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ArchivesRe: Anaïs
in reply to a message by clevelandkentevans
I did find some Italian sources about Anaïs de Brienne, who was called “the flower of Syria”: Anaïs di Brienne, il 'fiore di Siria'. It does seem however that her paternity is uncertain, as she was simply described as “a cousin of Yolande de Brienne”.
https://www.afsu.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/F.-Eugeni_Bollettino-AFSU-Vol.II-2_17-30.pdf
As for her name, if she was indeed a member of the house of Brienne, then perhaps her name was one of the many variants of Adelaide / Adelais / Alix / Aelis used in that family. Or perhaps even a form of Agnes, since that was the name of her (supposed) grandmother. But many medieval names have origins that were lost in time (Eleanor is a good example), so it might well have been any name of Germanic/Latin/Greek origin.
http://racineshistoire.free.fr/LGN/PDF/Brienne.pdf
https://www.afsu.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/F.-Eugeni_Bollettino-AFSU-Vol.II-2_17-30.pdf
As for her name, if she was indeed a member of the house of Brienne, then perhaps her name was one of the many variants of Adelaide / Adelais / Alix / Aelis used in that family. Or perhaps even a form of Agnes, since that was the name of her (supposed) grandmother. But many medieval names have origins that were lost in time (Eleanor is a good example), so it might well have been any name of Germanic/Latin/Greek origin.
http://racineshistoire.free.fr/LGN/PDF/Brienne.pdf
This message was edited 4/5/2024, 11:03 AM
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Replies
I am skeptical of Anaïs being derived from Anahita as well, since names of deities were not commonly used in medieval times.
Instead, I agree with SugarPlumFairy's theory - it may be derived from Agnes. I came across a record of Old French names brought to England by the Normans, and these spellings look quite similar to Anaïs (source: http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/showfinal.cgi/3009.txt).
* Annais 1218
* Annas 1194
* Anneis 1154x89
* Annes 1170x76
Also, compare how Agnes was recorded in medieval England (source: https://dmnes.org/name/Agnes).
1418 Anneys
1419–20 Anneys
1424–25 Anneys
1431 Anneys
1432–33 Anneys
1434 Aneys, Anys
1436 Anneys
1438 Anneys
Additionally, it was also recorded as Anes in Paris in 1292 (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/1292paris.pdf).
Anaïs de Brienne was likely named after her supposed grandmother, Agnes. Perhaps the name was later popularized in Occitania as it was conflated with Anna, just like Magali is regarded as a form of both Magdalene and Marguerite. Alongside this, the spelling may have been influenced by other Occitan names like Adalaís, Aélis, Alays, Alazaïs...
I also think the opera helped boost Anaïs' popularity, but as a pseudo-Greek name before the "original" etymology was reclaimed.
I really hope this helps! :)
Instead, I agree with SugarPlumFairy's theory - it may be derived from Agnes. I came across a record of Old French names brought to England by the Normans, and these spellings look quite similar to Anaïs (source: http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/showfinal.cgi/3009.txt).
* Annais 1218
* Annas 1194
* Anneis 1154x89
* Annes 1170x76
Also, compare how Agnes was recorded in medieval England (source: https://dmnes.org/name/Agnes).
1418 Anneys
1419–20 Anneys
1424–25 Anneys
1431 Anneys
1432–33 Anneys
1434 Aneys, Anys
1436 Anneys
1438 Anneys
Additionally, it was also recorded as Anes in Paris in 1292 (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/1292paris.pdf).
Anaïs de Brienne was likely named after her supposed grandmother, Agnes. Perhaps the name was later popularized in Occitania as it was conflated with Anna, just like Magali is regarded as a form of both Magdalene and Marguerite. Alongside this, the spelling may have been influenced by other Occitan names like Adalaís, Aélis, Alays, Alazaïs...
I also think the opera helped boost Anaïs' popularity, but as a pseudo-Greek name before the "original" etymology was reclaimed.
I really hope this helps! :)
4
How interesting! Thank you for sharing.
I think we need to keep in mind that Agnes and Anaïs are pronounced ahnn-yes and ah-nah-ees is French (approximately, I can't explain it better). So they are more similar than you would think by first looking at them. I can easily see how they might be related.
I think we need to keep in mind that Agnes and Anaïs are pronounced ahnn-yes and ah-nah-ees is French (approximately, I can't explain it better). So they are more similar than you would think by first looking at them. I can easily see how they might be related.
5