ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1154
http://www.s-gabriel.org/1154
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From: "S Friedemann" 
9 Aug 1998

Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel!

You asked for help creating a feminine Welsh name appropriate between 1200
and 1550, with either <Melangell> or <Angharat> as your given name.  You
also wanted to know if you would be known as <verch Dafydd> and <wreic
Iames>, or if you would only be known by one of those.  Here is the
information we have found.

In a list of 13th century Welsh names, <Angharat> was the most common
woman's name. [1]  It would be an excellent choice for your period.  Other
spellings we found, in the first half of the 16th century, are <Angharad>,
<Angharrett>, <Engharad>, and <Hangharrot>. [4]

The only <Melangell> that we found was a 6th century saint.  We have no
evidence that the name was used in your desired period, and suggest that you
consider a different name.

<Dafydd> is a modern spelling of the name that appears in your period as
<David> (13th and 16th centuries), <Deykin> (13th C), and <Deyo> (16th C)
[1, 2].  While <Dafydd> could have been used by 1550, it is not appropriate
to the period when the spelling <Angharat> was used.  With <Angharat>, we
recommend <David> or <Davyd> [3].

The Welsh form of <James> appropriate for this period would be either <Iago>
or <Iagov> [5], though <James> is found in the 16th century.  [2]

<wreic> is a Medieval Welsh form of the word <gwraig> "wife, woman."  We
have found only one example of it used in a name in period: <Symmonis Wrec
Nicholai> "Simone, wife of Nicholas " from 13th century Abergavenny [6].

It was much more common to be known as your father's daughter; we suggest
that you use <verch Davyd> rather than <wreic Iago>.  <Angharat verch Davyd>
"Angharat daughter of Davyd" is an excellent 14th century feminine name.
Later in period, the same name might have been recorded <Angharrett verch
David>.

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, Talan Gwynek, and Tangwystyl verch Morgant.

For the Academy,
--Aryanhwy merch Catmael
     August 9, 1998

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References:

[1] Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, "A Simple Guide to Constructing 13th
Century Welsh Names" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1996).

[2] Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, "A Simple Guide to Constructing 16th
Century Welsh Names (in English Contexts)" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1996).

[3] Jones, Thomas, _Brut Y Tywysogyon_ (Cardiff: University of Wales Press,
1941).

[4] Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, "Women's Names in the First Half of
16th Century Wales" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1998, forthcoming).

[5] Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasfryn, "Names and Naming Practices in the
Merioneth Lay Subsidy Roll 1292-3", in Known World Heraldic Symposium
Proceedings, 1991 (SCA: Laurel, Maryland, 1991).

[6] "The Lordships of Aberavenny, Grosmont, Skenfrith and White Castle" in
"South Wales and Monmouth Record Society, Publication No. 2" 1950.