Variants of the Name Pierres Vedel in Historical Documentation
Although the name Pierres Vedel is now widely accepted when referring to this remarkable 16th-century Renaissance architect, historical records and scholarly works reveal a variety of spellings for both his first name and surname. These differences reflect the linguistic conventions, transcription practices, and interpretative choices of different periods and authors.
Based on the research published by Javier Ibáñez Fernández in Arquitectura aragonesa del siglo XVI. Propuestas de renovación en tiempos de Hernando de Aragón (1539–1575) (Institución Fernando el Católico – IET, 2005), we can identify the following variations:
First Name Variants
-
Pieris
Found in all existing records in the Parish Archive of Santa Eulalia del Campo. -
Pierri
Cited as “maestre Pierri” in the Cathedral Archive of Albarracín, Factory Book (1556). -
Pierris
Documented in the Diocesan Archive of Teruel (Cabreo of 1566) and in the Provincial Historical Archive of Teruel, protocol of Jaime Hernández (1575). -
Pierriz
Appears in the National Historical Archive in Madrid. Referenced in García Guereta (1926) and transcribed in Ibáñez Fernández (2002). -
Pierre
Common in 19th-century and early 20th-century French literature (e.g., Richard et Quetin, Grandeffe, Imbert, Roswag, Germond de Lavigne, Pitollet). -
Pierres
The most frequent and currently accepted variant. Found in archival documents and scholarly sources from the 16th century to the present (e.g., Ponz, Llaguna y Amirola, Blasco Val, Mélida, Corella, Muñoz Garrido, Ibáñez Fernández). -
Pedro
A rare Spanish adaptation found in some references by authors such as Larrea, Saviron, and Madoz. -
Quinto Pierres
First recorded in 1951 by Martín Almagro Basch due to a misinterpretation of the abbreviation qº (for quondam, Latin for "deceased"). Despite the error, this form was widely adopted by later scholars (e.g., Sebastián, Martínez Verón).
Surname Variants
Surname variations are less numerous but equally notable:
-
Vedel
The most widely recognized form today. Though uncommon before the mid-20th century, it is now the preferred spelling in scholarly literature. -
Bedel
Frequently used in earlier documents and publications (e.g., Llaguna y Amirola, Blasco Val, Saviron, Roswag, Germond de Lavigne). -
Bédel
Appears occasionally in French texts (e.g., Richard et Quetin, 1853). -
De Bedel
A less common form including the preposition “de,” used by some 20th-century authors such as A. Sanz Serrano and García Guereta. -
Latinized Forms
Medieval and early modern documents sometimes record the name as Vedellus, Vedelli, Vitulus, or Vituli, in keeping with Latin naming conventions of the time.
Conclusion
This review of the various forms in which Pierres Vedel has been named highlights both the richness of the documentary sources and the evolving nature of historical and linguistic interpretation. Despite these variations, the name Pierres Vedel has been solidified in current academic discourse as the standard reference, honoring his legacy with both historical fidelity and scholarly clarity.