Lillia de Vaux
eastern.crown@eastkingdom.org

August 25, 2011

Greetings to the East Kingdom College of Heralds! After a delay for Pennsic, here is the Letter of Decisions for the June 21, 2011 Internal Letter of Intent. The original text from the iLoI is bolded, and is followed by my comments in unbolded text.

Thank you to the following commenters: Alana O'Keeve, Eleazar ha-Levi, Joscelin le esqurel, Alys Mackyntoich, Jeanne Marie Lacroix, Gawain of Miskbridge, Brunissende Dragonette, Magnus von Lubeck, Kolosvari Arpadne Julia, Tanczos Istvan, and Palotzi Marti.

Yours in Service,
Lillia de Vaux Eastern Crown Herald

1: Alana O'Keeve - New Badge forwarded

(Fieldless) Two arrows inverted in saltire sable, overall a snail Or

Her name and device, Vert, three snails Or, were registered July 2006 via the East.

2: Aldís Þorbjarnardóttir - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Argent, a wyvern passant and a chief purpure fretty argent

The name was submitted as Aldís Þorbjornardóttir. The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Language/culture (Norse) most important. Aldís appears in chapters 90 and 98 of Landnámabók (http://www.snerpa.is/net/snorri/landnama.htm) for <Aldís Ofeigsdottir>, mother of Valla-Brandr. In addition, the documentation cites Geirr Bassi, p. 7, as well as http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONWomen'sNames.shtml. Þorbjornardóttir 'daughter of Þorbjorn' is purportedly formed from the masculine given name Þorbjorn, found in a list of personal names in Hrafnkel's Saga and Other Stories (transl. Hermann Palsson), Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, Ltd., 1980, p. 38. The list states that the name is <Thorbjorn, of Hol, father of Einar>, and that it's found on pp. 38, 43-52, 54, and 61.

The elements <Aldís> and <Þorbj{o,}rn> are also found in Geirr Bassi, pp. 7 and 16, respectively. <Þorbj{o,}orn> forms a patronymic in the same way as Bj{o,}rn and thus it should be Þorbjarnardóttir (ibid., p. 18). The spelling correction has been made.

The posture of the wyvern was reblazoned from segreant to passant in keeping with current precedent.

3: Ana Ximenez de Hume - New Device Change forwarded

Vert, a swan naiant argent and on a chief wavy Or three roses proper

Old Item: Or semy of roundels purpure, a wolf rampant contourny gules, to be retained. Her name and device were registered March 2007 via the East.

4: Anne of Oakmere - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Barry wavy azure and argent, on a chief wavy argent three acorns proper

The submitter desires a female name. Anne is found in Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/reaneyAG.html), s.n. Ann. The submitted spelling is dated to 1566, 1568, 1576, and 1592. of Oakmere is a locative byname based on an undated header form in Ekwall. This source has the spelling <Okmere> dated to 1348. Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada, "Names in Chesham, 1538-1600/1" (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/Chesham/surnames-3.shtml) has the surnames <Oakbanke> (1543), <Oakeley> (1579/80), and <Oakley> (1567), suggesting that Oakmere is a plausible late-period spelling.

The device is clear of Margareta Gijsberts (12/2007, Meridies), Vert, on a chief wavy argent two bees sable, with one CD for the field and another for the multiple changes to the tertiaries. It is clear of Bella Caterina Malatesta (03/2003, West), Barry wavy azure and argent, on a chief argent three crosses crosslet fitchy sable, with one CD for the change in line of the chief and another for the changes to the tertiaries. Lastly, it is clear of Bard's Keep, Canton of (12/1991, Caid), Barry wavy argent and azure, on a chief wavy azure a laurel wreath Or between two towers argent, and Coemri nEithne (11/1993, Calontir), Barry wavy argent and azure, on a chief wavy vert three estoiles argent, for changing the tincture of the chief and for the multiple changes to the tertiaries.

5: Avitoria vidua - New Device Change returned

Or, a water bouget gules

Old Item: Purpure, between two porcupines combatant reguardant argent, collared, a mullet of eight points elongated to chief and to base, within a bordure embattled Or, to be released. Her name and device were registered Jan. 2007 via the East.

