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

Genevieve f. Gothic kuni, Proto-Germanic *kunja 'kin, family' + Proto-Germanic *wība 'woman, wife'.

The name of a 5th-6th C patron saint of Paris and of a heroine in medieval legend.

This name was most popular in France, but can also be found in England.

England
Latin
◑ 1222 Geva (gen) StPaulDom p. 26, Geve (gen) ibid. p. 25
France
Latin
● c823 Genovefa (nom) irminon-vol2 9, Palatiolum; 1270 Genovefa (nom) NDParisII 2-XLI; 1273 Genovefa (nom) ibid. 2-XLIII
Old French
● 1296 Genevieve paris1296 p. 10; 1313 Genevieve Paris1313 p. 24, Jenevieve ibid. p. 44
◑ 1296 Genevote paris1296 p.54
Middle French
● 1455 Genevieve HRAVP-3 p. 354; 1565 Geneviesve RegPCC-1 p. 155, Genevièfe ibid. p. 193; 1568 Genevièfe ibid. p. 396; 1587 Geneviefve RTFProvins 257
◑ 1421 Genevote favier 908
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Genevieve". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2018, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2018/1/name/Genevieve.