Breton Names from the Late 13th Century

by Sara L. Uckelman
known in the SCA as Aryanhwy merch Catmael

© 2013 Sara L. Uckelman; all rights reserved
last updated 12Feb13

The following names are extracted from French-language records from Brittany between 1250 and 1302 (1302 rather than 1300 because one document containing a lot of names was dated to 1302 and it seemed a shame to omit them!). Because the names of important royalty (e.g., Jehan I Duc de Bretange, Blanche Duchesse de Bretagne, Comte Jehan de Blois and his wife Comtesse Aaliz, Jehanne Comtesse de Blois) show up so frequently, I have not provided statistical information on the names, since the ubiquity of these people would skew the numbers. Additionally, when the same name shows up multiple times in the same date, I only provide one citation, not multiple. However, it is still possible to obtain some idea of the relative rarity of a name if it has only one or two citations.

Not all of the names are linguistically Breton, but a pleasingly large number of them are, both given names and place names used in locative bynames. Where I have been able to positively identify a name or name element as Breton as opposed to French, I have noted this. I have also provided glosses and etymological information on as many bynames as I have been able to identify.

I have omitted names from the Latin-language documents in my source as this is an attempt to give information about vernaculars from this period. I have also omitted all accents, since in many cases they are modern editorial additions.

Feminine given names

NameDate/referenceNotes
Aaliz1293 (400)A French form of Alice. This is the wife of the count of Blois.
Alienor1302 (447)
Amice1282 (400)
Amon1282 (400)
Bieautrix1302 (450)
Blanche1263 (406), 1284 (400)This is the duchess of Brittany
Jehanne1293 (400)This is the sister of the count of Blois
Katerine1281 (428)
Madeleine1283 (431)
Margilie1265 (427)
Marie1283 (431)
Sibille1282 (400)

Masculine given names

NameDate/referenceNotes
Alain1283 (431), 1294 (437), 1302 (448)
Alein1267 (407)
Alen1255 (406), 1272 (392)
Artur1302 (447)
Aubery1302 (450)
Aubry1302 (451)
Bernart1294 (437)
Bertrand1294 (440)
Bonabes1276 (426)
Bourbriac1302 (449)
Brient1276 (426), 1294 (438)
Conain1302 (448)
Diffou1302 (449)
Eliot1302 (449)
Eon1261 (405), 1276 (426), 1294 (438), 1302 (449)
Estienne1302 (448)
Even1294 (439)
Galeran1276 (426)
Gallic1302 (449)
Gaudin1302 (449)
Geffrey1276 (425), 1281 (431)
Geffroy1270 (391), 1282 (400), 1302 (450)
Gefrey1272 (392)
Geufrey1276 (425)
Geuffrey1276 (426), 1294 (438)
Geuffroy1294 (438)
Gieffroy1302 (449)
Girard1276 (425)
Gourmailon1294 (440)
Gualeran1294 (437)
Guehenec1302 (449)
Guibes1302 (449)
Guill.1302 (449)Almost certainly an abbreviation of Guillaume.
Guillaume1261 (405), 1270 (392), 1276 (426), 1281 (431), 1283 (431), 1289 (435), 1294 (437), 1302 (449)
Guillemin1302 (449)
Guillot1302 (448)
Guiot1302 (449)
Guy1293 (400), 1294 (436)
Hamon1270 (392)
Hanry1302 (449)
Henri1267 (407), 1283 (430), 1294 (439)
Henriet1302 (449)
Henriot1267 (407)
Henry1294 (439), 1302 (448)
Herlin1294 (438)
Herve1260 (402), 1262 (403), 1265 (426), 1270 (392), 1277 (428), 1294 (439)This is the viscount of Leon
Hues1293 (400)
Ivon1265 (427)
Jacquet1302 (450)
Jahan1260 (402), 1263 (405), 1265 (426), 1267 (407), 1289 (433)Most, but not all, are references to the Duke of Brittany.
James1294 (438)
Jamet1302 (449)
Jean1302 (447)
Jehan1255 (406), 1272 (392), 1276 (424), 1281 (431), 1283 (430), 1284 (400), 1293 (400), 1294 (436), 1297 (441), 1302 (446)Most, but not all, are references to the Duke of Brittany.
Jehannaut1302 (449)
Kemenet1294 (439)
Lois1261 (405)
Loriz1302 (449)
Lorous1294 (438)
Mace1302 (449)
Maceaut1302 (451)
Maçon1302 (451)
Mathe1294 (438)
Nonain1302 (447)
Normant1294 (439)
Oliveric1302 (449)
Olivier1261 (404), 1276 (425), 1294 (437), 1302 (448)
Palemon1262 (403)
Passeavant1302 (449)
Perrault1302 (449)
Perraut1302 (449)
Perrin1302 (450)
Phelippe1278 (428)All references are to the king of France
Philippe1294 (438), 1297 (441)All references are to the king of France
Pierre1263 (406), 1267 (407), 1283 (430), 1293 (400), 1302 (499)
Pierres1267 (407), 1294 (439), 1302 (499)
Pietronic1302 (449)
Quadeglas1302 (449)
Raoul1294 (437)
Regnaud1294 (438)
Renault1302 (449)
Richard1294 (439)
Riou1302 (448)
Rivaut1302 (449)
Roaut1302 (449)
Robert1294 (440), 1302 (451)
Robin1294 (436), 1297 (441), 1302 (450)
Rolland1283 (430), 1294 (439)
Rollant1283 (431)
Rualan1302 (449)
Selvestre1294 (439)
Tanguy1282 (400)
Thebaud1294 (438)
Thebaut1263 (406)
Thomas1297 (441), 1302 (448)
Yves1302 (449)
Yvon1282 (400), 1294 (440)