This lovely device is, sadly, returned for conflict with Leona of Dragun Fen (09/1984, Meridies), Or, a water bouget vert. There is only a single CD for the change in tincture of the charge. It should also be noted that commenters raised the possibility that this is a post-period depiction of a water bouget. If the submitter resubmits armory with this charge, it may require documentation.

6: Avitoria vidua - New Badge returned

(Fieldless) A water bouget gules

As with the device, this badge is returned for conflict, this time against Gabriel le Clerk (03/2009, Outlands), Per chevron ployé sable and Or, in base a water-bouget gules. There is one CD for fieldlessness, but nothing for placement of the charge on a fieldless badge.

7: Cosimo di Signorello - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Per bend sinister Or and sable, a horse's head couped and a fish naiant counterchanged

The name was submitted as Cosimo di Signorelli. The submitter desires a male name. No major changes. Client requests authenticity for Italian, late 1400s. Language/culture (Italian, late 1400s) most important. Cosimo is a given name found with a count of 196 in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Italian Given Names from the Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/italian/tratte/). Signorelli is a masculine byname found in "Florentine Renaissance Resources: Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" by David Herlihy, R. Burr Litchfield, Anthony Molho, and Roberto Barducci (http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/tratte/search/personinfo.php), with one instance, <Matteo Signorelli>, dated 1331. No evidence was provided for the use of the preposition; however, artist Luca Signorelli (1440-1525) also seems to be known, at least modernly, as Luca di Signorelli [Paul Carus, The bride of Christ: a study in Christian legend lore, 1908, http://books.google.com/books?id=F-BBAAAAIAAJ, p. 60].

The device was colored with crayons, which are now banned. If there are no conflicts, the device will be redrawn and colored with markers.

Mari neyn Brian, "Italian Men's Names from 1364 and 1441" (article in progress) (http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/academy-library/mari/confrat/), has a Working Note that includes the name "Signorello d'Agnilo de Feo, Priore - 1364 (p. 228)", which could imply that "Signorello" is a a given name here and that the submitted surname is patronymic in origin. However, the correct grammar would appear to be either Cosimo Signorelli or Cosimo di Signorello. For examples of the latter construction, see for example Aryanhwy's "Names from Arezzo, Italy, 1386-1528" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/italian/arezzo.html). The submitter did not allow major changes, so the particle could not be removed; therefore the spelling of the byname was changed to di Signorello to meet his authenticity request. However, it should be noted that Signorelli is the submitter's legal last name, as used in his online obituary (http://www.tributes.com/show/Cosmo-Signorelli-91825732), for which the name was taken from the US Government Social Security Death Index.

The device was redrawn to add internal detailing and to use markers on the colored copies. (The fish is from the c. 1405 Wapenboek Beyeren.) Approval of the new art is being obtained from the submitter's heir(s). If a different depiction is wanted, the paperwork will be replaced prior to the packet going to Ragged Staff Herald.

8: Ealusaid inghean Uí Phaidín - New Name forwarded

The name was submitted as Ealasaid Ides Ruald Rof McFadden. However, the submitter was notified that this name was not registerable because it had two steps from period practice for the language combinations, and because the last name phrase consisted of more than one language. The submitter was referred to Elmet Herald for further assistance, and the name was modified with the submitter's permission. It was also noted that the Society name on the form was Elisaid of Ayrshire. This name was never submitted, which the submitter confirmed. The paperwork was corrected. The summary below reflects the new documentation and choices by the submitter, re: the checkboxes.

The submitter desires a female name. Meaning ('Elizabeth, of the clan of Paidin') most important. Ealusaid is dated to 1467 as set forth in "Scottish Gaelic Given Names (Draft in Progress Edition 29 June 2007)," by Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte (http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/gaelicgiven/women/ealusaid.shtml). The name pattern for a Gaelic clan affiliation byname, <single given name> inghean Uí <eponymous clan ancestor's name (in genitive case & always lenited unless starting with a vowel)>, is found in "Quick and Easy Gaelic Names (3rd Ed.)" by Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte (http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/#clanaffiliationbyname). Phaidín is the lenited form of an Early Modern Gaelic name found in "Index of Names in Irish Annals" by Mari Elspeth nic Brian (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Paidin.shtml) dated to 1362, 1365, 1441, 1506, 1543, 1551, 1589. Paidín is both the genitive and the nominative form.

