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East Kingdom Gazette

Covering the Eastern Realm of the SCA

Period or Not…Names

February 28, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

quill pen, scroll, candleThis is a recurring series by Mistress Alys Mackyntoich on whether certain names currently can be documented to period based on existing evidence..  There are a lot of names that people think are medieval, but actually aren’t, and others which people think are modern, but in fact are found in the SCA’s period.  If you would like to suggest a name, send an email to the Gazette.

Today’s name is Mongo

The name “Mongo” conjures up memories of Blazing Saddles for many of us of a certain age (and thoughts of a hospital for magical maladies for others).  However, it is, in fact, a completely period name. It is a variant form of Mungo, the given name of the Scottish saint who is the patron of salmon and of the city of Glasgow.  As Mongo, it appears in Scots records as a given name dated to 1490 and c. 1592. [1]  In the spelling Mongow, it also appears in Scots records dated to 1579.[1]

Additionally, in one of those odd coincidences that often happens with language, “Mongo” is also a Mongol descriptive nickname meaning “silver.”

[1] “Index of Scots Names in Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue” by Sara L. Uckelman

[2]  “Mongolian Naming Practices” by Linda Miku

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2 Commments

  1. Jaji says:
    February 28, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    There is a perfectly period Norse name, “Gufi”, pronounced like a certain cartoon creature. The modern connotation also fits a younger Norse-personaed guy with O’Choda who has proudly adopted the name as his own!

    Reply
  2. freya946 says:
    March 1, 2014 at 12:45 am

    thank you for doing these. I’m enjoying reading them. 🙂

    Reply

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