Gwenllian Froste
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 Gwenllian Froste at her first bardic circle, AS 59 | ||||||||||||
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| Coming soon! Very excited |
Gwenllian is a newcomer to the SCA, hailing from the barony of Lions Gate - though she has also been seen far afield.
Etymology & Origins
Gwenllian is the standard spelling of common Welsh name. First recorded as the name of a 12th c. princess consort of Wales, it combines gwen (fair, white, blessed) and llian (flaxen).[1] By the 16th century, the name had migrated across the border (though English chroniclers typically rendered it as 'Welthian' during this period).[2] Froste is an English surname. It evolved from a descriptive name, derived from the Old English ‘forst’, for those with white hair or a 'cold' disposition.[3]
Persona
Gwenllian is a minor noble from 16th century Wales, with family connections at the English court. Henry VII having been Welsh, there were many Welsh courtiers in Tudor England.[4] Unfortunately, her husband passed away shortly after their marriage - now that the mourning period has elapsed, she is gradually returning to society.
SCA Life
In her short time in the SCA, Gwenllian has become a regular at dance practice, and can also often be found trying not to curse over her sewing at the althing. Her first major event was the 2024 Sealion War. There, she participated in her first bardic circle, composing a filk on the fly.
A few months later, fate brought her to Les Beltaines XXXV in the East Kingdom. The kind souls there loaned her the gear necessary to participate in the archery tournament. (She did not cover herself in glory, but was pleased to have at least hit the target).
Interests
A relative newcomer, Gwenllian is currently afflicted with Eureka Syndrome - the interests she has pursued so far include sewing, dancing, singing, and researching Tudor England.
- ↑ S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2023, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2023/1/name/Gwenllian’
- ↑ Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada (Kathleen M. O'Brien), Naming Practices in 16th Century Gloucestershire: Welsh Influences. https://medievalscotland.org/kmo/GlocNamePractices/WelshInfluences.shtml#Femin ine
- ↑ S. L. Uckelman, Dictionary of Tudor London Names. https://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/tudorlondon.pdf
- ↑ T. J. Pierce, HENRY VII (1457 - 1509), king of England. Dictionary of Welsh Biography (1959). https://biography.wales/article/s-HENR-KIN-1457