Post by sleepingdragon on Mar 16, 2013 13:08:15 GMT
Gastons use Anglo-Saxon names. Strictly, some of those that I've used in the Gazetteer are incorrect - the king's name, for instance, is Ælfwine, not Elfwine. I am far too lazy to enter a dipthong every time I need to write that kind of name, however, so I'm not bothering (except in this thread). Most of you will be illiterate anyway 
Scholars suspect that before the Gastons left the archipelago, they had little contact with non-humans and used the catch-all term Ælf/Elf to describe these beings. Names like Ælfwine (elf-friend) are remnants of this time. Of course, humanity have had lots of contact with elves and it is universally hostile, however such names still continue to be used in Gastony. The Church somewhat frowns upon this, however given that the Prophet's own cousin, the most high Saint Ælfhelm, had such a name, they are unable to object that strenuously.
The most popular Gaston names are Wulfric for boys, and Wulfhild for girls, in honour of the Prophet. Historically, the names Willard and Ceneric were exceptionally common, however given the extremely controversial nature of those historical persons, they are now used only by the Faithful and the sons of the Church, respsectively. Someone born with one of those names, who subsequently converts, will inevitably change their name.
A small number of Gastons, especially in Alanscir and around Malagen, still use Alanian names, which are Frankish or Germanic. This is particularly common in noble families from Alanscir.
Only noble Gastons use surnames. The term 'House of ...' is the most common description, however the suffix '-ing' can also be used. E.g. the king can either be named Ælfwine the Third, of the House of Canulf, or Ælfwine III Canulfing. Those nobles who enter the Church cease to use their surnames. Lowborn Gastons who need to distinguish from the numerous other people with the same name will typically use their place of birth e.g. Wulfherth of Westgard.
Swennings use Welsh names, and the Erse use Arabic names. Owing to the inescapable fact that the Virian Way was revealed in Gastony, however, some have been known to use Gaston names, particularly Wulfric. This is particularly common in Shara, which was previously a Gaston kingdom and still has a very sizeable Gaston minority population.
Though you have had little contact with these cultures, you are aware that they have names roughly equivalent to the following real-world cultures:
The Fryderi: Norse
The Gavishmen: Irish
The Lattish: Russian & Slavic
Ersenlanders: Arabic
In Palania, they use a mixture of Gaston and Fryderi names, or names that blend the two. Palanians that have converted to the Virian Way tend to adopt fully Gaston names, if they didn't have them already.
Lastly, don't presume that just because culture X uses the names of real world culture Y, that any other parts of their society resembles that real world culture. The Fryderi, for instance, are sort of a more northern version of ancient Mediterranean trading cultures e.g. the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, etc, and are not remotely Norse save in their names.
Scholars suspect that before the Gastons left the archipelago, they had little contact with non-humans and used the catch-all term Ælf/Elf to describe these beings. Names like Ælfwine (elf-friend) are remnants of this time. Of course, humanity have had lots of contact with elves and it is universally hostile, however such names still continue to be used in Gastony. The Church somewhat frowns upon this, however given that the Prophet's own cousin, the most high Saint Ælfhelm, had such a name, they are unable to object that strenuously.
The most popular Gaston names are Wulfric for boys, and Wulfhild for girls, in honour of the Prophet. Historically, the names Willard and Ceneric were exceptionally common, however given the extremely controversial nature of those historical persons, they are now used only by the Faithful and the sons of the Church, respsectively. Someone born with one of those names, who subsequently converts, will inevitably change their name.
A small number of Gastons, especially in Alanscir and around Malagen, still use Alanian names, which are Frankish or Germanic. This is particularly common in noble families from Alanscir.
Only noble Gastons use surnames. The term 'House of ...' is the most common description, however the suffix '-ing' can also be used. E.g. the king can either be named Ælfwine the Third, of the House of Canulf, or Ælfwine III Canulfing. Those nobles who enter the Church cease to use their surnames. Lowborn Gastons who need to distinguish from the numerous other people with the same name will typically use their place of birth e.g. Wulfherth of Westgard.
Swennings use Welsh names, and the Erse use Arabic names. Owing to the inescapable fact that the Virian Way was revealed in Gastony, however, some have been known to use Gaston names, particularly Wulfric. This is particularly common in Shara, which was previously a Gaston kingdom and still has a very sizeable Gaston minority population.
Though you have had little contact with these cultures, you are aware that they have names roughly equivalent to the following real-world cultures:
The Fryderi: Norse
The Gavishmen: Irish
The Lattish: Russian & Slavic
Ersenlanders: Arabic
In Palania, they use a mixture of Gaston and Fryderi names, or names that blend the two. Palanians that have converted to the Virian Way tend to adopt fully Gaston names, if they didn't have them already.
Lastly, don't presume that just because culture X uses the names of real world culture Y, that any other parts of their society resembles that real world culture. The Fryderi, for instance, are sort of a more northern version of ancient Mediterranean trading cultures e.g. the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, etc, and are not remotely Norse save in their names.