Honorifics for peasants and commoners

[magycmyste]

Ok, I've started work on another of my projects - this one set in an alternate world that is mostly generic fantasy (i.e. medieval Europe) with a backstory based on the fall of Atlantis and Ancient Greece.

Does anybody know any honorifics used in either medieval Europe or Ancient Greece (or modern Greece, for that matter? I could work with that) to address commoners, peasants, or basically people without any real standing or nobility? I feel like I overuse sir,madam, and ma'am. I'm looking for something to replace Mr. and Mrs. in modern usage.

The very specific situation I'm looking at right now involves a group of three of my main characters (T, F, and A). A and F are keeping an old woman busy while T is treating her husband of an illness). I'm trying to figure out how A and F would address the old woman politely (so "Old Lady!" is pretty much out.

This feels like something I ought to know (well, for medieval European-style fantasy, anyway), and have probably seen in books before, but I'm completely blanking out now.

Thanks in advance for the help!

EDIT: Wow, thanks for al the help, guys! I think I've got what I need for this now. Whoo!!

Comments

[paganpaul]

Right, was I not awake or so when I first replied...
Something that was common in the Dutch middle ages, was that people of lower standing were addressed as he or she, instead of a title like sir, or as 'you'.
So if a person rather well-off would address e.g. a barber, he'd say: "Can he shave me?" No other words were used then.

People of similar ranking would call each other 'man' or 'woman', not sir or madam.

[magycmyste]

hehe, I've done that a few times....

Interesting... the group here is really sort of a traveling band... they all have histories in higher places, but none of them were really brought up there. Except for A - she was originally a military girl. The old woman they're talking to is really more of a client, I guess.

Would people of similar ranking actually address each other as "man" or "woman"? I might be thinking by today's standards, but it seems as though it would be awfully rude to address an acquaintance that way if you already know who they are.

Hope you don't mind the extra questions...

[paganpaul]

In medieval Europe, most "lower people" would not have last names, so they would call each other by first name if they knew each other. (Last names were introduced when Napoleon took charge.)

So you'd be stuck with first names if they know each other, or sir/master/fellow/friend for strange men, and lady/mistress/friend/ma'am/madame for unknown women, I'd say.

And do ask. Asking never made one dumber. ;)

[magycmyste]

::nod:: Now that makes sense to me. Thanks for answering!

[dragonjournal]

I'd use something like "Grandmother" or "Mother" or some sort of familial word. It used to be a great sign of respect (and still is today in some cultures) acknowledging her age, and her wisdom.

[magycmyste]

Ooh, that sounds excellent for this situation.... something along those lines.... Thanks!

[lea_hazel]

In the fantasy books I read, it's usually Mistress for a commoner, from when it was the common feminine counterpart to Master. For an old woman, I'd use Grandmother, though. It's less common, but it's meant to denote respect for the elders.

[magycmyste]

That's it! Mistress and Master were the terms I was blanking out on! Though, like you said, Grandmother probably is more appropriate here.

Although, now, I'm still tempted to try to make up a couple of terms based on those.

Thanks!

[bliumchik]

My first thought was stuff like yeoman, but for an old lady, hmm... which part of medieval Europe? Do you have any particular objection to frau?

Actually I agree with the commenter who mentioned Mistress, that'd do fine.

.,..why am I typing all this, I just did a google search and this was the first result: http://elizabethan.org/compendium/37.html

[magycmyste]

::nod:: Mistress and Master were the terms I was blanking out one. Although, according to the link you found, only those of gentle birth were addressed as Master and Mistress (granted, I'm pretty sure other fantasies have taken liberties with that). Out of curiosity, what search terms did you use? I tried "honorific" and got almost nothing. I wasn't sure what other terms to use.

I'm still tempted to make up addresses here for them to use, but I think Mistress/Master will do for now.

Thanks!

[bliumchik]

I just typed in medieval terms of address :P

In context I have only seen master used for the young son of a lord, who can't be called lord or sir yet, but I have seen mistress used for random women, notably in Discworld... you're probably good :P

[havocthecat]

I'm not sure what the answer would be (or if anyone that has already commented has helped), but I find that if I use the Society for Creative Anachronism's links page as a starting point, I can get a LOT of good information.

[magycmyste]

Ooh, thanks for that idea! I think I've got what I need, but I'll keep that in mind for future.