Julia P. Szent-Györgyi
eastern.crown@eastkingdom.org

January 31, 2006

Unto the East Kingdom College of Heralds and all others who receive this letter, greetings from Kolosvari Arpadne Julia, Eastern Crown Herald! This is the Letter of Decision for the Internal Letter of Intent dated 7 Oct 2005, and contains 33 numbered items.

Commentary was received from Alys, Arval, Aryanhwy, Brunissende, Cnut, Deiniol, Drueta, Erlan, Istvan, Jaelle, Lyle, Margaret, Marti, and Scolastica. An immense thank you to every commenter. Without you, none of this could get done.

Special thanks to Istvan Blue Tyger for all his assistance in figuring out how things work in this job, to Jaelle of Armida for her advice and comments, and to Kolozsvári Árpád for putting up with the late nights and general neglect of household duties.

The original submission information from the ILoI is in boldface, and my discussion and extra information follows in normal text. I have not remarked on simple spelling corrections in blazons, but more material changes are noted.


1 Benjamin d'Orb (m) - Resub Device returned
Argent, on a cross [type?] gules between in chief two crossbows azure, a heart Or.

No major changes.

The submitter's name was registered in February 2004. The submitter's previous device, 'Argent, on a fillet cross formy gules between two crossbows in chief and two cinquefoils in base azure a heart Or' was returned on the East Kingdom September 2004 LoR for using an unidentifiable form of cross and for having a high complexity count.

This must again be returned for using an unidentifiable form of cross: as drawn, it is neither a plain Latin cross nor a Latin cross formy, but somewhere in between. It bears some resemblance to the "cross pattée concave" that was returned as a modern charge on the March 2004 LoAR (Gabriel de Morland, R-Outlands): "This cross has ends that are straight throughout most of their length, and flare out only at the very ends of the arm. As far as we are aware, period crosses formy flare out along the entirety of their length." [The blazon on the ILoI read "Argent on a cross gule a heart Or between two crossbow azure in chief."]


2 Brianna McBain - New Household Name returned
Submitted Name: Clan McBain

The submitter's name was registered in October 1994.

A letter was attached from Hughston McBain, the (real-life) 21st chief of Clan McBain, granting his permission for the submitter to use the clan name within the SCA context.

The letter of permission is irrelevant per precedent. (See Norrey Acadamie of Armorie, 12/92, R-Trimaris.) If there is a modern "Clan MacBain", and said clan is deemed important enough to protect, then the name must be returned for presumption. Laurel has generally considered all modern clans to be important enough to protect, so this must be returned. Adding a modifier not used by the modern clan (such as an adjective, in appropriate form--ECH is not an expert in the subject) should clear the appearance of presumption.


3 Collin Monro of Tadcaster (m) - Resub Name forwarded & Resub Device forwarded
Argent, a pithon and on a chief sable three Maltese crosses argent.

No major changes.

The submitter's original name submission, 'Collin Monroe' and identical device submission appeared on the East Kingdom April 2004 ILoI. The name was returned by Eastern Crown for conflict with 'Colin Munro', registered in November of 2000 (via Atlantia). The device was returned for a subsequent lack of a valid name submission. 'Collin' - dated to the 16th century s.n. 'Colin' in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names by E. G. Withycombe. 'Monroe' - listed variant of s.n. 'Munro' in The Surnames of Scotland by George F. Black. 'Tadcaster' - a town located in Northern Yorkshire England. It was the locale for one of the decisive battles fought during the War of the Roses.

Submitted as Collin Monroe of Tadcaster, the spelling has been changed to better match the documentation. The spelling Monroe appears to be the modern form of this name; period cites include de Monro several times in the 14-15c. in Black s.n. Munro.

Commenters could find no evidence in Withycombe for the spelling Collin as a period given name. However, Black s.n. Colin shows Collen 1646, and R&W s.n. Collin have John Collin 1221, which is very likely an unmarked patronymic. Watts p. 598 under Tadcaster dates the header spelling "from 1269" (meaning from that date forward). The no-photocopy sources cite only early forms: Mills has Tatecastre 1086, and Ekwall adds Tathecastre c. 1150 and Tadecastre 1212 (s.n. Tadcaster in both).


4 Cristoforo Donatello dei Visconti - Resub Device returned
Purpure, a plate between in pall three bees heads to center Or and in pall inverted three needles points to center argent.

The submitter's name was registered in February 2004. The submitter's previous device, 'Purpure, a plate between three bees in pall heads to center Or all within a bordure of three angles each composed of two needles, one needle of each pair having its point enfiled of the eye of the other' was returned on the East Kingdom July 2004 LoR.

The submitter's name was registered in February 2005, not 2004 as stated on the ILoI. The submitter's previous device submission was returned at kingdom for using an unblazonable and unreproducible arrangement of charges. The current submission fixes this problem.

