Comments on: Name of the Day: Peregrine

By: Mystical Pippin

Mystical Pippin — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:55:41 +0000

I think that’s a great idea Kaye. I’m not particularly fond of Perry either as a nickname for Peregrine

By: Kaye

Kaye — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:07:53 +0000

I am actually not that fond of the nn “Perry”, but I have another idea. I would like to use “Peregrinne” for a girl and call her “Pippa”

By: Mystical Pippin

Mystical Pippin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:43:58 +0000

Geez Another OOPS! I was just reading your blog at the top of this page. And it’s not the century that I got wrong it was the wrong Pippin! I was referring to the “St. Peregrine” that lived in or around 100 AD. (that’s the 1st century right?) I mistakenly put down Pepin the Great but I meant the other guy because I knew the one I was thinking of lived sometime during the first century. I had read about him right after the first time I posted here. I just didn’t remember the right Pippin (or Pepin in this case)

By: Mystical Pippin

Mystical Pippin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:29:26 +0000

OOPS! I was relying on my memory in regards to the century for Pepin the Great. I guess I need to start taking some Ginko Biloba! Thanks for the kind words AppellationMountain. BTW – what made you choose that user name? Is it a place close to your heart?

By: appellationmountain

appellationmountain — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:50:29 +0000

I’m sorry to hear of your loss. And Pepin I was father to Charlemagne – which makes him the 8th century.

By: Mystical Pippin

Mystical Pippin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:58:22 +0000

correction to the above statement about Pepin the Great. It was the 1st century I believe and not the tenth. The years of this ruler were somewhere around 700 AD to 1100 AD. (I think)

By: Mystical Pippin

Mystical Pippin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:44:02 +0000

THANKS AM! Believe it or not this is the first times I’ve seen your response. I just came across it while managing my subscriptions. I think your right about them Perigrine/Pippin/Pepin integration. I don’t think it connected until much later after the name came about. And I also agree, in fact I’m almost sure that the nickname came about BEFORE – Tolkien made it a character’s nickname. I did find out that as far back as the original name goes it comes from Pepin the Great. Who was a ruler in the 10th century. I’m wondering now, if it’s really connected to the name Perigrine. I don’t think it is. And it’s still a mystery to me how Pippin became a nickname for Peregrine.
On a sad note, I lost my darling girl Pippin to heart disease last August. She gave me 13 years of fun, entertainment, companionship, furballs and most importantly unconditional love. I miss her everyday. There will never be another like her and out connection was so special. I have one left – her son who is 12. He is a comfort somewhat…..

By: appellationmountain

appellationmountain — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:41:36 +0000

I think – and this really is a guess – that, as you suggest, Peregrine and Pippin don’t share the same roots, but became linked at some later point. There are many words meaning seed or small that are linked to pip (pepita in Spanish, pippolo in Italian, the Old French pepin) and, of course, Pip is sometimes used as a short form for Philip, too. If the word meant small, well, Pip/Pippin is a logical nickname for your kiddo with the long name.

There were early Medieval kings Pepin and Pippin, and Pepin persists as a surname. (Think chef Jacques Pepin.) Some link Pepin to the word for small; others connect it to an Old French word for trembling; some just list the origins as unknown.

It’s possible that Pergerin/Pippin were first linked by Tolkien, but I suspect that’s not the case. My best bet is that Pepin/Pippin was frequently Latinized as Peregrine, once upon a time, creating the link. Or maybe someone prominent in his day – but as yet undiscovered by my research – was known commonly as Pepin/Pippin but answered to Peregrine … I’ll have to keep digging.

I’ll keep my eyes open, and please let me know if you hear anything. I’m sure we’re missing SOMETHING!

By: mystical pippin

mystical pippin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:32:15 +0000

One mystery, I would LOVE to clear up. I cannot find anywhere on the net or in history books how did the nickname of Pippin come about. I know that there are comments here about “Perry” being a nickname for Peregrine but that has only been around since the 20th century. My research has taught me that the name Pippin dates back as far as the 1st century but had no connection with Peregrine. the farthest back I could find it as a nickname was 1600′s – during that time Falconry was very popular among aristocrats and royal families. What I would really like to know is how & when exactly it became pippin.

I spoke with a lady on the phone in the early 90′s. Her family were patients at my employer’s practise. Her young sons name was Peregrine. I asked her if she used the nickname Pippin. She said yes sometimes but she preferred using his full name… She told me he was named after a deceased relative on her husbands side and that he had served in the service of the Royal family when he was alive. (this was sometime during the 1800′s she said) I believe Tolkien was born in the 1800′s… He began writting LOTR during WWI not finishing it until after WWII. He wrote the Hobbit after that but published it first.

By: mystical pippin

mystical pippin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:35:59 +0000

I LOVE the name Peregrine! I think it sounds very distinguished. I especially love the nickname Pippin. I first read Lord of the Rings in 1968. (The character “Pippin” has a formal name of “Peregrine Took”) and waited many many years and a lot of cats to
give that name to. When I did, I knew it the instant I saw her and she has lived up to the name!My Pippin is now 13 years old. The longest I have ever had a cat!