9: Elizabeth Hyde - New Name forwarded

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Meaning (spelling) most important. Elizabeth is from Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names from A Dictionary of English Surnames" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/reaney.cgi?Elizabeth). The submitted spelling is dated 1205-1600. Hyde is found in Christian de Holacombe, "Faire Names for English Folk: Late Sixteenth Century English Names" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/surnames.html#list). It is also found in Julie Kahan, "Surnames in Durham and Northumberland, 1521-1615" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/juetta/parish/surnames_h.html), where it is dated 1584.

The given name is also dated between 1539 and 1620 in "English Given Names from 16th and Early 17th C Marriage Records" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/english/parishes/elizabeth.html). This exact name was found in England multiple times between 1542 and 1649 in the IGI parish extracts, making this an excellent late-period English name.

10: Eoin Ó Paidín - New Name forwarded

The name was submitted as Eoin Eafora Ruald rof McFadden. However, the submitter was notified that this name was not registerable because it had two steps from period practice for the language combinations, and because the last name phrase consisted of more than one language. The submitter was referred to Elmet Herald for further assistance, and the name was modified with the submitter's permission. It was also noted that the Society name on the form was Iaian of Ayrshire. This name was never submitted, which the submitter confirmed. The paperwork was corrected. The summary below reflects the new documentation and choices by the submitter, re: the checkboxes.

The submitter desires a male name. Eoin is an Early Modern Irish Gaelic name with 58 Annals dates between 1246 and 1600. "Index of Names in Irish Annals" by Mari Elspeth nic Bryan (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Eoin.shtml). Paidín is found as an Early Modern Gaelic name in "Index of Names in Irish Annals" by Mari Elspeth nic Brian (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Paidin.shtml) dated to 1362, 1365, 1441, 1506, 1543, 1551, and. <Paidín> is both the genitive and the nominative form. The formation of a clan affiliation byname is found in "Quick and Easy Gaelic Names (3rd Ed.)" by Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte (http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/#clanaffiliationbyname).

11: Gawyn O'Clery - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Sable, an oak leaf Or and on a chief argent three lions rampant sable

The submitter desires a male name. Gawin is found in Talan Gwynek, "Late Sixteenth Century English Given Names" (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/eng16/eng16alpha.html). Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "English Given Names from 16th and Early 17th C Marriage Records" (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/english/parishes/parishes.html), s.n. Gawyne, lists the following spellings: <Gawyne> (1568, 1607), and <Gawin> (1583). i/y switches are well documented in English names. For example, Aryanhwy's article (op. cit.) gives the following: <Oliver/Olyver>, <Myles/Miles>, and <Martyn/Martin>. O'Clery is the name of <Thady O'Clery>, found in Mary ingen Briain meic Donnchada, "Names Found in Anglicized Irish Documents" (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnglicizedIrish/Masculine.shtml), s.n. Teige. The combination of English and Anglicized Irish is no longer an SFPP [Maeve Cunningham, 09/2010, An Tir].

12: Girsell MacLeoid - New Name forwarded

The submitter desires a female name. Language/culture (16th c. Scots/Gaelic or Scots [Anglicized]) most important. Girsell is a Scots feminine name, found in the IGI parish extracts from Scotland:

GIRSELL ANDERSONE Female Christening 31 MAR 1642 Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland JAMES ANDERSONE Batch No. C119062
GERSELL ANDERSONE Female Christening 15 AUG 1618 Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland Batch No. C111682
GIRSELL ANDIRSSON Female Christening 12 February 1578 Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland ROBERT ANDIRSSON KIRSTEN HENDIRSSON Batch: C114242
GIRSELL H.; Female Christening 18 December 1583 Anstruther Wester, Fife, Scotland R. MAREON H. Batch: C114032
GIRSELL ALEXR. Female Marriage 14 March 1647 Monikie, Angus, Scotland ALEXR. BARRIE Batch: M113112
GIRSELL ANSTRUTHER Female Christening 2 November 1591 Anstruther Wester, Fife, Scotland JOHN ANSTRUTHER Batch: C114032