However, as drawn, the plate, bees, and needles are all roughly the same size, which violates RfS VIIII.1 by having three or more types of charge in a single charge group. The submitter declined to have it redrawn with a larger plate, which would have made it a primary charge surrounded by two types of secondaries. (The plate-primary design appears to be clear of conflicts, though there are many registrations that are exactly two CDs away.) Therefore, this must be returned. [The blazon on the ILoI read: "Purpure in center a plate between two and one bees Or and one and two needles argent, all pointing to center."]


5 Cristoforus de Hastings (m) - New Name forwarded & New {or Resub?} Device returned
Per bend argent and sable, a cross humetty sable and a cat's head cabossed argent.

The client requests authenticity for 12th to 14th century English. 'Cristoforus' - variation of 'Christopher'. The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names by E. G. Withycombe pp 65-66 dated to poll tax in 1379. 'Hastings' - settlement on Sussex coast (England) well-established by 1066, still exists today.

Something very much like this device appeared on the East's February 2005 ILoI: "Per bend sable and argent a cross sable in dexter base a cat head cabosted argent" . It was listed under "Christopher Scott", but there was apparently neither a submitted nor a previously registered name to go with the device. It was therefore returned for lack of a name, with some style notes. (This earlier design had a rather skinny cross throughout in the white portion, and a very underfed cat's head in the black portion.)

Submitted as Cristoforus of Hastings. Watts s.n. Hastings has Hastinges 1086-1428, Hasting 12th-16th c., and Hastyngs 1342, among others. Mills, Ekwall, and Reaney & Wilson repeat Hastinges 1086 and Hasting 1130. Based on Hastyngs and the common interchange of 'y' and 'i' in English, the submitted spelling seems plausible. Commenters unanimously favored de as the more authentic documentary form of the preposition, matching the Latinized given name.

The device conflicts with Eadric the Wild (Feb. 1999 via Meridies): Per bend argent and sable, a cross formy and a pheon counterchanged. There is a single CD for changing the type of half the primary charge group (head vs. pheon). There are also artistic issues: there should be more space between the cross humetty and the edges of the device, and the arms should not be of such unequal lengths. A redesign should consider the fact that it might not be possible to draw a balanced-looking cross humetty in a triangular space.


6 Le Fief des Dragonets, Shire of - Resub Group Name pended & Resub Device therefore also pended
Or, on a dragon gules within a bordure embattled vert a laurel wreath argent.

No major changes.

The group's original name submissions, 'The Fort of Dragonet', and identical device submission appeared on the East Kingdom 2003 ILoI. The pair were returned by Eastern Crown for lack of documentation and for lacking valid petitions. Their second name submission, 'Dragonet', appeared along with the identical device on the East Kingdom July 2004 ILoI. It was also returned by Eastern Crown for lack of documentation, lack of a group designator, and for lack of a warranted herald of record.

Voici ce que j'ai trouve dans le Dictionnaire des commues du Vaculus de Robert Bailly, 1985 pages 276-278; Au Sud la France, a 4 miles auSud Bollene a 10 Miles au Nord de Orange, au village Mondragon Provance-AlpsCote d'Azur. -Le Chateau fut canstruit par les Dragonet. -En 1143, Guiliame ed Mondragon, fils de Dragoner, lui pretait hommage poue le Chateau. -Dragonet et Amalric de Mondrgon, sont citesen 10. Donc, Dragonet est au depart le nom de la famille qui fit construire lr Chateau. Petition included. Name returned on the July 2004 EK LoR.

The documentation appeared on the ILoI with several transcription errors and no English translation. Brunissende translates the provided documentation thus:

This is what I found in the Dictionary of the towns of Vaucluse (Dictionnaire des communes du Vaucluse) by Robert Bailly from 1985 on pages 276-278; in the South of France, 4 miles South of Bollene and 10 miles North of Orange, in the village of Mondragon in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur. - the Castle was built by the Dragonet - In 1143, Guillaume de Montdragon, son of Dragonet, gave him homage for the castle. -Dragonet and Amalric de Mondragon are cited in 10. So, Dragonet is initially the name of the family who built the castle.

Brunissende also found some information on the use of the word "fief" in medieval France. The Dictionnaire de l'Academie Française at http://atilf.atilf.fr/ under Fief dates the use of this word in its modern sense (though it's unclear in exactly what spelling) to the 10th century. Thus Le Fief des Dragonets, meaning "the fief belonging to the Dragonets", seems to be a plausible medieval French name of a place or area.

The name was submitted as des Dragonets, Le Fief, which lacks an approved group designator. The submitters apparently intended "Fief" as a translation of "Shire", but this has never been approved as an alternate branch designator. In fact, Eastern Crown can find no precedents approving any alternate branch designators. Adding a phrase (namely "Shire of") is a major change, which the form indicates they won't allow. However, correspondence with the group's herald reveals that they'd be happy with any registered name containing "Dragonet". Therefore, the group designator has been added to satisfy RfS III.2.b. The submission is pended awaiting a new name form and petition reflecting this change.


7 Dorio of the Oaks - New Device returned
Argent, a hurst of five oaks azure.

The submitter's name was registered in October 1999.

Unfortunately, this conflicts with Morberie of Tor Denly (Mar. 1983, West): Argent, a crequier plant azure. A crequier is a stylized cherry tree; precedent declares it exactly equivalent to a cherry tree (Mevanwy verch Gwion, 12/05 A-An Tir), and it is not considered substantially different from a generic tree (Lilias de Cheryngton, 12/01 R-East). This means there is a single CD for number of charges.

It also appears to conflict with Thrystan of Wickleigh (June 1994, West): Per chevron azure and argent, a hurst of willow trees azure. There is precedent stating that there is no difference granted between a willow and an apple tree (Alexandra de la Pomerai, 02/98 R-Middle), which makes it likely that the same is true of willow vs. oak. This leaves only one CD for the field.


8 Doucette de Verdun - New Badge forwarded
(Fieldless) A fleur-de-lys within and conjoined to a horseshoe gules.

The submitter's name was registered in December of 2004. (via the East)

Some commenters expressed concern that the emblazon on the ILoI had a "barely overall" horseshoe, which is grounds for return. The badge has been redrawn with the horseshoe touching, but not overlapping, the fleur. [Blazoned "(Fieldless) Within a horseshoe a fleur-de-lis gules" on the ILoI.]


9 Dwynwen of Padstow - Resub Device forwarded
Per fess engrailed argent and azure, a sea-wolf counterchanged sable and argent maintaining a rose sable slipped and leaved vert, in canton a grenade sable flamed gules.

The submitter's name was registered and previous device submission, 'Per fess engrailed argent and azure, a seawolf rampant counterchanged sable and argent maintaining a rose sable slipped and leaved vert', was returned for conflict with James Addison of Woolpit, 'Per fess wavy argent and azure, a sea-wolf erect counterchanged sable and argent, scaly vert' on the November 2002 LoAR. This submission features the addition of a charge group.

The addition of the gules flame on the grenade puts the complexity count at 8, but this is not necessarily a problem: complexity counts are a guideline, not a hard-and-fast rule. [The blazon on the ILoI omitted mention of the grenade.]


10 Edmund Patterson - New Device forwarded
Vert, on a bend sinister between two stag's heads erased argent, three crosses couped palewise sable.

The name was registered in February 2005. (via the East)


11 Efa ferch Cynan (f) - New Name forwarded & New Device returned
Per bend sinister azure and vert a greyhound passant Or.

No major changes.

The client requests authenticity for 12th century Welsh. 'Efa' - Enwau Cymraeg I Blant: Welsh Names for Children by Heini Gruffudd, p35 dates the name to 1166. 'Cynan' - ibid., dated to 1060, 1174, 1242. Both names are also in The Compleat Anachronist #66, "A Welsh Miscellany", by Heather Rose Jones, p 30-31.

Submitted as Efa verch Cynan. Note that Efa is dated to 1160, not 1166 as stated on the ILoI; the full cited name is Efa ferch Madog ap Maredudd. CA #66 also has ferch, so the submitted spelling has been changed to match the documentation.

The device unfortunately conflicts with Tristen Sexwulf (June 1998, AEthelmearc): Quarterly gules and sable, a wolf statant Or. There is only a single CD for the field; there is no difference granted between passant and statant, or between a greyhound and a wolf.

This also conflicts with Brymstone College (Mar. 2005, Atenveldt): (Fieldless) A three-headed hound passant Or. Per precedent (Thomas Grayson of Falconridge, 03/98 R-Meridies), the number of heads counts for nothing, so there is only the fieldless CD.


12 Eldrich Gaiman - New Device forwarded
Barry wavy ermine and sable.

The submitter's name was registered on the October 2004 LoAR along with a badge, '(Fieldless) Three dice one and two conjoined argent spotted sable', and a device, 'Per pale vert and sable, a dragon segreant maintaining a chess-rook, a double tressure argent', which was changed to a badge upon the registration of another device, 'Per pale counter-ermine and vairy argent and vert', on the December 2004 LoAR. Upon the successful registration of this device, the submitter releases both his current device and his original device (now a badge).


13 Elinor Strangewayes and Ulrich von Dunkelberg - New {Joint?} Household Name forwarded & New Joint Badge returned
Submitted Name: House Strangeways

Or, on a cross nowy azure, a compass rose Or.

No changes.

'Elinor Strangewayes' and 'Ulrich des Dunkelberges' were both forwarded to Laurel on the East Kingdom May 2005 XLoI.

Both 'Elinor Strangewayes' and 'Ulrich von Dunkelberg' were registered in September 2005, via the East.

R&W s.n. Strangeway dates the desired spelling to 1513.

This badge conflicts with Angelique de Roche (Sep. 1987, Ansteorra): Or, on a cross nowy quadrate azure, a lioness' head cabossed Or. By RfS X.4.j.ii., there is a single CD for the change of type of tertiary. By precedent, there is no CD for the change between a cross nowy and a cross nowy quadrate (Katheryn MacThomas of Ireland, 09/00, R-Middle).

It also conflicts with Kimbel Ross (Jan. 2002, Ansteorra): Or, a cross nowy of a lozenge azure charged on the nowy portion with four lozenges in cross Or. There is a single CD for multiple changes to the tertiaries.


14 Felipe de Bordeu (m) - New Name forwarded & New Device returned
Party of six pieces azure and Or, three mullets of four points elongated to base two and one Or.

The client requests authenticity for an unspecified language/culture. 'Fillipe' - French masculine given name found in Colm Dubh's "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html ). 'de Bordeaux' - city and a region in southwest France most noted for its wine trade, claimed by Henry II of England when he maried Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Submitted as Fillipe de Bordeaux, the name has been changed to better match the documentation, and to comply with the request for authenticity. (The desired language and culture have been assumed to be 13th c. French, matching the documentation for the given name.) The forms listed in Colm Dubh's article are Felippe, Phelippe, and Phelipe; no commenter found a form with two 'l's and one 'p'. Dauzat & Rostaing p. 98 s.n. Bordeaux date Bordeu to 1280, which matches the date of the census quite well.

The device conflicts with both Awilda Haeulfdan (Apr 1985, Middle): Per pale gules and sable, three compass stars in bend sinister Or, and Asad de Barcelona (Oct 2003, AEthelmearc): Sable, three mullets in bend sinister Or. There is a CD in each case for the field, but several experienced armorists assure Eastern Crown that there is no CD granted for the change in arrangement of the stars, because their placement is forced by contrast requirements to be two-and-one on the new submission. Being decidedly closer to the "name weenie" end of the spectrum, ECH is taking their word for it.

Although it's visually quite simple, this device proves rather difficult to blazon. It was submitted as "Per fess azure and Or, a pale counterchanged and three crosses estoile Or." Commenters objected to "cross estoile", noting that an estoile has wavy rays. Other suggested blazons were "Per fess azure and Or, on a pale counterchanged between in chief two mullets of four points elongated to base in base a mullet elongated to base Or" , and "Per fess azure and Or, on a pale counterchanged between two mullets of four points elongated to base another Or" . The choice above is shorter; ECH believes that the "two and one" is necessary to ensure that the field gets divided into six pieces the correct way (one horizontal cut and two verticals, instead of two horizontals and one vertical).


15 Gabriel of Maccuswell - Resub Device forwarded
Per bend sinister argent and sable, a winged trumpet counterchanged all within a bordure embattled vert.

The submitter's name was registered in March of 2001 via the East. The submitter's previous submission was returned on the June 2004 LoAR for unidentifiability. This submission is a redraw featuring artwork copied from the submitter's currently registered badge, '(Fieldless) A winged trumpet palewise Or.', which was registered in March of 2001.


16 Galefridus Peregrinus (m) - New Name forwarded & New Device returned
Azure a fess argent fretty gules between three stag's heads cabossed argent.

'Galefridus' - form of 'Geoffrey' found twice in this spelling in Talan Gwynek's "Given Names from Early 13th Century England" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/eng13/eng13.html ). 'Peregrinus' - A Dictionary of English Surnames, Revised Edition by P.H. Reaney & R.M. Wilson s.n. 'Pilgrim'. Also, Jeanne Marie Lacroix's "Misplaced Names found in A Dictionary of English Surnames" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/misplacednames.htm ) lists the name dated to 1189-98.

Unfortunately, this device conflicts with Emma de Lastone (Dec 2001, Lochac): Azure, a fess argent fretty vert between three mullets pierced argent. There is a CD for the change from heads to mullets, but nothing for changing the tincture only of the tertiary frets. [The blazon has been corrected from "Argent a fess argent fretty gules between 3 stags heads caboshed argent."]


17 Iustinos Branov (m) - New Name forwarded

The client requests authenticity for 13th century Byzanto-Russian. 'Iustinos' - The submitter prefers the spellings 'Iustinos' or 'Iustins', but will accept 'Iustin'. 'Iustinos' - Bardas Xiphias's "Common Names of the Aristocracy in the Roman Empire During the 6th and 7th Centuries" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/byzantine/early_byz_names.html ). 'Branov' - Paul Wickenden of Thanet's "Russian Names Database" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/../paul/ ).

Bardas Xiphias's article actually has Iustinus, not Iustinos, but this article is known to Latinize names. Neither the online nor the paper versions of Wickenden actually list Branov: there's Bran 1107, Brankovich 1388, Brankovik 1330, Brankovitsch 870, and Brantsevich 1566. Branov should be fine as a constructed patronymic: see for example Evanov, Ivanov' late 14c. (Wickenden s.n. Ioann). This still leaves the question of Byzantine Greek combined with Russian. The languages are written in different alphabets, so such a combination is unlikely to be authentic. Wickenden s.n. Iustin has Iustin 13-14c., making Iustin Branov a fine Russian name of roughly the desired time period. Nevertheless, the name is being forwarded as submitted, in the hope that the CoA can work some magic for the "Byzanto-" part of the authenticity request.


18 Jenievre McDermot (f) - Resub Name forwarded & Resub Device returned
Purpure, a unicorn rampant and on a chief argent three hearts vert.

No major changes.

The submitter's previously submitted name,'Jenieve McGrail', and device , 'Quarterly vert and purpure, a unicorn rampant argent', appeared on the East Kingdom July 2004 ILoI and were returned by Eastern Crown for lack of documentation and for conflict with Janusch der Wasserman (January 1998 via the Middle), 'Azure maily Or, a unicorn salient argent'.

Eastern Crown would like to point out that she is being nice: she would be entirely within her rights to return this for lack of documentation.

Alys wrote:

Jenievre appears as one of the many variants of "Guenevere" at p. 113 of Louis-Fernand Flutre: Table des Noms Propres avec Toutes Leurs Variantes Figurant dans les Romans du Moyen Age Ecrits en Francais ou en Provencal et Actuellement Publies ou Analyses (Poitiers: Centre d'Etudes Superieures de Civilisation Medievale, 1962). McDermot: Heather Rose Jones (SCA: Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn), 14th to 16th Century Irish Names and Naming Practices: Names and Naming Practices in the Red Book of Ormond (Ireland 14th Century) (1999) (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/lateirish/ormond.html), lists 2 instances of "Dermot" as a given name in an Irish context. This article also lists several "Mc[name]" patronymics.

There does not appear to be precedent on combining French with Anglicized Irish; both French plus Gaelic and French plus Scots have been ruled one step from period practice, but registerable (Maura macPharlain 02/00 R-Atlantia, and Maura MacLeod 09/01 A-AEthelmearc).

This device conflicts with Iana of Whiteclif (June 1991, West): Purpure, a unicorn rampant and on a chief argent three fleurs-de-lys purpure. There is only a single CD for multiple changes to the tertiaries.

On resubmission, the artist should keep in mind that heraldic unicorns have beards, like goats. This emblazon is perilously close to the disallowed "unicornate horse", although the lion-like tail and cloven hooves save it. Also, the color emblazon is a weird shade somewhere between plum and raspberry, which is probably because it's a color printout. Color printer inks are highly fugitive and non-permanent; please do not use them! If you can't get Crayola markers where you live, please contact Eastern Crown; she'll be happy to arrange something. [The blazon on the ILoI read: "Purpure, a unicorn rampant argent on a chief argent, three hearts vert."]


19 John Williams - Resub Name forwarded & Resub Device forwarded
Argent, on a chevron azure three fleurs-de-lis argent, in a base a stag's head cabossed gules.

The submitter's name was returned for conflict with the modern composer, 'John Williams', and device was returned on the East Kingdom September 2004 LoR. Karen Larsdatter's "An Index to the 1523 Subsidy Roll for York and Ainsty, England" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/york16/index.htm ) lists 203 occurences of 'John'and 209 occurences of 'Willam'. Karen Larsdatter's "An Index to the 1296 Lay Subsidy Rolls for Rutland, England" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/Rutland/index.htm ) lists 164 occurences of 'John' and 248 occurences of 'William'. Talan Gwynek's "Given Names from Early 13th Century England" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/eng13/eng13.html ) lists 126 occurences of 'William' and 70 occurences of 'John'. Talan Gwynek's "Late 16th Century English Given Names" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/eng16/eng16.html ) lists 1215 occurences of 'Jon' and 786 occurences of 'William'.

The submitted name is unchanged from what was returned at kingdom, for conflict with the modern composer. This submission is apparently intended as an appeal of that decision. However, the reason for return is not addressed: the frequencies of the name elements in period are irrelevant to the importance of the modern person. (A chain of reasoning based on the frequency of the name in modern times might be more relevant, although it's unclear which side of the argument is supported by the existence of a John Williams, classical and folk guitarist, along with several dozen other men by this name working in the music and film industries.) Nevertheless, this is being forwarded to Laurel in the hope that the submitter can at least get a nice device registered.


20 Katherine de Staverton (f) - New Name forwarded

'Katherine' - Talan Gwynek's "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/reaneyintro.html ) dates this spelling to 1316 s.n. 'Curzon', to 1392 s.n. 'Bathurst', to 1510 s.n. 'Wenborn', to 1516 s.n. 'Chipperfield', to 1697 s.n. 'Elesende'. This spelling also found dated to 1420 in Julian Goodwyn's "English Names found in Brass Enscriptions" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/brasses/ ). 'De' - locative, continues to appear in English surnames well into the 1500s, see e.g. Julian Goodwyn's "English Names found in Brass Enscriptions" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/brasses/ ). 'Staverton' - place name found in A Dictionary of English Place-Names by A.D. Mills, p.325. Also found as a surname dated to 1430 in Julian Goodwyn's "English Names found in Brass Enscriptions" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/brasses/ ).


21 Konrad von Altorff (m) - New Name forwarded & New Device returned
Gyronny Or and sable, a cross couped argent.

No major changes.

'Konrad' - Talan Gwynek's "Late Period German Masculine Given Names" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/germmasc.html ). Also, Dictionary of German Names by Hans Bahlow (translated by Edda Gentry) p. 279, s.n. 'Konrad'. 'von' - locative. 'Altorff' - Form of 'Altdorf', capital of Uri canton of Switzerland, the site of Capuchin monastery in 1581. Submitter has provided maps indicating that the period spelling of the town name as Altorff, and would very much like to use this spelling.

Brechenmacher p. 24 s.n. Altorf dates Altorf to 1333, and says it's a simplification of Altdorf "old village". For use of double 'f', see for example Dorffel 1454 ibid s.n. Dorfel, and Dorffelenus 1582 s.n. Dörfler.

Unfortunately, this device conflicts with both Greece (Dec 1994, Laurel): Azure, a cross couped argent and Switzerland (Dec 1994, Laurel): Gules, a cross couped argent. In each case, there is but one CD for the field.


22 Luc de Montnoir (m) - New Name forwarded & New Device returned
Argent a unicornate horse's bust atop a stake sable, a bordure sable seme of toothed washers argent.

No major changes.

Dauzat has Luc as an undated header form. Dauzat & Rostaing p. 471 s.n. Mons (in the "colors" subsection) mention an undated Montner, from Latin nigrus, which they translate as "noir" (dark), along with quite a few dated mont + color placenames: de Monteblanco c. 1200, Mons blancus 1197, de Montebrunno 1272, Mont Clar 1343, Montisclari 1233, de Monteclar 1213, de Monteclaro 1168, Montauban 1186, de Rubeo Monte 12c., Montvert 1275. Thus Montnoir is a plausible constructed placename.

The device is returned for using an unrecognizable primary charge. One commenter said it looks like a thumbtack with a unicornate horse's bust growing from the top. Other guesses for the identity of the bottom portion included a golf tee, a spike, and a crutch. Note that unicorn heads must include a beard. The cog wheels are also not really recognizable; one commenter reblazoned them as plates embattled charged with ogresses. A cog wheel has a much smaller center hole. [Blazoned "Argent a sword with a unicorn head handle sable. A bordure sable, a seme of cog wheel argent" on the ILoI.]


23 Lysebet van der Wilgen (f) - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded
Gules, on a bend sinister sable fimbriated argent between a talbot passant and a willow branch couped Or, three mullets of eight points argent.

No major changes.

The client requests authenticity for the period 1350-1450. 'Lysebet' - dated as Dutch within the periods 1200-1350 and 1358-1361 on the Academy of St. Gabriel report #3036 ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/3036 ) attached. 'van der Wilgen' - ibid., also Dutch meaning "of the willow", 1488-9. The report summarizes with direct support for the submitted name for a Dutch woman from 1200-1350.

S. Gabriel report #3036 cites Lysebet from Kees Nieuwenhuijsen: "Given Names in the Low Lands 1250-1300" (http://www.keesn.nl/name13/) and Aryanhwy merch Catmael: "Dutch Names 1358-1361" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch/earlydutch14.html), and dates van der Wilgen to 1488-9 based on Antoine Janssens: "Nieuwe gegevens over het kasteel van Nevele" (http://home.scarlet.be/~lvnevele/artikelen/1973_1.htm). [Blazoned on the ILoI as: "Gules, on a bend sinister sable fimbriated argent, three mullets argent, a talbot passant and a willow branch couped sinister base Or."]


24 Maximilian Gunn - Resub Device forwarded
Sable, in pale a heart and a chain of three links the center one fracted to base argent.

The submitter's previous device submission, which was identical to this one, was returned on the East Kingdom September 2003 LoR for conflict with Solondra Carryl (December 1983 via Meridies): 'Sable, a heart argent'. A letter of permission to conflict was included with this resubmission.

[Blazoned on the ILoI as "Sable, in pale a heart and a chain of three links the center one broken to base."]


25 Moira of Kildare (f) - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded
Per saltire purpure and Or, a fret counterchanged.

No major changes.

The client requests authenticity for 16th century Irish and cares most about the language and/or culture. 'Moira' - Anglicized form of Márie, which occurred as a lady the Bassetts of the Glynns of Antrim in the 14th century. and occasionally among the MacSweenys and Burkes in the 16th century, says Irish Names by Donnchadh ÓCorraín & Fidelma Maguire p133 'Kildare' - a town and county west and south of Dublin.

The dates in OCM refers to an unspecified Gaelic form of Mary, not to the Anglicized form Moira. Flanagan & Flanagan p. 80 under Máire date the header spelling to 1532 and 1561. Flanagan p. 53 s.n. Cill lists Kildare as the anglicized form of Cell Daro, and on p. 67 s.n. Dair as the anglicized form of Cill Dara, both meaning "church of the oak", but gives no dates. This is being sent on up unchanged for someone who's more knowledgable about Anglicized Gaelic to tackle.


26 Nicola Angelini (f) - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded
Gules on a bend between two standing seraphs affronty argent, three quatrefoils gules.

'Niccola' - appears in Arval Benicoeur's "Feminine Given Names from the Online Catasto of Florence of 1427" ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/catasto/ ). Talan Gwynek's "14th Century Venetian Personal Names" ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/venice14/ ) list several names that are pet forms. The Masculine form, 'Nicolo', is found spelled with a single 'c' in David Herlihy, R. Burr Lichfield, Anthony Molho, & Roberto Barducci's "Florentine Renaissance Resources: Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" ( http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/tratte/ ) 'Angelini' - two instances of this surname are recorded in David Herlihy, R. Burr Lichfield, Anthony Molho, & Roberto Barducci's "Florentine Renaissance Resources: Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" ( http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/tratte/ ).


27 Pascual de la Mar - Resub Device forwarded
Per bend gules and azure, two hammerhead sharks naiant in annulo argent.

The submitter's name was registered on the October 2004 LoAR. The submitter's original device submission, 'Per bend rayonny gules and azure, in bend sinister two hammerhead sharks naiant in annulo argent', appeared on the East Kingdom October 2003 ILoI and was returned by Eastern Crown in December of 2003 for style problems. This submission features new artwork and a slightly adjusted design.


28 Philadelphia Brown (f) - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded
Gyronny Or and gules, a brown mare rampant proper.

No major changes.

The client requests authenticity for 16th century English. 'Philadelphia' - The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names by E. G. Withycombe p244. 'Brown' - A Dictionary of English Surnames, Revised Edition by P.H. Reaney & R.M. Wilson p68 and A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames by Charles Wareing Bardsley p139.

Withycombe p. 244 s.n. Philadelphia says it "became a favourite Puritan name (Bardsley says he found no fewer than 100 examples of it in James I's reign)". This puts the name in the gray area. Neither R&W nor Bardsley have a late-period form of Brown (their latest cites are le Browne 1318 and Broune 1379, respectively), but Julian Goodwyn's "Brass Enscription Index" (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/brasses/) dates Brown to 1522.

Jaelle provides the following further documentation: Bardsley's Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature mentions a Lady Philadelphia Carr who was buried in 1639; it is reasonable to believe that she was christened either in late period or immediately afterwards. Also, FK & S Hitching's References to English Surnames in 1601 has multiple citations for the surname Brown in that spelling.


29 Rosette de Rheims (f) - New Name forwarded

No major changes.

'Rosette' - Constructed name using '-ette', a French diminutive. From Colm Dubh's "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html ), there are two instances of the name 'Rose'. From the same source, we find the diminutives as shown by 'Luce la Berote' and 'Lucete (une) chamberière', 'Mabile la plasrière' and 'Mabilete (une) niece', and 'Typhainne la cière' and 'Typhenete (une) chamberière'. Altough these examples only show construction of the diminutive with one 't', from Talan Gwynek's "Late Period Feminine Names from the South of France" ( http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/latefrenchfem.html ) we find the following examples: 'Johanna' - 1514 (2), 'Johanetta' - 1357 (2), 'Johneta' - 1425 (2), 'Margarette' - 1528, 'Marguaritte' - 1528, 'Margot' - 1514, 'Maria' - 1514 (2), 'Marette' - 1528, 'Marieta' - 1435, 1514, 1521. The client is willing to accept 'Rosete' if 'Rosette' is unacceptable, and 'Rose' if necessary. 'de' - French preposition "of". 'Rheims' - City found in the Champagne region of France throughout period, as cited in attached copies from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition ( http://www.bartleby.com/65/ ).

Dauzat s.n. Reims marks Rheims as widespread, with a parenthetical "anc. orth."; Eastern commenters believe this means it's likely a period spelling. While Rosette seems a plausible constructed diminutive of 'Rose', the submitter may wish to know that it is the name of a kind of sausage in modern France. One commenter noted that to her, this name sounds as odd as "Salami of London" would to most English speakers.


30 Sergio da Verona - Resub Device forwarded
Or, a wooden crossbow proper within a bordure invected gules.

The submitter's name was registered in Feburary 2005. The submitter's original device submission, 'Or, a crossbow proper between two dragon wings elevated and displayed and a bordure invected gules', appeared on the East Kingdom July 2004 ILoI and was returned by Eastern Crown in September 2004.

The previous device was returned for violating RfS VII.7.; the specific arrangement of crossbow-and-wings was unblazonable and not reproducible from a blazon. The new device does not suffer from this issue. [The blazon on the ILoI read: "On a bordure invected gule a crossbow nature."]


31 Sonja Ry{zv}aja (f) - Resub Name forwarded & Resub Device forwarded
Per pale sable and vert, a catamount salient contourny argent spotted sable within a bordure argent.

No major changes.

