ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 3166 http://www.s-gabriel.org/3166 ************************************ 21 Aug 2006 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if is an appropriate name for a Welsh man living between 1150 and 1250. Here is what we have found. During your period, our records for names of Welsh people are in Welsh and in Latin. We will therefore discuss both Latin and Welsh spellings. In a Latin-language annal covering the period 1150-1250 and written towards the end of the 13th century, we find the name recorded in the Latinized form and in the non-Latinized forms , , and . [1] This annal was translated into Welsh during the late 13th or early 14th century; in this record, the name appears as . [2] We also found a biography of the 11th-12th century king Gruffudd ap Cynan, which was written in Latin in the mid-12th century and translated into Welsh in the mid 13th century. In this source, the king's name appears most commonly as . [3] We therefore recommend as the most typical spelling for your period. During your period, the most common Welsh spelling for the word 'son' is ; occurs twice as often as , and is extremely rare. [2] There is no consistant usage of or before vowels and before consonants; we recommend that you use solely because it is the most common spelling. In Latin contexts, the Latin word for 'son', , was used. [1] In the Latin annal, the name is spelled . [1] The Welsh version spells the name and, in an entry dated after 1250, . [2] In the biography of King Gruffudd, the name is spelled . [3] In these spellings, the and the represent the same sound, \v\. Any of , or is a fine choice for your father's name. As we noted in our initial reply to you, or is a modern spelling of the place which was called by the Romans. The earliest Welsh-language record of this city name that we have is from 1191, when it was spelled . In 1272, we find the spelling . [4] In the Welsh annal, the place is spelled , and we also found the spelling , sometime between the 12th and 14th centuries. [2,5] We believe that either or is typical for your period, or either of these with instead of . In your period, bynames based on proper names of places were found primarily in Latin contexts, incorporating the Latin preposition . In a wholly Welsh-language name, we recommend that you do not use a reference to this city. In sum, we recommend any of the following: WELSH CONTEXT Gruffud vab Ednyvet/Ednevet/Edneved (most typical) Gruffud ap Ednyvet/Ednevet/Edneved (less typical) LATIN CONTEXT Grifinus filius Edneveth de Caerynarvon/Kaerynarvon/Caerenarvon/ Kaerenarvon We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn and Talan Gwynek. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael, 21 August 2006 -- References: [1] Ab Ithel, John Williams ed, _Annales Cambriae_, (London: Longman, Green, Longman &, 1860). [2] Jones, Thomas ed, _Brut y Tywysogyon_ (Peniarth Ms. 20), (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1941). [3] Evans, D. Simon, _Medieval Prince of Wales: The Life of Gruffudd ap Cynan_, (Llanerch: Llanerch Enterprises, 1990). [4] Williams, John Garnons, "Wales At The Time Of The Treaty Of Montgomery In 1267" (WWW: GWP, 1996) http://www.gwp.enta.net/walhist.html [5] Thomson, Derick S., _Branwen Uerch Lyr_ (Dublin: Dublin Inst. for Adv. St., 1968).