Juliana and Matilda are good examples of this; while none of these names dropped completely out of use (though Matilda nearly did), they became far less frequent in later centuries after rivaling the Williams, Richards, Cecilys and Joans for popularity in the Anglo-Norman period.
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The purpose of this article is to provide a hand-list of suitable names for early Germanic personae. Surprise! Franks and Goths (RbarbariansS to you uninitiated) had multi-syllabic names! To keep the list short, I have used only two sources. Both are primary sources and are acceptable for use in documentation. You will notice I took my own former personal name (Rigunth) from one of them; providing a photocopied page from the book (with the name circled) and a bibliographic citation was deemed sufficient documentation to pass that portion of my name.
You will notice that most Germanic names consist of two elements. It is possible to form new names by combining elements from two names; this is considered acceptable for SCA practices, provided that you can document both elements.
I have not provided page numbers; however, both books have an index of all persons mentioned in the text.
Women's Names from Gregory of Tours' History of the Franks (available in Penguin classics ) (Merovingian period, 5th-7th centuries)
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Ageric Agiulf Alaric# Amalaric# Andica Ansovald Authari* Aregisel Arnegisel Athanagild# Athanaric# Audovald Austregisel Badegisel Berthefried Berthar^ Bertram Bisinus^ Chararic Charibert Childebert Childeric Chilperic Chlodomer Chramnesind Clovis Dagobert Dagaric Eberulf Ebregisel Euric Gararic Garivald Godomar Gunderic% Gundobad Gunthar Guntram Herminafrid^ Hermangild# Huneric% Imnachar Ingomer Leudast Leuvigild# Lothar Magnachar Magneric Marachar Merovech Munderic Ragnachar Rathar Reccared* Ricchar Sichar Sigeric Sigibert Sigismund Sunnegisil Theoderic# Theudebald Theuderic Thorismund# Vulfoliac# Willichar #-Gothic names *-Lombard names ^Thuringian names %-Vandal namesWomen's names from Two Lives of Charlemagne (also Penguin classics) (Late Merovingian and Carolingian eras, 7th-9th centuries.)
Adaltrude Adallinda Gersvinda Hildegarde Bertrada Fastrada Gisela Gundrada Hiltrude Liutgarde Madelgarde Rosamund Ruothilde Rothaide Rotrude Theoderada Theodelinda
Men's names:
Adalbert Bernard Bero Burchard Carloman Drogo Engilbert Gerold Grimald Hartmut Hildebald Meginhard Otker Pepin Tassilo Waltgaud Werinbert
Note: All names on these lists were likely in use in Frankish territories from 5th-9th centuries. Names of saints or names derived from Latin were also in use. These are by no means all possible names for this period.
Related Links:
The Black Plague|
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Copyright 1994 by Susan Carroll-Clark, 53 Thorncliffe Park Dr. #611, Web page layout © 2008 by WideOpenDoors.net |
