ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1442 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1442 ************************************ 21 Jan 1999 Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel. You asked for information about the name , such as when and if it was used as a given name, and where it was first used. You noted that you think it may be French or Italian. Here's what we found. We found examples of the name in various forms in France, Italy, and England. is a French form of the Latin given name . It was probably in use as a given name in France by 1321, when we find the place name (modern ) [1]. We found an example of the name recorded in the 15th century, and as a surname (itself no doubt derived from the given name) in the 14th century, both in Picardy [2]. appears to have been a northern French name [3], and is certainly an appropriate choice for the 14th or 15th centuries and perhaps somewhat earlier. The usual Italiam form of the name is . is a Venetian surname derived from the same source; we did not find it any Italians examples of used as a given name [4]. In England, again, we found used only as a surname; one source lists 1296, and defines as "dweller in the vale" from Old French "val" [5]. If you want to use as a given name, we recommend you choose a northern French persona in the 14th or 15th century. If you would like some help choosing the rest of your name for that period, we'll be happy to help. 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 d'Espas Nord, Alan Fairfax, Teceangl Bach, and Talan Gwynek. In Service to the Academy, Margaret Makafee ----------------- References [1] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de l'Ancienne Gaule du VIe au XIIe Siecle_, Vol III (Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1972). p.201b. [2] Morlet, Marie-Therese, _Etude d'anthroponymie picarde, les noms de personne en Haute Picardie aux XIIIe, XIVe, XVe siecles_ (Amiens, Musee de Picardie, 1967). p.120. [3] Dauzat, Albert, _Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France_ (Paris: Libraire Larousse, 1987). s.nn Valier, Vale\re [4]De Felice, Emidio, _Dizionario dei Cognomi Italiani_ (Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 1978). s.n. Valerio [5] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). s.n. Valler