What does Loveday mean?

When we were name brainstorming in the beginning we knew we wanted something Cornish, something with a warm, joyful energy to it, and, on a less romantic note, something you could spell on the phone. When we put ‘Loveday’ out to our opinionated group of advisors in the early days one friend said ‘it makes me think of big skies’ which made up our minds!

In days gone by, a Loveday (Leofdaeg, in old English - literally meaning ‘beloved day’) was a day appointed for a meeting between enemies with a view to settle disputes, come to peaceful agreements, and to heal rifts. They were such huge cultural events during the middle ages, that babies born on these days, or anniversaries of them, began being called Loveday in celebration.

They were designed to result in voluntary—and therefore amicable—settlements, regardless of who was legally in the right- making them extra appealing if the people involved wanted to avoid the crown sticking their oar in. There was usually a sort of mutually-agreed umpire appointed to get involved in the case of a deadlock. And here’s our favourite bit: the process often had a social aspect to it, like both parties dining together- suggestions and decisions being passed across the table along with the wine and bread.

One famous one is the Loveday held in 1458 between king henry VI and the Duke of York in an attempt to prevent civil war during the wars of the roses.

For one reason or another, this tradition really stuck in Cornwall, and so ‘Loveday’ grew Cornish roots- making it a pretty good fit for two old friends who were born and grew up here, creating a business revolving around bringing people together.

As a side note, it definitely seems Loveday is one of those old names that's having a revival- we keep meeting lots of baby and toddler Lovedays at festivals and events!