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names-Ger-art - 7/27/94

 

"Early Germanic Names from Primary Sources" by Nicolaa de Bracton of Leicester

 

NOTE: See also the files: names-msg, names-AN-art, names-Essex-art,

names-Irish-msg, names-Norse-msg, names-Scot-art, Scot-fem-nam-lst.

 

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NOTICE -

 

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set

of files, called Stefan’s Florilegium.

 

These files are available on the Internet at:

http://www.florilegium.org

 

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author.

 

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be

reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first

or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

 

                             Thank you,

                                   Mark S. Harris

                                   AKA:  Stefan li Rous

                                        stefan at florilegium.org

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Early Germanic Names from Primary Sources

by Nicolaa de Bracton of Leicester

 

The purpose of this article is to provide a hand-list of suitable

names for early Germanic personae. Surprise!  Franks and Goths

("barbarians" to you uninitiated)  had multi-syllabic names! To keep

the list short, I have used only two sources.  Both are primary

sources and are acceptable for use in documentation.  You will notice

I took my own former personal name (Rigunth) from one of them;

providing a photocopied page from the book (with the name circled) and

a bibliographic citation was deemed sufficient documentation to pass

that portion of my name.

 

You will notice that most Germanic names consist of two elements.  It

is possible to form new names by combining elements from two names;

this is considered a cceptable for SCA practices, provided that you

can document both elements.

 

I have not provided page numbers;  however,  both books have an index

of all persons mentioned in the text.

 

Women's Names from Gregory of Tours' History of the Franks

(available in Penguin classics ) (Merovingian period, 5th-7th centuries)

 

Albofleda, Amalasuntha#, Audofleda, Audovera, Austrechild, Beretrude,

Berthefled, Berthefried, Berthegund, Brunhild, Chlodosind,

Chlothsinda, Clotild, Faileuba, Fredegunde, Galswinth, Goiswinth,

Ingitrude, Ingunde, Lanthechilde, Leubast, Leubovera, Magnatrude,

Marcatrude, Marcovefa, Radegund, Rigunth, Ultrogotha,Vuldretrada.

 

 

Men's names from Gregory of Tours: (a selection)

 

Ageric, Agiulf, Alaric#, Amalaric#, Andica, Ansovald, Authari*,

Aregisel, Arnegisel, Athanagild#, Athanaric#, Audovald, Austregisel,

Badegisel, Berthefried, Berthar^, Bertram, Bisinus^, Chararic,

Charibert, Childebert, Childeric, Chilperic, Chlodomer, Chramnesind,

Clovis, Dagobert, Dagaric, Eberulf, Ebregisel, Euric, Gararic,

Garivald, Godomar, Gunderic%, Gundobad, Gunthar, Guntram,

Herminafrid^, Hermangild#, Huneric%, Imnachar, Ingomer, Leudast,

Leuvigild#, Lothar, Magnachar, Magneric, Marachar, Merovech, Munderic,

Ragnachar, Rathar, Reccared*, Ricchar, Sichar, Sigeric, Sigibert,

Sigismund, Sunnegisil, Theoderic#, Theudebald, Theuderic,Thorismund#,

Vulfoliac#, Willichar

#-Gothic names             *-Lombard names            ^Thuringian names

%-Vandal names

 

Women's names from Two Lives of Charlemagne  (also Penguin classics)

(Late Merovingian and Carolingian eras, 7th-9th centuries.)

 

Adaltrude, Adallinda, Bertrada, Fastrada, Gersvinda, Gisela, Gundrada,

Hildegarde, Hiltrude, Liutgarde, Madelgarde    , Rosamund, Ruothilde,

Rothaide, Rotrude, Theoderada, Theodelinda

 

Men's names:

Adalbert, Bernard, Bero, Burchard, Carloman  , Drogo, Engilbert,

Gerold , Grimald, Hartmut, Hildebald, Meginhard, Otker, Pepin,

Tassilo, Waltgaud, Werinbert

 

Note:  All names on these lists were likely in use in Frankish

territories from 5th-9th centuries.  Names of saints or names derived

from Latin were also in use.

These are by no means all possible names for this period.

----

Copyright 1994 by Susan Carroll-Clark, 53 Thorncliffe Park Dr. #611,

Toronto, Ontario M4H 1L1 CANADA.  Permission granted for

republication in SCA-related publications, provided author is credited

and receives a copy.

 

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in

the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also

appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being

reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.

 

<the end>