MOVIE: Draco MalFOY

[Wanda Sherratt]

No: HPFGUIDX 28320

Yes, you're right about the French meaning of Malfoy, and in modern 
French it would be pronounced "malFWAH". In early French, a "y" often 
took the place of an "i", so the spelling would have been correct, 
though the pronunciation would have changed a bit over the 
centuries.  JKR manages to weave two ideas into her use of this name. 
 There is the literal meaning of "bad faith", and also the historical 
and cultural resonance such a name would have among the English.  
After the Norman Conquest in 1066, the nobility of England was French, 
ruling over a conquered Saxon people.  To an English ear, a name like 
"Malfoy" would indicate that the family is very ancient (still holding 
on to the 11th century spelling) and also aristocratic, a descendant 
of the nobles who accompanied William the Conqueror.  This contrasts 
the Malfoy family very nicely with the homely, Saxon-sounding names of 
Potter and Weasley.

Actually, a name like Gilderoy would have also fallen into this 
pattern, but I don't think JKR was using it to get the same message 
across.  I think it is meant to make us think of "gilded", in the 
sense of painted and prettified, and maybe also a reference to 
Lockhart's blond hair.  In French this wouldn't have been the case, it 
would have been a corrupted spelling of "Gilles de Roy", or "The 
King's Man, William".  Not at all the meaning of the name in the book.

Wanda




-
> 
> I think this also has canon evidence, insofar as "Malfoy" means "bad 
faith"
> or some other ilk. In French, it would be "Malfoi", which is 
pronounced
> malFWAH.
> 
> Thoughts?
>