Are you looking for a medieval name for your child — or simply curious about what Londoners were naming their children 700 years ago? From Felicia and Drew to Pentecost and Wymarka, the city’s archives preserve a treasure trove of unusual and forgotten names.
Medieval London was a city of merchants, craftsmen, clerics, and immigrants, and its names reflected this diversity. City records, wills, and court documents from the 13th and 14th centuries show that while some names such as William, Alice, and John dominated, others stood out for their rarity or oddity. These “unusual” names were often borrowed from Latin words, religious ceremonies, or even just clerical errors.
Here are twenty of the most interesting names we found for medieval Londoners — ten for girls and ten for boys – as well as how we know about them.
Unusual Girls’ Names
Scolastica – She was the prioress of of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate from 1261 to 1269.
Petronilla – In 1305, Petronilla, widow of Walter Wolleword, was accused by one of his family members of taking away from the house she rented a bed, three lead cisterns and utensils. She gave proof that the items were hers and was acquitted.
Gunnora – Along with her husband Richard Hagyn and several other people, she was arrested and convicted of assaulting the Night Watch in 1304. She and the others were fined 8d each for damages; “and for breaking the peace at night-time to the terror of the neighbours and the scandal of the City they were sent to prison.”
Dyonisia – Dyonisia and her husband William le Bret of Wyntringham owned a house and quay in Castle Baynard in the year 1300
Felicia – Felicia, daughter of Hughelyng, was a poulterer. In 1306 she was accused of stealing 51 pigeons, 7 hens, 6 capons, 8 pullets, and two and a half hundred of eggs and 5 cheeses. She was acquitted.
Wymarka – In 1285, William de Aumondesham, tailor, gave in his will a shop to his daughter Wymarka and her husband Robert de Stauntone.
Isolda – Isolda was the wife of Richard Bussy. In his will from 1315 he gave her his home in the parish of St. Andrew de Holebourne and his brewhouse at the corner of Faytoreslane.
Leticia – Leticia la aylere paid 8 shillings, 4 pence in Lay Subsidy of 1292.
Diamanda – In his will from 1349 Thomas de Banham gave his daughter Diamanda his shops in Fletestrete.
Sabine – In 1320, Sabine and her husband Richard of Grafton were in debt to Richard of Redyngge.
Unusual Boys’ Names
Hamo – Hamo de Chigwell, pepperer and then fishmonger, was the Mayor of London during the years 1319, 1321-1323, and 1327.
Manekyn – In 1318 Manekyn le Heaumer was one of the two commanders, or Centurions as they were called, that lead a force of 100 Londoners to support Edward II in his campaigns in Scotland.
Iter – Iter de Caumpes was the son of Richard de Caumpes. In 1310 he inherited a house on Walebrok Street along with his brother Thomas. We also know Iter had a son, but he went back to the traditional names and called him John.
Drew – In 1370 Andrew Barentyn, a jeweller, became a citizen of London. However, the clerk who wrote his name “thought that ‘An’dreas’ was the proper Latin word” and made it into Drew. Years later he had the Mayors and Aldermen confirm that Andrew and Drew were the same person, and would continue to use Drew when he became an Alderman.
Anketyn – Anketyn de Gysors was elected the Alderman of the Ward of Aldgate in 1311. His father was John de Gysors, who was Mayor of London at the time.
Pentecost – In 1278 Pentecost le Gras and his daughter Margery tried to contest the will of his brother Stephen, who wanted to have all his properties sold off and the money distributed to the poor. They were unsuccessful.
Ingelram – In 1285 Sir Ingelram de Hetrus, clerk, sold a shipment of wine to William Uggel, and the latter owed him 5 marks.
Osmund – In 1308 Geoffrey de Osmund, mercer, instructed in his will that a chantry be set up for 5 years to say masses for the souls of his wife and his parents Osmund and Deonisia.
Gocelin – In 1282 Adam de Avenir made a will giving certain rents to his son Gocelin. The will also mentioned Adam had four daughters: Juliana, Cristina, Katherine, and Beatrix
Sewale – Sewale Hoddesdon was a fishmonger who owned or rented various properties in London in the late 14th century, including one on London Bridge. He is sometimes referred to as Sewall.
