Looking for the perfect name for your dog? A late medieval treatise may have just what you need—it lists 1,065 unique names for dogs.
In the late 15th century, probably between 1460 and 1480, a scribe filled out a manuscript with texts related to animals and plants—such as a manual on hawking, treatments and medicines for horses, and a guide to grafting and planting trees. One of the works included has been named The Names of All Manner of Hounds – which lists the names of dogs across 12 folios, all in Middle English.
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David Scott-Macnab, a Professor of English at North West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa, examined this manuscript to understand why this list of dog names was included. He explains why he finds this work so interesting:
What is particularly fascinating about all these words is the possibility they hold for providing us with a rare glimpse—a snapshot as it were—of the spoken language of daily life in the fifteenth century. It is clear from the hunting treatises that I quoted earlier that high-status hunters felt little need to record the names of entire packs of hounds; they make their point with a few representative names. But dog-handlers who trained, bathed, nursed and fed the hounds on a daily basis, and who whipped them into line when hunting, must have lived by a different imperative, one that required them to know their dogs as individuals.
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Scott-Macnab examined these names and found that they could be categorized in several ways. Here are some of the groups he came up with. If you find it hard to understand the name, try speaking it out loud and it will probably make sense.
David Scott-Macnab published the entire list of 1,065 names in the article, “The Names of All Manner of Hounds: A Unique Inventory in a Fifteenth-Century Manuscript,’ which was published in the journal Viator in 2013. You can read the article through Scott-Macnab’s Academia.edu page.
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The 15th-century manuscript that contains The Names of All Manner of Hounds was sold at auction at Sotheby’s in 2006 for £198,400.
Looking for the perfect name for your dog? A late medieval treatise may have just what you need—it lists 1,065 unique names for dogs.
In the late 15th century, probably between 1460 and 1480, a scribe filled out a manuscript with texts related to animals and plants—such as a manual on hawking, treatments and medicines for horses, and a guide to grafting and planting trees. One of the works included has been named The Names of All Manner of Hounds – which lists the names of dogs across 12 folios, all in Middle English.
David Scott-Macnab, a Professor of English at North West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa, examined this manuscript to understand why this list of dog names was included. He explains why he finds this work so interesting:
What is particularly fascinating about all these words is the possibility they hold for providing us with a rare glimpse—a snapshot as it were—of the spoken language of daily life in the fifteenth century. It is clear from the hunting treatises that I quoted earlier that high-status hunters felt little need to record the names of entire packs of hounds; they make their point with a few representative names. But dog-handlers who trained, bathed, nursed and fed the hounds on a daily basis, and who whipped them into line when hunting, must have lived by a different imperative, one that required them to know their dogs as individuals.
Scott-Macnab examined these names and found that they could be categorized in several ways. Here are some of the groups he came up with. If you find it hard to understand the name, try speaking it out loud and it will probably make sense.
Desirable qualities and abilities of hunting hounds: Birdismowthe, Blodeman, Creper, Dygre, Dygger, Dappir, Fynder, Fyndewell, Hardye, Merymowthe, Quester, Rowte-owte, Rangere, Stalkere, Sturdy, Trusty, Sable, Brynge-yn, Cachefaste, Cacche, Corage, Dowȝty, Fliȝt, Go-bifore, Holdefaste, Hiefaste, Holdere, Kilbucke, Liȝtfote, Quycke, Stepfaste, Sterte-awey, Takehym, Turnebukke, Clenche, Pynche, Pynchere.
Other characteristics, qualities and temperaments, many suggestive of irony: Amyable, Arguere, Bragger, Braynesike, Blabbe, Beawte, Brawlere, Cunnynge, Curteise, Cherefull, Cere-ȝyne, Dawngere, Dyngill, Elfin, Enmye, Envye, Frebodye, Flaterere, Filthe, Gormownde, Jolye, Jentill, Lewde, Mery, Malaperte, Nurture, Oribull, Plodder, Plesaunce, Quarell, Rabelle, Rage, Synfull, Solace, Seruysable, Veleyne, Awntrus, Bragger, Brayneles, Cruell, Harmeles, Lusty, Soneforgete, Wrecche.
Nationalities: Ducheman, Florenyne, German, Norman, Picarde, Jewe, Romayne, Saresyn.
From history, mythology, and even Arthurian literature: Absolon, Blawnche, Boleyne, Bawdewyn, Charlemayne, Creseyte, Christabell, Derby, Dyane, Gowere, Gille, Gwnnore, Juvynell, Jacke, Izawde, Mercurye, Mabbe, Nero, Pilate, Perkyn, Paris, Richemownde, Seymore, Talbot, Terry, Vrry, Arture, Achilles, Alberte, Ector, Ercules, Gaweyne, Olyuere, Offa, Persyvale, Pompeye, Rowlande, Romwlus, Yevan.
Human occupations, titles and categories: Aldirman, Archere, Bowman, Colier, Cheueteyne, Capteyne, Chambirleyne, Cowntese, Chamberere, Dawnsere, Duchesse, Damysell, Frankeleyne, Forgere, Freresse, Haywarde, Hosewife, Jeester, Lymnore, Lepar, Somnor, Sergeaunte, Scheparde, Sowdan, Screveyne, Sexteyne, Torkoplere, Vagrawnte, Wodewarde, Wodeman, Yeman, Chorle, Leper, Monke, Pardonere, Tynker, Nonne.
Miscellaneous: Beste-of-all, Boy, Belamy, Dere-ybowȝt, Dowse-amye, Felowe, Goodynowȝe, Liberte, Ordynawnse, Pretyman, Pretiboy, Quonyam, Riall, Rude-ynowgh, Wellytawȝt, Conquerour, Hardynowgh, Havegoodday, Makehitgood, Penyboy, Galentyne.
David Scott-Macnab published the entire list of 1,065 names in the article, “The Names of All Manner of Hounds: A Unique Inventory in a Fifteenth-Century Manuscript,’ which was published in the journal Viator in 2013. You can read the article through Scott-Macnab’s Academia.edu page.
Want even more names? Check out our article Medieval Pet Names
Top Image: Bibliothèque nationale de France MS Français 616 fol.47v
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