Low German Names in Latin, 1424: Feminine Given Names

by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (Sara L. Uckelman)

© 2012 Sara L. Uckelman; all rights reserved
last update 13Nov12

The following names are taken from the Offizium Rottum of 1424, a collection of Latin documents relating to the area of Xanten, Germany. The edition which I drew the names from presented the data by city. I have not been able to identify all of the cities on modern maps, but those which can be identified are split about equally on either side of the modern day Dutch/German border. The names are recorded in Latin, but show strong vernacular influence, which, in Xanten, was Low German, not High German (and thus the names look more like Dutch than typical German names). Because the names were recorded in Latin, they are sometimes in inflected form; I have converted all inflected forms (which are not otherwise apart of a byname) into their standard nominative forms where no uncertainty is present.

Feminine Names, by frequency

NameNumber of occurencesCities
Elizabet30
    Elizabet8Buderich, Drevenich, Duyffelweerde, Genderynghen, Gynderich, Relinchusen
    Lysa7Berka, Brunen, Embrich Superior, Goterswich, Molynem, Spellen, Zwaeffen
    Elizabeth5Berka, Gladbach in Westfalia, Hunxe, Millynghen Superiori, Molynem
    Elysabeth2Gynderich, Quaelburgh
    Elza2Alpem, Walshem
    Lyza2Berka
    Elisabet1Molynem
    Elze1Alpem
    Lisa1Berka
    Liza1Bisselich
    Lyse1Alpem
Aleidis29
    Aleidis25Aldenkalker, Berka, Berghen, Bisselich, Buderich, Gynderich, Hamwynkel, Kalker, Meer Inferior, Molynem, Quaelburgh, Udem, Walbeke, Wenekendonck, Weze
    Aleydis4Dursten, Kalker, Molynem
Greta24
    Greta15Berka, Gynderich, Halen, Hamwynkel, Hunxe, Molynem, Novimagium, Reys, Sannebeke, Wenekendonck, Weze, Werde, Wesele
    Grita5Bisselich, Buderich, Halen, Quaelburgh
    Margareta4Bisselich, Hamwynkel, Molynem, Weze
Mechtildis21
    Mechtildis13Bisselich, Drevenich, Hamwynkel, Keken, Molynem, Novimagium, Reys, Relinchusen, Spellen, Udem, Welle
    Metta4Kalker, Reys, Relinchusen, Selem
    Mechteldis3Molynem, Wesele, Xanctis
    Machtildis1Buderich
Bela15
    Bela13Berka, Bisselich, Buderich, Embrich Superior, Hunxe, Kalker, Meer Inferior, Molynem, Spellen, Udem
    Belya1Vynen
    Ysabela1Meer Superior
Stina12
    Stina9Berka, Buderich Superiori, Drevenich, Heerde, Hunxe, Millynghen Superiori, Molynem, Udem, Wenekendonck
    Styna3Berka, Meer Superior, Molynem
Gesa11
    Gesa9Bisselich, Brunen, Drevenich, Goterswich, Kalker, Molynem, Quaelburgh
    Geza2Molynem
Katherina9
    Katherina9Berka, Buderich Superiori, Gynderich, Haylt, Kalker, Millynghen Superiori, Molynem
Yda8
    Yda7Angeren, Aesperden, Buderich, Goterswich, Hamwynkel, Rijnheym
    Ida1Xanctis
Fia7
    Fia4Byrt, Meyderich, Molynem, Orsoy
    Sophia3Bisselich, Galen, Meyderich
Gertrudis7
    Gertrudis5Berka, Bisselich, Molynem
    Geertrudis2Aesperden, Relinchusen
Hilla [1]7
    Hilla7Berka, Buderich, Molynem, Novimagium, Weze, Wetten
Jutta7
    Jutta7Berka, Bisselich, Hunxe, Spellen, Wetten, Wesele
Nesa6
    Nesa3Berka, Nova Ecclesia, Vynen
    Neza2Berka, Walbeke
    Agneza1Weze
Druda5
    Druda5Berka, Buderich, Halen, Meer Inferior, Weze
Berta4
    Berta2Barghen, Udem
    Beerta1Angeren
    Bertradis1Walshem
Conegundis4
    Conegundis1Molynem
    Connegundis1Hamwynkel
    Cunegundis1Berka
Lutgardis4
    Lutgardis2Dursten, Hunxe
    Luytgardis2Molynem
Heilwigis3
    Heilwigis3Alpem, Halen, Molynem
Bata2
    Bata2Hamwynkel
Daya2
    Daya2Hamwynkel, Spellen
Eva2
    Eva2Hamwynkel, Udem
Hadewigis2
    Hadewigis2Nova Ecclesia, Xanctis
Herbergis2
    Herbergis1Rijnheym
    Herburgis1Goterswich
Lumet2
    Lumet1Molynem
    Lumodis1Bisselich
Nenna2
    Nenna1Buderich
    Nynna1Bisselich
Ulendis2
    Ulendis2Brunen, Weze
Vresa2
    Vresa1Berka
    Vreza1Drevenich
Wendelmodis2
    Wendelmodis1Arsen
    Wendelmoet1Molynem
Arnolda1
    Arnolda1Quaelburgh
Beatrix1
    Beatrix1Sterkerade
Coene1
    Coene1Berka
Ermgardis1
    Ermgardis1Goch
Edela1
    Edela1Wesele
Ferna1
    Ferna1Molynem
Gostia1
    Gostia1Buchem
Heisken1
    Heisken1Brunen
Henrica1
    Henrica1Hunxe
Hilgardis1
    Hilgardis1Drevenich
Hillegundis1
    Hillegundis1Buderich
Gerburgis1
    Gerburgis1Zwaeffen
Lucka1
    Lucka1Sterkerade
Richlandis1
    Richlandis1Orsoy
Ryka [2]1
    Ryka1Goterswich
Wibbel1
    Wibbel1Buderich

Notes

[1] This is a pet form of any of various names beginning Heil- or Hill-, e.g., Heilwigis, Hilgardis, Hillegundis, etc. Since it isn't always clear what the root name is, I've opted to list this as a separate name.

[2] This may be a pet form of Richlandis.


Source: Wilkes, Carl, Quellen zur Rechts- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte des Archidiakonats und Stifts Xanten Band I, (Bonn: Verlag Ludwig Röhrscheid, 1937).