Cornish (and Other) Personal Names from the 10th Century Bodmin Manumissions

by Heather Rose Jones
(Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, contact@heatherrosejones.com)

© 1999, 2001 by Heather Rose Jones; all rights reserved.

The Names: Given Names

Cornish (and other Celtic) Names

During this period, it is difficult to distinguish between names in the various Brythonic languages on purely linguistic grounds. While it is possible that certain individuals appearing in this record are Welsh or Breton rather than Cornish, there would really be no way to demonstrate this. Therefore, all Brythonic names are simply included with the Cornish. There are, however, several names that appear to be of Goedelic rather than Brythonic origin and these are noted specifically below. In addition to the the types of information given in the above sections, I provide more discussion of the particular spellings found in comparative material. The gender of names is much less certain in this section when the text does not make it clear and the evidence for gender interpretation is discussed more fully here. I have not separated the genders out in the main listing, but have a separate index listed by gender "confidence level" following. The "standardized" forms used as headings are an attempt to follow "standard" Old Welsh spelling should not be taken as anything other than a reference.

Table of Cornish and other Celtic Names

Table of Names of Uncertain Language

Index of Celtic and Uncertain Names

The following index includes all the non-Germanic, non-Latin/Biblical names, arranged according to the evidence for the gender. The form indexed here is for reference only and does not necessarily appear in the data. The following categories are used.

Group 1: names where the gender is explicit in the Bodmin text.
Group 2: names not in group 1 that appear in the comparative material (where there is gender evidence).
Group 3: names not in the previous groups where the deuterotheme is clearly associated with a particular gender, either in the Bodmin material or elsewhere.
Group 4: names not in the previous groups where the evidence suggests one gender is more likely than the other, but either is potentially possible.
Group 5: names where there is no basis for even making an educated guess as to gender.

Male Names

Group 1	Anaoc Bleidcum Brithael Cantgueithen Cenmin Comoere	Conredeu Frioc Grifiud Guithrit Gurbodu Gurcant	Gurci Gurcon Gurguaret Gurguistl Gurthcid Hedyn	Hincomhal Ilcarthon Iudicael Iudnerth Leucum Louenan	Loumarch Matuid Medrod Mermin Morhaetho Oss'ne	Putrael Resmen Riol Ryd Salenn Tethion

Group 2	Aedan Beli Bleidiud Budic	Cingur Conmonoc Gest Guincum	Gurdilic Gurheter Guriant Gurlouen	Iarnguallon Iliud Inisian Loi	Maeloc MaelPatraic March Morcant	Rinduran Talan Telent Terithien Ungust

Group 3	Adoyre Aniud Argantbri Argantmoet Cinhoedl	Gratcant Guentanet Guentigirn Gurcencor

Group 4	Bledros Brenci Brethoc Catgutic	Dofagan Milcenoc Mor

Female Names

Group 1	Aedoc Arganteilin Diuset Gloiucen Guencen	Guencenedl Guenguiu Guenmon Ilcum Medguistl	Meduil Meonre Moruith Oncenedl Oncum	Ourcen Ourdilic Proscen Rum

Group 2	Guenbrith Tanguistl

Group 3	Anauprost Ceinguled Fuandrec Gloiumed Iudprost Onguen

Group 4	Anaguistl Catguistl Ordguydel Prosguetel

Unknown Gender

Group 5	Anaudat Artaca Dengel Duihon Ewsannec	Guelet Guencor Guenguerthlon Guenneret Halbiu	Iofa Iudhent Louhelic Luncen Milian	Perem Rannoeu Rumun Sulcen Sulleisoc Sulmed

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