Are you looking for a medieval name for your child — or simply curious about what Londoners were naming their children 700 years ago? From Felicia and Drew to Pentecost and Wymarka, the city’s archives preserve a treasure trove of unusual and forgotten names.
Medieval London was a city of merchants, craftsmen, clerics, and immigrants, and its names reflected this diversity. City records, wills, and court documents from the 13th and 14th centuries show that while some names such as William, Alice, and John dominated, others stood out for their rarity or oddity. These “unusual” names were often borrowed from Latin words, religious ceremonies, or even just clerical errors.
Here are twenty of the most interesting names we found for medieval Londoners — ten for girls and ten for boys – as well as how we know about them.
Unusual Girls’ Names
Scolastica – She was the prioress of of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate from 1261 to 1269.
Petronilla – In 1305, Petronilla, widow of Walter Wolleword, was accused by one of his family members of taking away from the house she rented a bed, three lead cisterns and utensils. She gave proof that the items were hers and was acquitted.
Gunnora – Along with her husband Richard Hagyn and several other people, she was arrested and convicted of assaulting the Night Watch in 1304. She and the others were fined 8d each for damages; “and for breaking the peace at night-time to the terror of the neighbours and the scandal of the City they were sent to prison.”
Dyonisia – Dyonisia and her husband William le Bret of Wyntringham owned a house and quay in Castle Baynard in the year 1300
Felicia – Felicia, daughter of Hughelyng, was a poulterer. In 1306 she was accused of stealing 51 pigeons, 7 hens, 6 capons, 8 pullets, and two and a half hundred of eggs and 5 cheeses. She was acquitted.
Wymarka – In 1285, William de Aumondesham, tailor, gave in his will a shop to his daughter Wymarka and her husband Robert de Stauntone.
Isolda – Isolda was the wife of Richard Bussy. In his will from 1315 he gave her his home in the parish of St. Andrew de Holebourne and his brewhouse at the corner of Faytoreslane.
Leticia – Leticia la aylere paid 8 shillings, 4 pence in Lay Subsidy of 1292.
Diamanda – In his will from 1349 Thomas de Banham gave his daughter Diamanda his shops in Fletestrete.
Sabine – In 1320, Sabine and her husband Richard of Grafton were in debt to Richard of Redyngge.
Unusual Boys’ Names
Hamo – Hamo de Chigwell, pepperer and then fishmonger, was the Mayor of London during the years 1319, 1321-1323, and 1327.
Manekyn – In 1318 Manekyn le Heaumer was one of the two commanders, or Centurions as they were called, that lead a force of 100 Londoners to support Edward II in his campaigns in Scotland.
Iter – Iter de Caumpes was the son of Richard de Caumpes. In 1310 he inherited a house on Walebrok Street along with his brother Thomas. We also know Iter had a son, but he went back to the traditional names and called him John.
Drew – In 1370 Andrew Barentyn, a jeweller, became a citizen of London. However, the clerk who wrote his name “thought that ‘An’dreas’ was the proper Latin word” and made it into Drew. Years later he had the Mayors and Aldermen confirm that Andrew and Drew were the same person, and would continue to use Drew when he became an Alderman.
Anketyn – Anketyn de Gysors was elected the Alderman of the Ward of Aldgate in 1311. His father was John de Gysors, who was Mayor of London at the time.
Pentecost – In 1278 Pentecost le Gras and his daughter Margery tried to contest the will of his brother Stephen, who wanted to have all his properties sold off and the money distributed to the poor. They were unsuccessful.
Ingelram – In 1285 Sir Ingelram de Hetrus, clerk, sold a shipment of wine to William Uggel, and the latter owed him 5 marks.
Osmund – In 1308 Geoffrey de Osmund, mercer, instructed in his will that a chantry be set up for 5 years to say masses for the souls of his wife and his parents Osmund and Deonisia.
Gocelin – In 1282 Adam de Avenir made a will giving certain rents to his son Gocelin. The will also mentioned Adam had four daughters: Juliana, Cristina, Katherine, and Beatrix
Sewale – Sewale Hoddesdon was a fishmonger who owned or rented various properties in London in the late 14th century, including one on London Bridge. He is sometimes referred to as Sewall.
Want some more unusual names? Check out The Most Common (and Uncommon!) Medieval Names in Southern France and The Wild Variety of Medieval Names: French Men in the Hundred Years’ War
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