Bynames

loc. I haven't identified the place, but the name is from Breton k(a)er 'city, town' + Fr ps.n. (H)odierne
NameDate/referenceNotes
l'Alement1302 (449)desc. 'the German'
d'Alençon1293 (400)loc. from Alençon
d'Alroy1302 (449)loc.
de Anast1294 (439), 1302 (451)loc. from Anast
d'Ancenis1294 (437)loc. from Ancenis
d'Anceniz1276 (426)loc. from Ancenis
d'Argentaie1294 (439)loc.
d'Avalgor1283 (430), 1294 (439)loc. from Avaugour
de Avalgor1255 (406)loc. from Avaugour
de Avaugour1267 (407)loc. from Avaugour
d'Avesnes1293 (400)loc. from any of various places named Avesnes or Avanne, perhaps Avesnes in Sarthe
de Baudement1302 (450)loc. from Baudement
de Beaumont1283 (430), 1294 (437)loc. from any of various places named Beaumont
le Bef1294 (438)desc. 'the beef', for a large, beefy man, or for a butcher
le Beuff1294 (441)desc. 'the beef', for a large, beefy man, or for a butcher
de Blois1293 (400)loc. from Blois; only used by the family of the count of Blois.
dou Bois-Geffrey1294 (436)loc. perhaps from Bois Geoffory
Botereau1294 (438)
Boterel1283 (430), 1302 (449)
de Boubry1294 (439)loc.
de Bougon1294 (438)loc. from any of various places named Bougon, perhaps the one near Couëron, about 20km from Nantes
de Bouteville1270 (392)loc. from any of various places named Bouteville, perhaps the one near Loyat, about 60km from Rennes
Boutiers1297 (441)
de la Boutoueillerie1294 (439)
de Bretagne1272 (392), 1276 (424), 1289 (433), 1293 (400)Only used by the Duke and Duchess of Brittany.
de Bretaigne1260 (402), 1267 (407), 1277 (428), 1278 (428), 1281 (428), 1283 (430), 1294 (436), 1297 (441), 1302 (446)Only used by the Duke and Duchess of Brittany and their children.
de Bretaingne1261 (404), 1263 (405)Only used by the Duke and Duchess of Brittany.
de Bretanne1265 (426)Only used by the Duke and Duchess of Brittany.
Brochant1282 (400)
le Buef1276 (426)desc. 'the beef', for a large, beefy man, or for a butcher
de la Celle1294 (438)top.
Chaboz1276 (425)
dou Chalonge1302 (449)
de la Chambre1302 (449)top. 'of the chamber'
Champoing1302 (449)
Chanu1270 (392)desc. from a Rhonish/Auvergnate-Limousine dialectal form of chenu 'white haired'.
Charrnel1294 (439)
de Chasteau-Brient1294 (436)loc. from Châteaubriant
de Chasteaugiron1294 (437)loc. from Châteaugiron
de Chasteaugyron1276 (426)loc. from Châteaugiron
dou Chastel1294 (440)top. 'of the castle'
de Chastillon1293 (400)loc. form any of various places named Châtillon; the Châtillon in Cesson-Sévigné, about 10 km from Rennes is a likely candidate
de Chatiaugiron1302 (451)loc. from Châteaugiron
le Clerc1270 (392)desc. 'the clerk'
de Clicon1261 (404), 1276 (425)loc. probably from Clisson
de Cliczon1294 (438)loc. probably from Clisson
de Coesmes1294 (436)loc. from Coësmes
de Coit-buhal1294 (440)loc.
de Coitdynysen1294 (439)loc.
Costerez1302 (449)
Denart1294 (439)
de Denois1294 (437)loc.
de Derval1276 (426)loc. from Derval
de Donges1276 (426), 1294 (437)loc. from Donges
de Duault1302 (449)loc. from Duault
de Dynam1294 (439)loc. probably from Dinan
le Fol1302 (451)desc. from OFr fol originally 'bellows', later 'empty-headed person, fool'
de Fontenay1294 (437)loc. from any of various places named Fontenai, Fontenay, Fonteney or the like
de Fontevrault1302 (447)loc. from Fontevrault
de la Forge1302 (449)
dou Fou1294 (440)
de Foynant1294 (440)
de Fresnoy1261 (404)
Gouion1302 (448)
de Gourvrin1294 (440)
de Goylou1283 (430)
de la Granche1302 (448)
Guen1294 (439)
de la Guerche1294 (437)
de Guergoulle1294 (439)
de Guerrande1294 (438)
