Phonetic evolution

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- Two gothic parts constitute the name HOUDRY {1}: "hold" means gothic and "hari" means army. Its phonetic evolution is as follows {2,3,4}.

- The roman prototype was "uldericus". The initial pretonic element disappeared and the popular roman form [*oldrikus] appeared. In the IVth century, the intervocalic [c] voiced and gave the form [*oldrigus]. It degenerated during the VIth century, [g] became a gamma and the tone of the final vowel became almost as "o": the form [*oldrigos] appeared. In the VIIth century, the final "o" was no longer audible in the form [*oldrigs]. In the IXth century, the final compound [gs] also disappeared and the name became as [*oldri]. Then the form evolved in [u(l)dri] by the vocalization of the velar "l" before the "d".

- Genealogical searches have been conducted by the authors in the French area called "Brie des Morins" (approximately between the towns of Coulommiers and La Ferté-Gaucher in the departement of Seine-et-Marne near Paris). The old writing HOULDRY has been found in the oldest registers for the two following catholic parishes: St-Rémy-de-la-Vanne and Jouy-sur-Morin.

- For this area at least, HOUDRY was (and is) always written with an initial H and a final Y. The initial H sometimes disappears eastwards or westwards. The final Y never disappears.


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