Thursday, December 3, 2020

Names from 13th Century Scottish Parliamentary Records

 

                                                                                     by Alys Mackyntoich, OP, OL, OD
                                                                                          Updated and Revised Dec. 2020

 

I.                Introduction

            The name data presented in this article were extracted from The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (RPS), a fully searchable database containing the proceedings of the Scottish parliament from 1235 to 1707.  The RPS database provides both transcriptions of the original documents with the original language and spelling intact and translations of the texts into modern English.

            This article presents extracted name data from Latin parliament records during the reigns of the Scots monarchs Alexander II (1235-1249), Alexander III (1249-1286), Margaret (1286-1290), and John Balliol (1292-1296), as well as the Scottish parliaments conducted under Edward I of England (1291-1305).  The name data extracted from these records include personal names, several sorts of bynames and place names. 

A.        Using the Data

            People using the data to construct SCA names should bear in mind that the original language of the documents is in Latin, a language that changes the spelling of a name depending on where and how it appears in a sentence.  The tables below give the likely vernacular form of the name, the likely nominative form of the name, and the forms appearing in the text.  The spellings found in the text are not just variant spellings; not every form can be used to create an SCA name.  SCA given names must use the nominative form (which is why that spelling is listed in a separate column). 

            The other Latin spelling that is important for SCA name construction is the genitive or possesive form.  The genitive form of a given name is used to construct bynames in the following forms:

[given name] + filius + [genitive form of the father’s name]

[given name] + filia + [genitive form of the father’s name]

[given name] + uxor + [genitive form of the husband’s name]

The marker filius means “son;” the marker filia means “daughter.”  The marker uxor means “wife.” 

            For guidance on how to create the correct genitive form of a Latin name, I recommend the following article: 

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/latin/reference/how-to-decline-personal-names/

            B.        Naming Patterns

            The records the following name patterns:

[given name] + de + [place name]

[given name] + [family name or inherited surname]

[given name] + filius + [genitive form of the father’s]

[given name] + filia + [genitive form of the father’s name]

[given name] + uxor + [genitive form of the husband’s name]

[given name] + [family name or inherited surname] + de + [place name]

Bishops are often identified by the Latinized form of the seat of their bishopric.  For example, Robert, Bishop of Glasgow, is identified as Roberti Glasguensis.  However, this form is not unique to bishops or clergy and can be used to create an alternative form of locative byname.

A small number of names found in the data are clearly Gaelic in origin, rendered into Latin.  The names that are clearly Gaelic in origin show the following patterns:

Lawemundum McGreghere = [given name] + [surname or patronymic]

Angusium filium Douenaldi = [given name] + [patronymic]

Anneesium filium Duncani McGregere = [given name] + [father’s full name]

Dunkani Comitis de Fife, idem McDuf = [given name] + [title] + also known as [name]

 

The few women who appear in the data generally do not have independent bynames, but are defined by reference to their husbands or fathers, whose names appear in the same document.  For example:

Margar’ que fuit uxor Hugon’ de Peresby = [given name] + wife of + [full name]

Margar’ filie predicti comitis = [given name] + daughter of the aforesaid count

Mariam uxorem eius = [given name] his wife

 

One woman is identified by her title:  Marger’ quondam comitisse de Carrik (Margeret, former Countess of Carrick).

 

 

II.        Tables of Name Elements

 

Masculine Given Names

Likely Vernacular Form

Latin Nominative Form
(use for given names)

Forms Found in the Records
(spellings vary by case)

Years Found

Absalom

Absalom (?)

Absalone

1248

Alan

Alanus

Alanus, Alani

1235, 1255

Alexander

Alexander, Alexandrus

Alexander, Alexandri, Alexandro, Alexandrum

1235, 1255, 1256, 1285, 1293, 1296

Angus

Angus, Annees

Angusium, Anneesium

1293

Aymer/Eymer

Aymerius, Aymery, Eymery

Aymerum, Eymery

1248, 1255

Bernard

Bernardus

Bern’

1293

Brian

Brianus

Briano

1285

Colban

Colbanus

Colbani

1293

David

David, Davidus

David, Dauid

1235, 1248, 1255, 1256

Douenald (Donald)

