Bibliography of Onamastic References

by Arval Benicoeur, Treblerose Herald

Unto the gentle folk of the Laurel realms, From Arval Benicoeur, Treblerose Herald, Greetings!

This is a list of onomastic references often used in the SCA. This books on this list are chosen mostly for their availability, either in libraries, bookstores, or from a senior herald in your kingdom. I have tried to include books on different languages, but of course, most languages have been skipped. If you have more specific interests, please feel free to contact me again. Another excellent bibliography was prepared by Mistress Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane, and was mailed to every branch of the SCA. Your local pursuivant should have gotten a copy in August 1990 with the Rules for Submission. This list was compiled a couple years ago, and there are many books that I would like to add to it. I will probably revise and update it sometime soon. Suggestions are welcome. When you document a name, the most important thing is to have a dated citation of the use of the name before 1600.

If you have such a citation, it doesn't matter where you got it: Literature, history, or some secondary source. Keep in mind that many modern authors will translate names into modern English. For example, the Penguin translations of the Icelandic sagas are an excellent source for learning how Icelandic names worked. However, the translators have anglicized most of the names. If you want to find the proper medieval form of the name, consult a more scholarly reference, or contact a senior herald, who can probably point you to someone in the College of Arms who can help you. In addition to the books listed here, there are many SCA publications which you will find useful. Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium contain articles on name-formation in many languages, and lists of medieval names.

Many issues of Compleat Anachronist contain information on naming practices in specific publications. Other useful references for name documentation are encyclopedia, lists of names in the Bible, classical literature, or Shakespeare, dictionaries of saints, genealogical references (if they go back far enough), works like Burke's Peerage, etc. Since many surnames are based on placenames, atlases and gazeteers are useful, too. On the other hand, you should absolutely avoid baby-name books as documentation. Anything written by the authors Kolatch or Loughead is almost certainly useless for SCA purposes. Anything that documents names as "Celtic" or "Teutonic" is useless. Look for dated citations, and you'll know if you have a good reference in your hands. If you come across an interesting book, please bring it to the attention of the heralds in your area. Feel free to drop me a line. You can never have enough books.

Arana de Love, Francisca, Nombres Proprioes Espannoles, Editorial Vosgos, Barcelona, 1982.

• I list this book mostly because it is the only good book on Spanish names of which I know. It is available by mail from the author, who lives in Virginia. I can provide her address, if you're interested. It is in Spanish, and incldues a dictionary of names, many dated. Lord Arval Benicoeur, "An Index of Characters in Njal's Saga, Egil's Saga, and Grettir's Saga" A 20-page list of Old Norse masculine names from the sagas. A shorter list, including feminine names, appeared in the Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium held in the Midrealm, AS XX.

Attwater, Donald, The Penguin Dictionary of Saints, 2nd ed., Penguin Books, 1983.

• Many unusual names can be found in hagiographies, and such references always date the name. Bain, Robert, The Clans and Tartans of Scotland, Fontana/Collins, 1985. Gives a brief discussion of the history of each clan, including a Gaelic form of the name. An appendix lists common Scottish names. A standard College of Arms source, available in most libraries. It has to be used with care, because not every name listed is a period name. However, if you can't find anything better, it is often acceptable documentation.

Bardsley, Charles, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980.

• Not as thorough as Reaney's dictinoary (see below), but still an excellent reference, which includes many dated references. Mistress Andreanna Innes has compiled an index to given names appearing in this book, which is for sale. She can be contacted at Kim Anne Innes, USACCE Box 49, APO, NY 09710.

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland, The New York Public Library, 1986.

• An excellent dictionary of Scottish surnames. Each entry gives many forms of the name, and cites instances in period in most cases. The introduction is an excellent overview of Scottish surname formation. A standard College of Arms source, available in most libraries.

Brechenmacher, Etymologisches Woerterbuch der Deutschen Familiennamen,Limburg, 1963.

