The personal name Henri in the Peterborough Chronicle, 1086–1154: Forms of integration and adaptation

The given name Henry, of Continental Germanic origin, was exported to England in its Franchified (Normanised) form after the Conquest. In the last sections of the Peterborough Chronicle (annals for 1086 to 1154) the name appears with reference to Henry I of England, to his nephew Henry II, to Bishop Henry of Blois, to Peterborough Abbot Henry of St Jean d’Angély and even to Emperor Henry V (1081-1125). It is written in various forms: lexically adapted as Heanric and Henric in the 1086-1087 entries; as Heanrig, Henrig, used by the scribe of the late inherited annals, who was still faithful to Old English graphemics; as Heanri, Henri, which became the prevailing form in the 1121-1154 Continuations. These solutions may point to the different original scribes, who wrote at different times, and were influenced by different historical/political circumstances and views. Probably, at the time when the Continuations were composed, Henri was becoming a popular name among the Anglo-Norman elite and the English inhabitants of the kingdom; and therefore also a more regular, French-based spelling was introduced. The name became progressively naturalised in the English linguistic and cultural landscape within c. 70 years and was also used to render cognate names, such as Heinrich.