ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 990 http://www.s-gabriel.org/990 *********************************** ************************************************* * * * NOTE: Some of the Academy's early reports * * contain errors that we haven't yet * * corrected. Please use it with caution. * * * ************************************************* 26 May 1998 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for some Scottish Gaelic masculine first names that would fit well with the byname . Here is what we have found. For completeness, let me repeat some of our earlier findings. is an adjective sometimes translated as "Scottish" or "the Scotsman", but more accurately meaning "from the area known as Alba". Before 1300, meant the area of modern-day Scotland between the rivers Forth and Spey, and the Drumalban mountains; later in period, was used to describe all of the kingdom of Scotland. We found examples of in the 12th and 15th century: Gillemure Albanach, 1153-65 [1] dubghall albanach mac mic cathail, 1467 [2] The first example is a Gaelic name recorded in Latin. The second is the name of a Scottish Gael who was living in Ireland. If you choose a Gaelic given name like , then would be a fine name (and it would be perfectly authentic for you to be called in everyday usage). Here are some of the more common Gaelic given names recorded in a 12th century document [3]. Each name is listed with a rough pronunciation guide. In the pronunciations, \kh\ represents the harsh, rasping sound in German or Scottish ; \gh\ represents the voiced version of the same sound. Please note that the spelling and pronunciation of Gaelic names changed around the year 1200. The list below is correct for early-period. If you want the late-period form of any particular name, please ask. Cathal \KAHTH-al\ Cenne/dig \KIN-nay-dig\ Comgall \KOE-ghal\ Cormacc \KOR-mahk\ Domnall \DOE-nahl\ Donnchad \DON-kha\ Feradach \FYAR-a-dahkh\ Finguine \FYUN-in-(y)eh\ Mael-Coluim \MELL-KHOL-im\ You can find this list and a longer list of less common name on the web in reference [3]. If you'd like the proper pronunciation or late-period spelling of any of those names, drop us a line. Although these names are recorded in the 12th century, we believe that most of them were still in use later in period. I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Effrick neyn Kenneoch and Talan Gwynek. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 26 May 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Black, George F., _The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History_, (New York: The New York Public Library, 1986), s.n. Gilmore. [2] O/ Baoill, Colm, "Scotticisms in a Manuscript of 1467," _Scottish Gaelic Studies_ XV, no. Spring 1988 (1988): 122-139. [3] Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte, "A Simple Guide to Constructing 12th Century Scottish Bynames", (WWW: Privately published, 18 June 1997). http://www.stanford.edu/~skrossa/medievalscotland/simple_sc_gaelic_names_12.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -