Tam Lin Balladry

A website of folklore and discovery.

Minor Variations in Tam Lin

Names, Places, and Transformations

Tracking Minor Variations Across Versions

Numbers refer to version numbers assigned in this website. See list to the side for reference

Please note that some version numbers may occur more than once within any one set, as shifts can occur within a particular version as well as between versions

The Name of the Male Protagonist

Name version
Tam-a-line 7
Tam-a-lyn or Tam o' the Lyn 21
Tam Blain 46
Tam Lane or Tamlane 8, 9, 12, 29, 43
Tamlene 5
Tam-a-lin 25, 39
Tam Lin, Tamlin or Tam-Lin 1, 5, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 44
Tam Lien 12
Tamlyn 19
Tammas or True Tammas 12, 23
Thos 33
Tomlin 4
Tom Line 2
Thomas or True Thomas 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 12
Unnamed 34, 41, 45
Young lord Robinson 13
Young Tambling 26
The Name of the Female Protagonist
Name Version
Janet or Fair Janet 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 22, 24, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 46
Jennet 3
Margaret or Lady Margaret 5, 7, 12, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 31, 34, 45
Margeret 6
Marget 11
Margret 4
May Margery 15, 27
Unnamed 10, 13, 17, 33, 39, 41

The Name of the Woods

Where do Janet and Tam Lin first meet?

Name Version
Carterhaugh 1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 14, 17, 20, 24, 27, 29, 35, 36, 40, 42, 43, 44
Cartershay 15
Carter hall 16, 17, 30, 32, 39
Charteris ha 5
Charters Woods 7, 11, 23
Chasers Wood 19, 21, 28
Chaster's wood 4
Cauterhaugh 38
Chester wood 6
Club 41
Elphick Glen 31
Gordon's wood 46
Green Wod 45
Kertonha 3, 37
Kirk-yard 6
Merry green wood 22, 25, 34
Moorcartney wood 10
Unnamed 26

The Name of the Rescue Location

Janet is instructed by Tam Lin to wait for him where the Faerie troop will pass by. Some of the names given for this location are:

Name Version
Aucht-Mile-Brig 45
Bells port 33
Blackning Cross 8
Backstock 5
Carden's stream or ha 12
Chester bridge 6
Court 41
Crickmagh 13
Crossroads (unspecified) 25
Kirk yard 39
Miles Cross
(alt. Miles Moss or Miles-corse)
1, 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 40, 42, 43
Old Mill Bridge or Mill Bridge 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 34
Rides Cross 4
Unnamed 38

The Transformations

Janet must hold onto Tam Lin while he is transformed into a variety of creatures or objects either frightening or difficult to hold. There are usually multiple transformations in each version. Since multiple types of terminology are used across versions, different words for the same creature have been combines (ex: adder and snake).

I have not included 'Naked Man' in this tally, as I'm interpreting that as meaning the transformations are over, and not something intended to scare Janet away.

Creature Version
ass (donkey) 6
adder, snake, or ether 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 45
beast 15, 16
bear 1, 14, 27, 32, 40, 42, 44, 45
deer 7, 24
dove 3, 9, 29, 37, 43
eagle 6
eel 3, 9, 29
ask, esk, eft, knute, or newt 1, 3, 14, 16, 18, 33, 43
gleed, coal, or fire 1, 6, 7, 9, 11, 16, 22, 31, 38, 39, 42, 43, 46
greyhound or dog 2, 5, 19, 21, 22, 28
ice 12, 31, 39
burning iron or gaud of airn 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 37, 45, 46
melting or burning lead 15, 20, 32
lion 1, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 40, 44
loser 41
peregrine 38
pimp 41
savage 4
savage creature 25
silken string 7
swan 3, 9, 29, 37, 43
toad 3, 9, 29, 36
victim 41
wild bird 13
wolf 7, 25, 37, 38, 44
worm 5, 13