Elmet noted that Grace is found in Anglicized Irish dated to 1601, with no period Gaelic equivalent given, in "Names Found in Anglicized Irish Documents" by Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnglicizedIrish/Feminine.shtml). Similar names to the submitted form are <Grissell> (1601) and <Grissall> (1622), both of which are found in "A List of Feminine Personal Names Found in Scottish Records" by Talan Gwynek (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/scottishfem.html#scottishfemlate). Additionally, Aryanhwy's article (op. cit.) includes the dated spellings Grisell (1584), Grissall (1598), Grissel (1596), and Grissell (1551). The consulting herald commented that the submitter doesn't want the Scots or Anglicized Irish Grace, but a Scots Gaelic name. It was noted that the corresponding Gaelic byname (using mac) would not be appropriate for a woman, so if she wants the sound of the submitted byname, it cannot be in Gaelic.

13: Katherine Meade - New Badge forwarded

(Fieldless) An elephant rampant argent bearing a howdah gules

Her name and device, Per bend sinister azure and argent, a winged cat sejant guardant Or and a tree proper, were registered in May 1992 via the East. The badge was colored with crayon, which is now banned, and was redrawn with the submitter's permission.

A possible conflict was noted with Simona dell'Amore (08/2004, Atlantia), Sable, an elephant rampant argent. There is a CD for fieldlessness, but the second CD has to come from the addition of the howdah. Whether it is large enough to count as a sustained change is up to Wreath to decide.

14: Lysken die Waeyer - Resub Device forwarded

Vert, three keystones argent

Her name was registered 04/2010 via the East. Her initial device, Vert fretty argent was returned on the East's July 2010 Letter of Decision for multiple conflicts. A second attempt, Vert fretty argent, on a chief argent three pommes, was returned for conflict on the East's October 2010 Letter of Decision. This is a complete redesign.

Use of this shape of keystone is a step from period practice [Steven Desjardins, 07/2008, A-An Tir].

15: May Dain de Bebyngton - New Name forwarded & New Device returned

Argent, a cross sable between four torteaux

The submitter has no desire as to gender. May is a given name found in R&W, s.n. May, which lists <Johannes filius Maie> (1274), <Elena filia May> (1301), and <May de Hindley> (1379). The submitter is aware that this may be a masculine name and does not care. Dain is a surname found in R&W, s.n. Dain. It is dated 1275. de Bebyngton is a locative byname found in R&W, s.n. Bebbington, with this formation and spelling dated to the 13th century.

The device is returned for conflict with Teutonic Order (12/1994, Laurel, important non-SCA arms), Argent, a cross sable. There is only a single CD for adding the secondary roundels.

16: Rúadán mac Paidín - New Name forwarded

The name was submitted as Ruald Rof McFadden. However, the submitter was notified that this name was not registerable because it had two steps from period practice for the language combinations. The submitter was referred to Elmet Herald for further assistance, and the name was modified with the submitter's permission. It was also noted that the Society name on the form was Ruald of Ayrshire. This name was never submitted, which the submitter confirmed. The paperwork was corrected. The summary below reflects the new documentation and choices by the submitter, re: the checkboxes.

The submitter desires a male name and a fully Gaelic name. Rúadán is a Middle Irish Gaelic name appearing in the Annals in 904, per "Index of Names in Irish Annals" by Mari Elspeth nic Bryan (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Ruadan.shtml). It is also the name of a saint according to the Catholic Encyclopedia (see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13214a.htm). In addition, St. Gabriel report 2223 (http://www.s-gabriel.org/2223) lists <Ruadhán> as the normalized late-period Gaelic form of a name from a 1541 Scottish document written in Latin, citing Ewen, C. L'Estrange, A History of Surnames of the British Isles. mac Paidín is a patronymic byname constructed from the Early Modern Irish Gaelic Paidín, dated 1362-1589 in Mari's Index (op. cit., http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Paidin.shtml). The submitted spelling is the same for the nominative and genitive forms. The formation of a simple patronymic byname is found in "Quick and Easy Gaelic Names (3rd Ed.)" by Effric neyn Kenyeoch vc Ralte (http://medievalscotland.org/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/#simplepatronymicbyname).

The original submission included the Old English Rof 'strong, brave, noble' (FREELANG Old English-English and English-Old English online dictionary, http://www.freelang.net/online/old_english.pho?lg=gb). He would like to incorporate a descriptive byname with this meaning, but commenters could not document it in Gaelic. Assistance finding this element is requested.