Douenaldus

Douenald’, Douenaldi

1293, 1296

Dunkan/Duncan

Dunkanus

Dunkani

1293

Edward

Edwardus

Eduardum

1296

Gamelin

Gamelinus

Gamelini, Gamelinum

1255

Gaufrid

Gaufridus

Gaufridi, Gaufrido

1235, 1296

Gilbert

Gilbertus

Gilebertus, Gilberto, Gilbertum, Gilbertus, Gileberti,

1248, 1255, 1256, 1285, 1293

Henry

Henricus

Henrico

1235

Herbert

Herbertus

Herberti

1296

Hugh

Hugo

Hugo, Hugone, Hugonem, Hugonis

1255, 1285, 1293

Ingelram

Ingelramius

Ingeramium

1296

James/Jacob

Jacobus

Jacobus, Jacobi, Jacobum

1293, 1296

John

Iohannes, Johannes, Johnannis, Iohannis

Iohannis, Johanne, Johannem, Johannes, Johanni, Johannis, Johnannis

1248, 1255, 1285, 1293, 1296

Lawemund (Lamond)

Lawemundus

Lawemundum

1293

Luke

Lucas

Luca

1248

MacDuf

MacDuf

MacDuf, McDuf

1293

Malcolm

Malcolumus

Malcolmus, Malcolmi

1248, 1255, 1293

Maldouen

Maldouen (?)

Maldoueni, Maldoueny

1248

Malise

Malisius

Malisius, Malisio, Malisii

1255, 1285, 1296

Mathew

Matheus

Mathei, Matheum

1296

Miles

Milo

Milonis

1285

Nicholas

Nicholas

Nicholai, Nicholaum

1255, 1296

Nigell

Nigellus

Nigellus, Nigelli

1255

Patric(k)

Patricius

Patricius, Patricii, Patricio

1255, 1285, 1296

Peter

Petrus

Petrus, Petro

1248, 1285

Radulph

Radulphus

Radulpho

1285

Ranulph

Ranulphus

Ranulphi

1255

Raso

Raso

Raso

1293

Ricard

Ricardus

Ricardus, Ricardi, Ricardum, Rycardi

1255, 1296

Robert

Robertus

Robertus, Roberti, Robertum, Roberto

1255, 1293, 1296

Roger

Rogerus

Rogerus, Rogeri, Rogero

1235, 1255, 1285

Stephan

Stephan

Stephano

1248

Symon

Symon

Symon, Symone

1248, 1285

Thomas

Thomas

Thome, Thomam

1248, 1255

Walter

Walterus

Walterus, Walteri, Waltero, Waltero, Walterum

1255, 1293

Willelm (William)

Willelmus, Guillermus, Williamus

Willelmus, Guillermi, Guillermum, Willeli, Willelmi, Willelmo, Willelmum, Williame (French)

1248, 1255, 1285, 1293, 1296

  

Feminine Given Names

Likely Vernacular Form

Latin Nominative Form
(use for given names)

Forms Found in the Records
(spellings vary by case)

Years Found

Margaret

Margareta, Margereta

Margaretae, Margar’, Marger’

1293

Mary

Maria

Mariam

1255

  

Family Names

Form Found in the Records

Years Found

Auenel

1235

Comyn, Comyn’, Cumi[n]

1255, 1256, 1285, 1296

Corbet

1296

Cornet

1285

Crock

1248

Giffard

1255

Gurle

1255

Marmeduci

1296

Olifard

1235

Syward

1296

Uviet

1255

Wake

1296

Wyscard, Wyschard

1255

 

Gaelic-Origin Family Names

Form Found in the Records

Years Found

MacDuf, McDuf

1293

Mackenedi

1248

McGreghere, McGregere

1293

 

 

Occupational or Descriptive Bynames

Form Found in the Records

Definition

Years Found

Hostarius (nom.), hostiarii (gen.)

Officer – warder of the King’s door

1255

le Blund

Blond

1255

clerico  (nom. = clericus)

Priest or clerk

1248

decano (nom. =decanus)

Deacon

1248

le Despenser

Officer - steward

1296

Dunkeldensis

From/of Dunkeld

 

Edynburgen’, Edinburgensis

From/of Edinburgh

 

elemosinarium

Officer – almoner, church officer in charge of distributing money to the poor

1255

Glasguensis

From/of Glasgow

 

Mariscallo (nom. = Mariscallus, Mariscal)

Officer - marshal

1235

persona

Parson

1248

senescallus

Seneschal

1255, 1293, 1296

  

Place Names

Modern Form

Form Found in the Records

Years Found

Aberdeen

Abbirden’, Abyrden’

1255, 1296

Angus

Anegos

1296

Ardrossan

Ardrossan

1293

Argyll

Ergadia

1293

Atholl

Athol’

