Italian Names?

Nathan W. Jones njones at ix.netcom.com
Sat Feb 1 17:10:28 PST 1997


I wrote:
> > For first names, try Shakespeare.

then Daniel wrote:
> That'd be a "no", Bob.  Two examples:

Bob?  No, Daniel, it's Gio!  *grin*


First off, point taken, Shakespeare isn't a great source when it 
comes to authentic names.  However, I refer you to a point you make
later in your letter (which, I admit, I am taking out of context).

>  I suggest that anyone selecting a name from non-fiction
>  realize this, and realize that there may be a more authentic spelling
>  (and preferably seek it out, via alt.heraldry.sca, rec.org.sca, the
>  Academy of St. Gabriel, ...).

There is no reason someone can't use Shakespeare as a starting point
to finding an Italian name.  Note, I said _starting_point_.
I wouldn't recommend to anyone trying to use it as documentation.
Heck, it probably wouldn't pass the local herald's office.

I myself go by the Rule of Three.  [if you can find it in three
different
period documents it's probably correct.]  Or, if you last name happens 
to be the same of a well published period author.  (Benvenuto Cellini, 
in my case. :)

But, I probably shouldn't have brought up Shakespeare as a source.  It
could start someone out on the path to the Dark Side of Heraldry. 
*grin*
Pretty soon, they will be reverse documenting stuff ["Well, Goofy could 
have been a nickname of someone who was named Gundadag!", or worse
just making stuff up on the fly like ... Star Bright of the Cosmos
["They had 
stars, right?  and they were bright, and Cosmos is Greek or 
something like that!"]

Gio

p.s.  Insert many *grins* into above document!




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