dou Gug1294 (440)
de Guingamp1302 (450)loc. from Guingamp
Guingnat1294 (439)
de la Guonie1302 (449)
de Henant1294 (440)
dou Haust-boias1294 (440)
de Kaer1294 (439)loc. from Breton k(a)er 'city, town'
de Kaerhodiern1294 (440)
de Kaermoven1294 (440)loc. I haven't identified the place, but the name is from Breton k(a)er 'city, town'
Karambourt1302 (449)
de Karreins1294 (440)
de Kemperle1270 (392)loc. from Kemperle
de Lanvax1272 (392)loc. from Lanvaux
de Lanvaux1270 (391)loc. from Lanvaux
de Laval1281 (428), 1294 (436)
le Leal1302 (449)
de Leon1260 (402, 1262 (403), 1265 (426), 1277 (428), 1281 (428), 1294 (439)Only used by the viscount of Leon.
de Lesourgar1294 (440)
le Leurreur1302 (449)
de Listiale1294 (440)
de Loheac1270 (392), 1289 (435), 1294 (437)loc. from Lohéac
le Lonc1294 (439)
de Lourei1283 (430)
Louvedat1302 (449)
de Macheco1276 (426)
de Maenne1267 (407)
de Maine1283 (430)
de Malece1294 (437)
de Malestroit1294 (438)loc. from Malestroit
Malor1294 (439)
de Martigne1294 (436)
de Maure1294 (439), 1302 (448)loc. from Maure-de-Bretagne
de Maurre1302 (450)loc. from Maure-de-Bretagne
du Mene1294 (440)
de Monciaux1302 (449)
de Montffort1294 (438)
de Montrelaiz1294 (438)loc. from Montrelais
de Montrelayz1294 (438)loc. from Montrelais
Moriau1302 (449)
de la Mote1294 (438)
de la Motte1289 (435)
de la Muce1294 (438)
de Navarre1284 (400)Only used by Blanche, the countess of Brittany.
de Nivet1294 (440)
Nuz1294 (440)
l'Oelier1294 (437)
d'Oultre1302 (448)
de la Panneterie1302 (448)
des Paveillons1302 (449)
de Pemur1302 (449)
le pere1302 (450)desc. 'the father', used to distinguish a man with a son by the same name
dou Perier1294 (439)
dou Plesseiz1294 (440)
de Pomereit1294 (439)
dou Pont1261 (405), 1294 (438)top. from pont 'bridge'
de Pontblanc1302 (449)
dou Pontou1294 (439)
de Porcher1282 (400)
de la Porte1302 (449)top. from porte 'gate, gate-house'
de Queberon1302 (449)loc. from Quiberon
le Queu1302 (449)
de Quintin1283 (430)
de Raden1302 (449)loc. from Raden
Raguenel1297 (441), 1302 (450)
le Rat1302 (449)
de Rayes1276 (425)
de Restiers1294 (436)loc. from Retiers
de Reux1281 (431), 1294 (437)loc. from Reux
de Rezay1294 (438)loc. from Rezay
Riboult1302 (449)
de Richemond1297 (441), 1302 (446)loc. from Richemont
de Richemont1289 (433)loc. from Richemont
de la Roche1294 (437)
de la Roche-Bernard1294 (438)
de Rochefort1294 (437)loc. from Rochefort.
de la Roche-Jagu1294 (439)
de la Rochemoysan1282 (400)
de Roge1276 (426), 1294 (436)
de Rohan1272 (392), 1294 (439)loc. from Rohan
de la Roiche1276 (426)
de Roichefort1276 (426)loc. from Rochefort.
de Rosmadec1294 (440)loc. from Rosmadec
de Roson1302 (448)
de Rostrenein1294 (440)loc. from Rostrenen
de Rouge1294 (437)
le Rouz1294 (439)
de S. Dougal1294 (439)
de S. Lou1302 (450)
de S. Paul1293 (400)
le fiz Sanquin1294 (440)
Sebran1294 (438)
de Soillart1302 (449)
de Suches1302 (449)
de Syon1276 (426), 1294 (438)
de Talohet1302 (449)loc. from Talhouët
Theboe1294 (439)
de Tonquedec1283 (430)loc. from Tonquédoc
de Tonquedeuc1294 (439)loc. from Tonquédoc
de la Tor1276 (426)
de la Tour1294 (438)
Tournemine1294 (439)unmarked loc. from Tournemine
de Tournemine1283 (430)loc. from Tournemine
de Tresbrivien1294 (440)
de Tuogouf1294 (439)
de Tyntyniac1294 (439)loc. from Tinténiac
de Valgor1283 (430)loc. from Avaugour
de Vay1302 (448)loc. from Vay
le Veneur1302 (449)
de Vitre1294 (436)loc. from Vitré

Source

Histoire de Bretagne, composée sur les titres et les auteurs originaux, G.-A. Lobineau, ed., (1707), vol. 2.