times?
I also heard in Britain in the 1960s there was a new father so proud of his
new born daughter she was called "Princess Diana", this was well before
Lady
Diana Spencer appeared on the world stage. Also I seem to recall a child in
Poland was given the name Electricity. It can be cruel what parents can
inflict on their children. I recall Winston Churchill saying that parents
should also be aware of the initials they create for their children.
With best wishes
Leo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Hoskins" <hoskins@sonoma.lib.ca.us
To: <leovdpas@netspeed.com.au>; <GEN-MEDIEVAL-L@rootsweb.com
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 9:34 AM
Subject: Re: "Countess" as a given name: not just in France
I see. The point then was that *in Britain* this never occurred (didn't
read the entire thread, so missed the context.)
Actually, my aunt (by marriage) - Janet (Churchill) Shields - had a
stepmother whose given name was in fact "Countess" (always thought that
was so funny - Countess Churchill of Winter Park, FL!), but then I
believe she came originally from one of the US's southern states, so
that, I thought, explained it: Southerners being the same folks who
brought us the given name "Ova" for a girl (!). The endless vagaries and
eccentricities of Dixieland's naming patterns!
All best, Leo.
T.
"Leo van de Pas" <leovdpas@netspeed.com.au> 08/09/07 04:20PM
Dear Tony,
Contessina is Italian. I am waiting for an English/Scottish/Irish even
Welsh
woman with the name "Countess" as a given name.
It is similar to translating a continental counts title as Earl, it
does not
hold.
Leo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Hoskins" <hoskins@sonoma.lib.ca.us
To: <GEN-MEDIEVAL-L@rootsweb.com
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 9:12 AM
Subject: "Countess" as a given name: not just in France
Having not read the entire thread, forgive me if this has already
been
pointed out:
Leo wrote: "Just because in France and in French there has been a
woman with the given name "Comtesse" does not make "Countess" a
given
name."
But, I can cite at least one non-French case:
Contessina de' Bardi (say 1396-aft 1464) [wife of Cosimo 'Pater
Patrie'
de' Medici], daughter of Giovanni de' Bardi, count of Vernio.
Perhaps it might be argued that she was called by the *title*
"Little
Countess" (her father being a count), having perhaps another "real"
given name. But, the fact remains that she was called Contessina, as
though it were a given name.
Tony
Anthony Hoskins
History, Genealogy and Archives Librarian
History and Genealogy Library
Sonoma County Library
3rd and E Streets
Santa Rosa, California 95404
707/545-0831, ext. 562
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