Jelbert Family History

see <me>Gilbert</me>. John <sn>Gylbert</sn> of Gulval (Cornwall) in 1524 may be the same man as John <sn>Jelbert</sn> in the same parish in 1545 (<src>Cornwall Subsidies</src>). This variation in pronunciation of the initial consonant of the surname is mostly found in Cornwall but is French in origin.

It reflects a dialectal distinction between Normans who came from northern Normandy where /g/ prevailed until the 13th century and Normans and Frenchmen from southern Normandy and central France where /g/ had long since been palatalized to /dʒ/, a sound often spelled <i>J - </i> in England.

For the same variation compare <xr>Giffard</xr> and <xr>Jefford</xr>.