17: Seán Sreamach mac Tomáis - Resub Device forwarded

Quarterly argent and vert, four triquetrae counterchanged

His name and a badge, (Fieldless) A trefoil knot per pale vert and argent were registered on the Feb. 2011 LoAR (East). A device was returned for conflict in kingdom on the 10/2010 Letter of Decision. This is a complete redesign.

18: Siubhan Wallace - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Sable, a teazel between three Bourchier knots, a bordure Or

The submitter desires a female name. Language/culture (Scottish) most important. Siubhan is a feminine Gaelic name found from 1310-1600 in Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Index of Names in Irish Annals", under the heading Siobhán (http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Feminine/Siban.shtml). The submitted spelling is found in entries for years 1467, 1490, 1515, 1525, 1542, 1565, 1576, 1583, 1598, and 1600. The spelling Siubhán is found in years 1310, 1507, 1525, 1529, 1535, and 1553. Wallace is a Scottish surname used by Sir William Wallace (1270-1305), who led an army against the English and won a victory at Stirling Bridge in 1297. He was captured and executed by the English in 1305 (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edn., vol XXVII, pp. 277-8). The combination of Gaelic and Scots is registerable with an SFPP [Elspeth O'Shea, 02/00].

Wallace is also found in "Index of Scots names found in Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/scots/dost/wallace.html) with this spelling dated to 1492, 1572, 1605, 1617 and 1636.

19: Teresa Ana Pérez - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Sable, on a sun Or a human skull sable and on a chief embattled Or three crescents pendant sable

The submitter desires a female name. All elements are found in Elsbeth Anne Roth, "16th Century Spanish Names" (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/spanish/index.html). Teresa and Ana both appear as feminine given names (ibid., http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/spanish/fem-given-alpha.html). Pérez appears as a patronymic byname (ibid., http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/spanish/patro-freq.html). Double given names have been documented for Spanish names in the 16th century [Luzia Violante Bazán, 09/20002, West] and [Maria Theresa Sanchez Garcia, 03/2004, Outlands].

20: Wulfleda of Berwic - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Vert, on a bend argent between three broadheads reversed, two and one, Or and a wolf sejant argent, an arrow vert

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Wulfleda is found in Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames" (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/reaneyHZ.html), where it is dated 1202. Berwic is a town in Northu(mbria, which began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement that was taken by the Scots at the battle of Carham in 1018 (http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/BerwickuponTweed.html). The submitter dropped the -k from the locative because it "did not occur in the Anglo-Saxon alphabet".

Talan Gwynek's article (op. cit.), s.n. Wulfled, gives the dated form Wolfleda (1202), not the submitted spelling. However, it was noted that the entries for Wulfrun and Wulveva give the following: Wulfrun (1230), Wolueua (1315), Wolueue (1228), Woluiua (1206), Wulfiue (1193), Wulfueua (1197), etc. As such, the submitted spelling (Wulf-) seems to be a reasonable variant and can be forwarded without changes. The toponym is found in Watts, s.n. Berwick, with the meaning glossed as 'the barley farm' and later 'an outlying part of an estate, the outlying lands of a manor retained for the lord's use'. The entry for Berwick-upon-Tweed gives the spellings Berwich (1136), -wyc -wic(h) -uvich -wyk' (12th century). The submitted spelling can also be interpolated from Berwicha (1167) and Berewic(h') -wicke (1196-1255), both found under the subheading Berwick St John. It is likely more authentic to use the Latinized "de Berwic" rather than "of Berwic", but it is registerable as submitted.

A commenter asked if there was a "sword-and-dagger" problem with using both an arrow (which has a normal arrowhead) and broadheads. We're more than happy to let Wreath make that call.

Standard Bibliography:

[Black] Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland.

Catholic Encyclopedia.

[Ekwall] Ekwall, Eilert. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names.

1911 Britannica Encyclopedia.

[Geirr Bassi] Geirr Bassi Haraldsson. The Old Norse Name.

[R&W] Reaney, P.H. and R. M. Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames.

[Watts] Watts, Victor, ed. Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, Based on the Collections of the English Place-Name Society.