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ArchivesPossible Cognates of Brian?
Hi,
I love the name Brian and any cognates, and I have two questions. I kept thinking Brenna was a cognate of Brian, but whenI looked it up it wasn't so. Still does anyone have any extra info on this name besides what's in the DB?
Also, a user posted a poll the other day with some BRI- names, among which was Brienne. I loved it instantly but couldn't find it in the DB so I Googled it, and it turns out there has been a war with this name, and a French county. So does this name have its own meaning, or is it also a cognate of Brian? Because I don't know French, but it only looks similar and that doesn't always mean it's a cognate. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mel
My Verses: Acts 12:1-11 and 1st Corinthians 9:24-27!!!
As I near the distant goal
I will never run alone
As long as You are by my side
I love the name Brian and any cognates, and I have two questions. I kept thinking Brenna was a cognate of Brian, but whenI looked it up it wasn't so. Still does anyone have any extra info on this name besides what's in the DB?
Also, a user posted a poll the other day with some BRI- names, among which was Brienne. I loved it instantly but couldn't find it in the DB so I Googled it, and it turns out there has been a war with this name, and a French county. So does this name have its own meaning, or is it also a cognate of Brian? Because I don't know French, but it only looks similar and that doesn't always mean it's a cognate. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mel
My Verses: Acts 12:1-11 and 1st Corinthians 9:24-27!!!
As I near the distant goal
I will never run alone
As long as You are by my side
1
Replies
I posted a query about the French place name on the American Name Society listserve and got the following reply from Marc Picard:
According to Dauzat & Rostaing's Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France, Brienne (Seine-et-Loire), Brienne-la-Ville and Brienne-le-Château (Aube), and Brienne-sur-Aisne (Ardennes) may come from either Celtic briva 'bridge' + -onna or the personal name Briennos.
Unfortunately, there is no indication whether or not "Briennos" would have a similar Celtic origin to Brian's.
According to Dauzat & Rostaing's Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France, Brienne (Seine-et-Loire), Brienne-la-Ville and Brienne-le-Château (Aube), and Brienne-sur-Aisne (Ardennes) may come from either Celtic briva 'bridge' + -onna or the personal name Briennos.
Unfortunately, there is no indication whether or not "Briennos" would have a similar Celtic origin to Brian's.
1
I can't give you any cognates of Brian, but I could give you some links to information about the actual Battle of Brienne and some for Brenna. Maybe something will help you discover where the name came from.
Info. on Battle of Brienne:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brienne#External_link
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mcnelly/vb/scenarios/brienne.htm
http://www.napoleonguide.com/battle_brienne.htm
Here's some links to information on Brenna outside of BtN:
http://medievalscotland.org/problem/names/brianna.shtml
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Brenna
http://www.weddingvendors.com/baby-names/meaning/brenna/
http://www.babynames.com/name/BRENNA
Hope this helped.
Info. on Battle of Brienne:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brienne#External_link
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mcnelly/vb/scenarios/brienne.htm
http://www.napoleonguide.com/battle_brienne.htm
Here's some links to information on Brenna outside of BtN:
http://medievalscotland.org/problem/names/brianna.shtml
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Brenna
http://www.weddingvendors.com/baby-names/meaning/brenna/
http://www.babynames.com/name/BRENNA
Hope this helped.
1
We generally encourage people NOT to link to sites such as "babynames.com" on this board. This board is focussed on etymological facts, and those websites are notorious for being non-factual.
The first link you gave (about mediaeval Scotland) is fine, but the other three shouldn't be used as references as they are not scholarly sites and are free to invent or twist meanings to suit their readers.
The first link you gave (about mediaeval Scotland) is fine, but the other three shouldn't be used as references as they are not scholarly sites and are free to invent or twist meanings to suit their readers.
This message was edited 7/5/2007, 8:28 PM
1
Thanks bopperlynn for the links, and Chrisell for the warning. I've noticed people twist stuff too so I generally read stuff like this with discretion.
Thanks,
Mel
Thanks,
Mel
1