• The finest available dictionary of German surnames. It is in German, but it's worth the effort. Coghlan, Ronan, Irish Christian Names, Johnston and Bacon, 1979. A dictionary of Irish given names. Not everything listed in a period name; if he gives a period citation, then the name is acceptable. Otherwise you can't always be sure. Most names are listed under their Anglicized form, but Gaelic forms are given as well. The book includes a wonderful appendix of little- used Irish medieval names. A standard College of Arms source, but a bit difficult to find.

Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 2nd ed.,Penguin Books.

• Mostly intended for modern American use, but this dictionary is often a source of valuable documentation. It gives derivations for most surnames listed, but does not cite examples with dates. Not the best source, but a good fallback. Easy to find in bookstores and some libraries.

Master Da'ud ibn Auda, "Arabic Naming Practices and Names List", Compleat Anachronist #51, The Islamic World, Autumn 1990.

• An excellent discussion of Arabic naming written by the Laurel King of Arms.

Dauzat, Albert, Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Pronoms de France, Libraire Larousse, Paris, 1987.

• A comprehensive dictionary of French given and surnames. Most entries are undated, but M. Dauzat was one of the founders of French onamastics, whose research can be trusted, and most entries are acceptable SCA names. The book is in-print, and available by mail-order. It is in French.

De Felice, Emidio, Dizionario dei Cognomi Italiani, Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 1978.

• A fine etymological dictionary of Italian surnames, written in Italian. Each name is traced to its original sources, and many variant forms are listed. The work does not give citations from original sources, but it is well indexed, and has a good introduction discussing name formation, for those of you who read Italian. Difficult to find, but commonly cited in College of Arms correspondence.

Dunkling, Leslie, Scottish Christian Names, Johnston & Bacon Books, Stirling, Scotland, 1988.

• Not a highly scholarly work, but it is a good reference for Scottish given names.

Dunkling, Leslie, and William Gosling, The New American Dictionary of First Names, Signet Books, 1983.

• Not the best source, since it is a dictionary of modern American given names, but the two authors are fine scholars, and when possible, they trace a name to its origins and give early citations. Often more important, when they know that a name is only modern, they say so!

Farmer, David Hugh, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Oxford University Press, 1982.

• Another good, general hagiography.

Forssner, Thorvald, Continental-Germanic Personal Names in England in Old and Middle English Times, K.W. Appelbergs Boktryckeri, Uppsala, 1916.

• A wonderful work, being a dictionary of Germanic names, including ample citations, and every form the author could lay his hands on. Everything in it is a period name, and because Germanic names are found in French, Italian, and Spanish, it is a remarkably versatile source for unusual period names.

Fucilla, Joseph G., Our Italian Surnames, Chandler's Inc, Evanston, Illinois, 1949.

• This is not a very scholarly work, but it is extensive, and more accessable than De Felice, above. Most surnames listed are medieval, but you can't count on it absolutely.

Geirr Bassi Haraldsson, The Old Norse Name, Studia Marklandica.

• The author of this work used to be a SCAdian, and is currently a Marklander. This is the definitive SCA source on Norse names, bynames, and name construction.

Gruffudd, Heini, Welsh Personal Names, Y Lolfa, 1980.

• The standard SCA source on Welsh given names, this short book is essentially a baby-name book. When the author gives a period citation for a name, it is fine. When he gives no citation, or a post-medieval citation, the name is usually not acceptable.

Hanks & Hodges, Dictionary of Surnames.

• A decent dictionary of surnames. Many entries are dated. It can be valuable, if used with care. It is widely available.

Jensen, Gillian Fellows, Scandinavian Personal Names in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire (Copenhagen, I kommission hos Akademisk forlag, 1968)

• Lempri re's Classical Dictionary of Proper Names Mentioned in Ancient Authors, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1978. · An excellent source for early-period names, and for Roman and Greek names. It includes divine names and place names, which are not generally acceptable for SCA use, but the source of each name is given.

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland, 6th ed., Irish Academic Press, 1985.

• An excellent work, giving the most comprehensive available discussion of Irish surnames. It lists variant forms, and gives origins and Gaelic forms. The text often omits period citations, but a listing in this dictionary is usually sufficient documentation for a surname. Note that since many surnames derive from given names, this is also an excellent source for Irish given names. This is a standard SCA reference, and is to be found in most libraries.

