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ArchivesMister Foster went to Gloucester …
The data base obviously got its information from Hanks & Hodges (Oxford Dictionary of First Names, 1992). So far, so good. On the other hand I have read in some books that Foster is the English version of the name Gaston (obviously of doubtful origin). Does anyone know anything about this connection?
Andy
Andy
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Replies
I think it's unlikely - fostering is a practice with a very long history in English society, and it would be strange if there wasn't a surname associated with it!
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Yes, there could have been reasons, but it strikes me as unlikely. For a start, from what I've done of linguistics the sound change would be a very strange one - I can't think of a single hard-g-name/word that's ended up an f-word in English having come from French.
:-)
:-)
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This is indeed a bit mysterious. So I've done some more research and Ifound out that St.Foster is the English name of St.Vedastus, also known as St.Vaast or Wadast (so from V to F it's not really a big step). And this guy was also called Gaston. So the real question should be: How did Vedastus become Gaston? This site lists two possibilities:
a) It was influenced by the German(ic) word "gast" (guest, stranger)
b) It has something to do with Gascony
Now, is this more satisfying?
Andy ;—)
a) It was influenced by the German(ic) word "gast" (guest, stranger)
b) It has something to do with Gascony
Now, is this more satisfying?
Andy ;—)
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That's an interesting trail - it does start to look a bit more convincing when you see it all laid out like that!
One thing that springs to mind: when the Romans colonised England, quite often the Gaelic-speaking populace, pressed into becoming servants, were given common Roman/Christian names that were similar to their Gaelic names. Thus Aine would be called Anne, or Aoife would be called Eve, etc. Something similar might be happening here: Vedastus isn't a name that translates into English, but Foster might have sounded similar enough that the English used it instead of Vedastus. The same might have happened between Vedastus and Gaston in French.
WDYT?
One thing that springs to mind: when the Romans colonised England, quite often the Gaelic-speaking populace, pressed into becoming servants, were given common Roman/Christian names that were similar to their Gaelic names. Thus Aine would be called Anne, or Aoife would be called Eve, etc. Something similar might be happening here: Vedastus isn't a name that translates into English, but Foster might have sounded similar enough that the English used it instead of Vedastus. The same might have happened between Vedastus and Gaston in French.
WDYT?
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Re:
Don't wanna be a thorn in a very productive discussion, but it wasn't the Roman invasion of England that made these changes.
The Roman Empire only encountered 'P' Celtic languages (Brythonic). The Gaelic (Goidelic) tongues were found in the (for once) uninvaded regions of Ireland and Scotland.
The changes of which you speak (Aine, Aoife, &c) came later, after Christianization of the continent was widespread and so were the great Irish religious scholars.
Post Rome, the closest the English and French came together was the invasion of the Normans.
Don't wanna be a thorn in a very productive discussion, but it wasn't the Roman invasion of England that made these changes.
The Roman Empire only encountered 'P' Celtic languages (Brythonic). The Gaelic (Goidelic) tongues were found in the (for once) uninvaded regions of Ireland and Scotland.
The changes of which you speak (Aine, Aoife, &c) came later, after Christianization of the continent was widespread and so were the great Irish religious scholars.
Post Rome, the closest the English and French came together was the invasion of the Normans.
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Re:
Ok, thanks :-) I knew I was oversimplifying! That's one bit of history I haven't covered very well in my studies.
Ok, thanks :-) I knew I was oversimplifying! That's one bit of history I haven't covered very well in my studies.
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Sounds convincing to me! Andy ;—)
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