The orginal name submission 'Sonja Ryzaja' was returned on the June 2004 LoAR with the following comments: "The submitted name, Sonja Ryzaja, was transcribed using the International Phonetic transcription system as described on p. ix of Wickenden, Dictionary of Period Russian Names. However, the submitter appears to have confused the transcription for the 8th character, {zv}--z-hachek, for that of the 9th character in the table, z. This transcription system gives Sonja Ry{zv}aja as the correct form of this name. We would change it to this form, but she will not accept any changes. Therefore, we are forced to return it." This submission changes the name to the suggested spelling and allows for minor changes.

Submitted as Sonja Ryzvaja, the Da'ud notation for z-hachek has been corrected.

Her device appeared on the ILoI with a possibly-returnable posture for the cat: the hind legs were together, like for salient, while the front legs were apart, as for rampant. It has been redrawn with a more clearly salient beast.


32 Theobald Hafoc (m) - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded
Vert, a hawk contourny wings addorsed argent and in chief a flame proper.

No major changes.

'Theobald' - A Dictionary of English Surnames, Revised Edition by P.H. Reaney & R.M. Wilson, p443 s.n. 'Theobald' dates the name 'Theobaldus' to 1161-77 and to 1206 as a given name. 'Hafoc' - ibid. s.n. 'Hawk' says, "Osbertus Filius Hause c.1115 is probaly to be identified - Osbern Hauoc. His father bore the OE name of Hafoc 'Hawk'." Also, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, Fourth Edition by Eilert Ekwall s.n. 'Hawkschurch' dated to 1196 "Hafoc's Church", 'Hawksbury' dated to 1183 "Hafoc's Burg", 'Hawkinge' dated to 1204 as a derivative of 'hafoc' "hawk", and 'Hawkley' dated to 1255 from OE 'hfoc-lah' "hawk wood".

Withycombe p. 277 under Theobald dates Theobaldus to 1199-1220, 1303, etc. R&W under Theobald also have Teobald 1086, among others. The R&W cite under Hawk was slightly misquoted in the ILoI; it actually reads: "Osbertus filius Hauoc c. 1115 is probably to be identified with Osbern Hauoc. His father bore the OE name of Hafoc 'hawk'." The 'hawk' word seems to be more usually spelled with a 'u' or 'v' rather than an 'f'; Hafoc seems to be a scholarly, normalized form. However, Watts s.n. Hawksworth dates on Hafeces-weorðe c. 1030, so it's a plausible early spelling.

The device appeared on the ILoI with a no-longer-registerable depiction of a flame. It has been redrawn with the correct medieval depiction using alternating red and yellow tongues.


33 Uther McDermot (m) - Resub Name {shouldn't exist} & Resub Device returned
Sable, a bear passant and on a chief argent three fleurs-de-lys sable.

No major changes.

Name registered on the February 2005 LoAR. The submitter's previous device submission, 'Sable, a bear passant argent', appeared on the East Kingdom July 2004 ILoI and was returned by Eastern Crown in September of 2004 for conflict with the arms of Daniel Davidson (April 1998 via Atlantia): 'Sable, a bear passant, a base indented argent'. This submission includes several differences from that conflict.

Unfortunately, this device conflicts with Ursula Gilforde (Dec 2000, Atlantia): Sable, a bear passant and on a chief argent three sparks sable. There is but a single CD for the changes to the tertiaries. [The blazon on the ILoI read: "Sable a bear passant argent in chief, 3 fleur de lys sable."]


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Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland. New York Public Library, 1989.

Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Wörterbuch der Deutschen Familiennamen. C.A. Starke-Verlag, Limburg, 1957-60.

Dauzat, Albert and Marie-Thérèse Morlet. Dictionnaire Étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France. Librairie Larousse, Paris, 1989.

Dauzat, Albert et Charles Rostaing. Dictionnaire Étymologique des Noms de Lieux de la France. Paris, 1963.

De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei cognomi Italiani. Mondadori, Milan, 1992.

De Felice, Emidio. Dizionario dei nomi Italiani. Mondadori, Milan, 1986.

Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names. Fourth edition. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1991.

Flanagan, Deirdre & Laurence Flanagan. Irish Place Names. Gill & MacMillan. Dublin, 1994.

Flanagan, Laurence. Favourite Irish Names for Children. Gill & MacMillan, Dublin, 1993.

Gruffudd, Heini. Enwau Cymraeg I Blant. Welsh Names for Children. Y Lolfa Cyf. Wales, 1980.

Jones, Heather Rose. A Welsh Miscellany. Compleat Anachronist #66, 1993.

MacLysaght, Edward. The Surnames of Ireland. Sixth edition. Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 1991.

Mills, A.D. A Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991.

Morlet, Marie-Thérèse. Les Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de L'Ancienne Gaule du VIe au XIIe Siècle. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique: Paris, 1968, 1972, 1985.

Ó Corraín, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire. Irish Names. Lilliput Press, Dublin, 1990.

Paul Wickenden of Thanet. A Dictionary of Period Russian Names. 3rd edition. SCA, Inc., 2000.

Reaney, P.H. and R. M. Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Third edition, Oxford University Press, 1995.

Watts, Victor. The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names. Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Withycombe, E.G. The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names. Third edition. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1979.