Fun stuff found in Reaney and Wilson

[maevebran]

For those who aren't familiar with Reaney and Wilson it is titled A Dictionary of English Surnames. I use it both for heraldry and when I write.

So under the heading Bateman I found the sub headings Baitman, Batman and Battman. It seems to be used as a Christian name with the spelling Bathemanus de Staunford in 1222, Bateman le Keu 1267, Batman d'Appleton 1313 and meaning "servant of Bartholomew"

Under the header Patrick I found William Patric 1130, William Patrik 1180, John Pateric 1229

Under the header Wain Richard Wayn 1319

So for a guy's name in the SCA you could be Bateman Pateric or Batman Wayn with the names being less than 50 years apart (Which earns pleased looks from the heralds. We let names with up to a three hundred year disparity slide but the close togeather they are the happier the heralds.) The Name Batman Wayn is particularly good seeing as the parts are only 6 years apart. I'm amused.

Comments

[webtarkeena.livejournal.com]

While reading "The Warrior's Apprentice" (Lois McMaster Bujold) of all things, I learned that the title "Batman" has been long used for the personal man-servant of a noble.
Or, according to this link (http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=batman), an orderly assigned to a British military officer.
It threw me off to no end to keep seeing Bothari referred to as Miles' "batman," as if he wore a funky rubber cowl and cape while body-guarding or something. ;)

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

I had that problem he first time I encountered it in a Regency novel but I've come acrossed it many times since.

My problem now is that I have a medieval hood with a cowl (The portion that extends like a collar long enough to cover the chest and shoulders) and every time I talk about the cowl I start thinking Batman.=)