Category:Names

Choosing an authentic name is an important part of establishing your character. There are plenty of examples of names in chronicles, sagas and other sources. The PASE website (http://www.pase.ac.uk/index.html) provides an excellent resource - a database of all named individuals evidence in England from the sixth to the late eleventh centuries.

As well as personal names, early medieval individuals were often identified further:

• patronymics showing family relationships (eg 'Harold Godwinesson', 'Leif Erikssen', 'Darach ap Llywellyn ap Owain ap Gruffudd ap Lywellyn ap Iaian', 'William fitzOsbern'). Welsh/Brythonic characters are particularly encouraged to be able to quote their genealogy for several generations.
• nicknames saying something about the individual (eg 'Edith Swan-neck', 'Erik the Red', 'William the Bastard').
• place names showing where an individual lived or held land (eg 'Godric of Crediton', 'Urse d'Abitot').
• titles indicating offices or ranks (eg 'Ansgar the Staller', 'Regenbald the chancellor').

Lists of Names