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Thomas Beckett.
What did the 'a' stand for in Thomas a Beckett. I know the 'a' is no longer
used because of dubious origins. But I just wondered because his name
recently came up on a quiz on the telly.
used because of dubious origins. But I just wondered because his name
recently came up on a quiz on the telly.
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I found this, not sure how true it is.
Thomas Becket was never called "Thomas a Becket" during his life, nor for many hundreds of years after his death. It is a later mistake and should be treated as such.
He was born in England in 1118 of noble Norman parents; his father was Gilbert Becket, who was possibly sheriff of London. Thomas was most often called "Thomas of London" during the early part of his life.
In Anglo-Norman French, the language he would have used among his own family, the word a can mean at, in, located in, on, against, around, to, as far as, towards
. . . and many more prepositional meanings. If he had been Thomas a Becket, then the element Becket would have to be a place-name, in order for the a to make any sense.
The problem is that there is not (and has never been) a place in England called Becket, so Thomas a Becket is not a sensible or feasible name for anyone to have.
He was plain Thomas Becket and that is how he should be known everywhere today.
Thomas Becket was never called "Thomas a Becket" during his life, nor for many hundreds of years after his death. It is a later mistake and should be treated as such.
He was born in England in 1118 of noble Norman parents; his father was Gilbert Becket, who was possibly sheriff of London. Thomas was most often called "Thomas of London" during the early part of his life.
In Anglo-Norman French, the language he would have used among his own family, the word a can mean at, in, located in, on, against, around, to, as far as, towards
. . . and many more prepositional meanings. If he had been Thomas a Becket, then the element Becket would have to be a place-name, in order for the a to make any sense.
The problem is that there is not (and has never been) a place in England called Becket, so Thomas a Becket is not a sensible or feasible name for anyone to have.
He was plain Thomas Becket and that is how he should be known everywhere today.
Many surnames are derived from place names. Originally the place name would have been preceded by 'of', 'de' or 'à'.
Someone seems to have falsely assumed that Thomas Beckett's name would have been 'Thomas à Beckett', presumably on the assumption that he (or, more likely, one of his paternal ancestors) might have come from either Beckett in Berkshire or Beckett in Devon.
Chris
Someone seems to have falsely assumed that Thomas Beckett's name would have been 'Thomas à Beckett', presumably on the assumption that he (or, more likely, one of his paternal ancestors) might have come from either Beckett in Berkshire or Beckett in Devon.
Chris
Thankyou everyone, I didn't expect so many answers. I went to St. Thomas's
primary school named after the famous fellow. We even had a school song that went something like this:- Many, many years ago in Canterbury town,
there lived a famous man of God, a man of great renown...
Why is it that we can often remember things from years and years ago
but not remember what we did half hour ago?
primary school named after the famous fellow. We even had a school song that went something like this:- Many, many years ago in Canterbury town,
there lived a famous man of God, a man of great renown...
Why is it that we can often remember things from years and years ago
but not remember what we did half hour ago?
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