Morgan, T.J., and Prys Morgan, Welsh Surnames, University of Wales Press, 1985.

• One of the finest works available on Welsh surnames. The introduction discusses Welsh naming in great detail, and makes excellent reading. Each entry includes many period citations of variant forms, and traces each name back to its origins. A little difficult to find, but becoming more important in College of Arms research.

O'Corrain, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire, Irish Names, The Lilliput Press, Dublin 1990.

• Originally published as Gaelic Personal Names, this is a new edition. It is the very finest book on Irish names available. It is a dictionary of irish given names, with modern and ancient forms, derivations, origins, and period citations. Wonderful book.

Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 1971.

• A surprising number of bynames can be documented from this dictionary. Entries give various spellings with dates, back to the earliest written citation.

Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 2nd ed., Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1976.

• The best surname dictionary anywhere. Although this work concentrates on English surnames, it often includes Scottish, Irish, and other surnames. Each entry includes citations as far back as possible, with dates, in as many forms as possible. The introduction is a fabulous essay on surname formation, applicable to any European language. This is a standard SCA source, found in most libraries.

--, The Origin of English Place Names, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985.
--, The Origin of English Surnames, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1967.

• This pair of books are thorough essays on the formation of surnames and place names in England. Most examples cited can be found in the Dictionary (above), but these works discuss the how and why. Many names which cannot be explicitly documented can be justified by reference to Reaney's discussions.

Lady Rhian Lyth of Blackmoor Vale, "A List of Italian Personal Names" ·

• This list of several hundred masculine and feminine given names was compiled from 15th century Italian sources. Each name is dated. This list also appears in the Proceedings of the Known World Heraldic Symposium, AS XXIV, available from the Crescent Principal Herald.

Searle, William George, Onamasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, Cambridge University Press.

• Difficult to find, but a monumental volume. It is a compilation of Anglo-Saxon given names found in charters and other legal documents, histories, and so on. It is, in fact, documentation waiting to be used. It must be carefully used: Searle accepted many names on very slim evidence. However, where possible, he cites actual people bearing the name. In these cases, the documentation is unshakable.

Vikontessa Tatiana Nikolaevna Tumanova, CL, The Compleat Russian Name Book, 2nd ed., 1988.

• Vikontessa Tatiana has translated and merged the two best references on Russian names: Petrovskii, N.A., Slovar' Russkikh Lichnikh Imen A - Ya and Unbeguan, B.O., Russian Surnames. Every Principal Herald was given a copy of this reference, so it can be considered the Russian name book.

Lord William de Corbie, "The Naming System in Viking and Medieval Scandinavia", Compleat Anachronist #36, SCA, 1988.

• This edition of Compleat Anachronist covered many aspects of Scandinavian life, but Lord William's essay on names is a good introduction to the subject. It includes short lists of period names.

White, G. Pawley, A Handbook of Cornish Surnames, 2nd ed., Helston Printers, 1981.

• Basically, just what it says. A fairly reliable reference.

Withycombe, E.G., The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press.

• The Bible of SCA naming. Despite the title, it includes many names which are neither English nor Christian. This work is the first place to look to document any name. Every member of the College of Arms owns it, and it is often available in bookstores. They can certainly order it for you. Virtually every library has a copy. Each entry gives dated citations, variant forms, and origins of the name. The introduction is a fine discussion of the development of given names in England. Mistress Andreanna Innes has compiled an index to given names appearing in this book, which is for sale. She can be contacted at Kim Anne Innes, USACCE Box 49, APO, NY 09710.

Woulfe, Patrick, Irish Names for Children, Gill and MacMillan, 1974.

• A standard SCA source, this is another baby-name book, but a well-written one. Father Woulfe tried to spur interest in Irish heritage among the Irish, and so made great efforts to list correct Gaelic names. No every name listed is a period name, but whenever possible, he gives early citations. All names are listed in their Gaelic form.

Yonge, Charlotte, A History of Christian Names, MacMillan & Co., London, 1884.

• This can be a good reference, but must be used with care. The author often cites dates. Where she does not, her research is known to be suspect. An undated reference from this book is not sufficient documentation to register a name.