Period or Not…Names
This 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 Kathleen.
Back in March 2002, the College of Arms ruled that, “[a]t this time, no documentation has been found that Kathleen was used in period.”[1] Fortunately, Kathleen is one of the many names for which we have recently found better evidence, as more and more period records are becoming available on line. Although the name is often associated with the Irish in modern times, Kathleen was used as a given name in England in the late 16th century.[2] A related name, Cathalina, is found in Spain in 1598.[3]
[1] March 2002 Cover Letter (http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2002/03/02-03cl.html).
[2] Kathleen Matts; Female; Christening; 6 May 1571; Clungunford, Shropshire, England; Batch: C037382 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYP2-6MX)
[3] Cathalina Abbad; Female; Marriage; 07 Oct 1598; San Andrés, Villanueva De Los Infantes, Ciudad Real, Spain; Batch: M86467-8 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FFZ1-FXX).