1296

Balliol

Balliolo, Baylloll’, Baylol

1235, 1255, 1293, 1296

Bendochy

Bendhautin’

1256

Berwick

Berewik, Bereuuic’, Berewyk

1293, 1296

Berwick upon Tweed

Berewik super Twede, Berewyk super Twed’

1293, 1296

Blantyre

Blantir

1248

Blund

Blundi

1248

 

Bonekill

1296

Brechin

Brechyn, Brehyne

1248, 1255

Bruce

Brus

1255, 1293

Buchan

Buchan’, Bouchan’, Bochan, Buhhan

1255, 1285, 1296

Cadzow

Cadyhou, Kadiou

1255, 1296

Carrick

Carric, Carrik, Karrik

1255, 1293

Clement

Clementem

1255

Creich

Crey

1293

Cunningham

Cuningham

1296

Couttie

Cup[ar]macultin

1256

Drymen

Drumyn

1248

Dummernech

Du[m]m[er]nech

1255

Douglas

Dufglas, Duveglas

1255, 1293

Dunbar

Dunbar, Dumbar

1255, 1296

Dunblane

Dunblain, Dumblan’

1235, 1255

Dundee

Dunde

1293, 1296

Dundemor

Dundemor

1255

Dunfermline

Dunfermelyn, Dunfermel’, Dunfermlin

1255, 1256, 1296

Dunkeld

Dunkeld’

1255, 1296

Durham

Dunelmensem

1293

Edinburgh

Edynburg

1285, 1296

Eskdale

Eskedal’

1235

Fife

Fife, Fyf, Fyfe

1255, 1293

Flanders

Flaundr’

1293

Fordie

Fordoui’

1256

Galloway

Gaweye

1293

Gaur?

Gaur’

1293

Glasgow

Glasg’

1255, 1296

Graham

Graham, Graham’, Grahame

1248, 1255, 1296

Gueldres

Geler’

1293

Haddington

Hadigthon’

1296

Hastings

Hastinges

1296

Hay

Haya

1255, 1256, 1296

Hilton

Hilton’

1296

Huntercomb

Huntrecombe

1296

Inchturfin

Incheturfin

1256

Jedburgh

Geddeworth

1255

Little Keithock

Ketherkerbeg’

1256

Kelso

Kalkou, Kelchou

1255, 1296

Kirkintilloch

Kirkintolah

1285

Kirkliston

Listun’

1235

Lanark

Lanark, Lanarke

1293, 1296

Lennox

Leuenax

1248, 1293

Letarchore

Letarchore

1248

Lindsay

Lindes’

1255

Linlithgow

Linliskeu

1293

Lochawe

Lochaue

1293

Lochore

Louchor, Louchor’

1255, 1256

Lothian

Laodonie, Laudonensi

1235, 1285

Mar

Mar, Marr’

1255, 1293, 1296

March

Marchia

1296

Mauldslie

Maldislei

1296

Maxwell

Makisvell, Makyswell

1248, 1255, 1296

May

May

1293

Melrose

Melros

1235

Menteith

Menethet, Menetyef

1235, 1255

Meyners

Meyners

1255

Moray

Moravia, Moreuia, Morevia

1235, 1255

Mowbray

Mubray, Munbray

1255, 1296

Mylis

Mylis

1285

Nenthorn

Nainstanthirl

1293

Newbattle

Newebolt

1255

Norfolk

Northfolchie

1296

Normanville

Normanvill

1255

Perisby

Perisby

1285

Perth

Perth, Perth’

1256, 1296

Pinkeney

Pinkeney

1293

Preston

Preston

1285

Ramsay

Ramesheye

1255

Reading

Redinges, Reding’

1293

Restalrig

Lastalrigg’

1293

Rires

Reres

1293

Roxburgh

Rokysburg’

1296

Ross

Ros

1255

Saint Andrews

Sancti Andree, Saint Andreu (French)

1255, 1293, 1296

Soules

Soule, Soules, Sules

1255, 1293

Staunford

Staunford

1293

Stanforth

Staunforth’

1293

Strathblane

Stratblathan

1248

Strathearn

Stradherin, Strathern, Stratheryn

1255, 1285, 1296

Stirling

Strivelin, Strivelyn, Striuelin, Striuelyne

1248, 1285, 1293

Sutton

Sotton’, Sutton’

1293

Umfraville

Umfranuille, Vmfranuillle, Vnfrauille

1296

Vaux

Vallibus

1255

Warenne

Warenn’

1296

Warwick

Warewyk’,

1296