Name of the Week

A long lost gem with mellifluous vowels,
now found more in the realm of fantasy medieval literature.

 

Origin:

A medieval form of the Anglo-Saxon name Mærwynn, composed of the Old English elements mǣre"famous, renowned, great, excellent, sublime, splendid," and wynn "joy, rapture, pleasure, delight, gladness."

Usage:

While Mærwynn was not especially common in Anglo-Saxon records, it was borne by a few notable women. One such bearer was Mærwynn, abbess of Romsey Abbey who was later created a saint. Legend has it that she was born in Ireland and educated by St Patrick. What we do know with some certainty is that she was appointed to the position of abbess by King Edgar the Peaceable in 967 AD and became a foster mother to St Ethelfleda. She is now known as St Merewenna (sometimes Merwenna or Merwinna).  Another Mærwynn is listed in the Domesday book as owning several acres of land in Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Norfolk and Essex. Her name is listed in the spellings Maruuen, Meruen and Meruena.  The name was still occasionally used in the 13th and 14th century, usually in the spellings Merewen, Merewina and Merwenna. In some cases these variants may be responsible for the surname Marvin.  The name all but died out after the 14th century and has been extremely rare in usage during 20th century. The handful of birth registrations in England and Wales demonstrate its rarity: 1929: Merwenna E.(England) 1947: Meriwen (Wales) 1967: Merewyn Joy (Wales) 1971: Merewyn (England) 1971: Merewyn Rachel (England) 1974: Merewyn Charlotte (England) 1974: Merewyn Clare (England) 1976: Merewyn Rosa (England) 1977: Merewyn Jane (England) 1977: Merewyn Katherine (England) 1979: Merewyn Eileen (England) 1982: Merewyn Alice (England) 1984: Merewen Alice (England)  2001: Merewyn Judith (England) 2004: Merewyn Anne (England) 2004: Merewenna May (England) As we can see, a small cluster of Merewyns were registered in the 1970s, most likely thanks to the popular historical novel Avalon by Anya Seton, published in 1965. The novel centres around Rumon and Merewyn and their ill-fated romance in the 10th century. Though the story is fictional, it does contain real historical characters (Merewyn is niece of Merwinna, Abbess of Romsey Abbey, for example).

Famous Bearers:

History: * St Merewenna (d.c.975), abbess of Romsey Abbey. Literature: * Merewyn, the heroine in Anya Seton's novel Avalon (1965). * Merewen, an artist in Kit Berry's Stonewylde series. * Merewen, a swordmaiden in Wayne Thomas Batson's The Door Within trilogy.

Variants:

Mærwynn, Merewina, Merewenna, Merwenna, Meriwenna

Pronunciation:

ME-rə-wen [key]

Possible  Diminutives:

Mena, Merry, Wenna, Winnie, Wren

Sibling Names:

Endelyn    Ailith     Ismay     Loveday     Liveva     Elissent  Cedric     Edgar     Aidric     Ceorl      Gervase     Caedmon

Name Lists:

Long Lost Rarities

 

If you like Merewen you may also like:   Melisande, Rosenwyn, Melusine, Sowenna, Morgelyn, Metheven, Morenwyn, Kinborough, Meliora, Magdelene

 

Thanks to Frigg for requesting Merewen.