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Help[Facts] Morgan
in reply to a message by Manray
From what I've read, I think you're partially right; Morgan (and the variants Morgana and Morgaine) have been in use for females - or rather, for one specific female literary character - since the earliest Arthur stories were published in the 12th century AD.
However, it seems very likely that the name Morgan as used in the Arthur legends is not the same Morgan as the Welsh male name in the database. The bits and pieces I've read suggest that it may have been adapted from the name of a Welsh goddess (Modron), or even from the Irish Morrigan (but that doesn't seem likely if you look at the characters of Morrigan and Morgan, they're certainly not the same character).
According to the best resource I know for mediaeval-era feminine names, Morgan or variants weren't being used for girls when Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote Vita Merlini, the first major recording of the Arthur legend; nor did Morgan become popular for girls in the three centuries following.
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/
www.archaeochrisell.blogspot.com
However, it seems very likely that the name Morgan as used in the Arthur legends is not the same Morgan as the Welsh male name in the database. The bits and pieces I've read suggest that it may have been adapted from the name of a Welsh goddess (Modron), or even from the Irish Morrigan (but that doesn't seem likely if you look at the characters of Morrigan and Morgan, they're certainly not the same character).
According to the best resource I know for mediaeval-era feminine names, Morgan or variants weren't being used for girls when Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote Vita Merlini, the first major recording of the Arthur legend; nor did Morgan become popular for girls in the three centuries following.
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/
www.archaeochrisell.blogspot.com
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You are a star, thanks!
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