Arthurian legend

[castlebob]

Hello All,
In my search for Armstrongs on both sides of the border, I've noticed several with the christian name Lancelot. Is this a name peculiar to the border Armstrong families, or is it well used by others in the region?
I understand that many claim King Arthur for the region, so that may well account for the name.
Any views to add?
Cheers
Bob

[GeoffE]

My thoughts immediately went to Lance ARMSTRONG, the seven time Tour de France winner, but in fact he only took the name ARMSTRONG when his stepfather adopted him. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_Armstrong

I guess it just illustrates the part that coincidence can play in these matters.

[castlebob]

True, Geoff
You can't take any naming patterns for granted. I was following a branch of American Armstrongs & saw several had very unusual (to me) christian names. I instantly thought it must be a family thing, however, after much work, I found that every other family in the Carolinas had those names in their pedigrees, too. It turned out the names were of some heroes in their Revolutionary War!
Cheers
Bob

[claireandsi]

I also have a few Lancelots in my family - my gt gt grandfather was Lancelot Walker, named for his grandfather Lancelot Allinson, in turn named for his father.  It has been used as a middle name in more recent generations, but seems to have died out now.  I did suggest it as a possible name for my newborn nephew, but it didn't go down too well!!

It doesn't seem to have been too uncommon a name in Cumberland - while browsing censuses for various family members I have seen quite a few others.

Claire

[castlebob]

Thanks for that, Claire,
I was hoping it would be a name peculiar to the lineage I was following - it would have made tracing them back a lot easier!
Cheers,
Bob

[bobgraham]

Mmm! It's late. I've had a couple so you need to check this.
There was an american professor (female if memory serves me right) who has written a book based on Longtown as the centre of the Arthurian legend.
The church at Arthuret is the only one in britain without a parish of the same name and (I forget the details) she has identified several local names/areas as corresponding to the legend.
Also there are local legends about an arthurian giant buried and a "round table" near Penrith and a "Grune Point" near Silloth and an Arthurian parliament at Carlisle.
These are in addition to Mrs Professors thesis.
bob

[GeoffE]

What Bob said reminded me of the existence of this thread - it may (or not) contain something relevant-

http://cumbriafhs.com/smfmsgbrd/index.php?topic=1181.0

[emmsthheight]

Hi all

Would you r book be:

"History on the Edge: Excalibur and the borders of Britain 1100-1300"

Author Michelle Warren, Publisher University of Monnessota, May 2000.

ISBN-10: 0816634920
ISBN-13: 978-0816634927 .

No, I haven't read it, I did a search on it.  Out of stock, £20 - Library request if it's liable to be useful?

Emms