This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Guinevere f. Proto-Celtic *windo 'white' + Proto-Celtic *sēbro 'demon, spectre'.

The name of the beloved of Arthur in the Arthurian legends which were extremely popular in many forms in the Middle Ages.

England
Latin
● 1340xc1450 Guenhowar (nom) CovGuild-1 p. 6
Early Modern English
● 1559 Gwenhwyvar RegSASel p. 5; 1560 Gwenhwyvar ibid. p. 5
Italy
Latin
● 1522x1532 Genefra (nom) DSF p. 51, 24; 1527 Ginevra (nom) Rome1527 p. 86
Wales
Welsh
● 1560 Gwenhoyver RegCon1 p. 19; 1582 Gaynor ibid. p. 36; 1590 Gainor ibid. p. 59; 1595 Gainor ibid. p. 73
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Guinevere". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2016, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2016/3/name/Guinevere.