Lillia de Vaux
eastern.crown@eastkingdom.org

April 25, 2011

Greetings to the East Kingdom College of Heralds! This is the Letter of Decisions for the March 14 and 15, 2011 Internal Letters of Intent. The original text from the iLoIs is bolded, and is followed by my comments in unbolded text.

Consulting heralds: Being proactive can mean all the difference when it comes to salvaging a heraldic submission. Please try to keep an eye on your clients' submissions in OSCAR during the commentary period (preferably for both EK and Society commentary). Quite frequently, we'll have questions about the submitter's intent in order to try to fix a submission. Or, we'll bring up a problem that requires the submitter to authorize a change (e.g., to change a language). It is very helpful if these questions have already been answered for me when I start to write the Letters of Decision, so there are no delays while I contact the submitter and wait for a reply. If you think you can obtain a Letter of Permission for Conflict, by all means, go ahead and request it, but remember to mention you've done so!

Thank you to the following commenters: Magnus von Lubeck, Gawain of Miskbridge, Alys Mackyntoich, Francesco Gaetano Greco d'Edessa, Kolosvari Arpadne Julia, Brunissende Dragonette, Jeanne Marie Lacroix, Ian Raven of Tadcaster, Palotzi Marti, Brita Mairi Svensdottir, Yosef Alaric, Aceline Barrett, and Mithgiladan the Herald.

Yours in Service,

Lillia de Vaux, Eastern Crown Herald

1: Aine Campbell - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Or, on a chevron inverted sable three lit candles palewise Or, in chief a reremouse sable

The submitter desires a female name. Áine is an Early Modern Irish Gaelic name found in Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchade, "Index of Names in Irish Annals" (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Feminine/Aine.shtml), in years 1316-1468. The submitter prefers the name without the accent; accents can be omitted from Gaelic names as long as it is done consistently. Campbell is found in Black, s.n. Campbell. Examples are <Duncan Campbell dominus de Gaunan>, a charter witness in 1390, and <Nigellus filius Colini Campbell>, dated 1282. The byname is also found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Index of Scots names found in Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/scots/dost/campbell.html), dated 1492-1572 and later. The combination of Gaelic and Scots is a step from period practice [Deirdre Thomson, 10/2010, Middle].

The orientation of the candles has been added to the blazon.

2: Alesia de Maris of Ravenstar - Resub Badge forwarded

Per pale sable and Or, two ravens respectant counterchanged

Her name was registered 08/1988 via the East. Her device, Argent, a raven close, on a chief sable three mullets Or, was registered 12/1987 via the East. Her prior badge submission, Or, a raven proper, was returned on the 11/2010 East Kingdom Letter of Decisions for multiple conflicts. The badge has been redesigned.

3: Alessandra Brucioli - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Azure on a bend argent between two estoiles Or three bay leaves vert

Sound ("Bruce is her nickname") most important. Alessandra can be found in Monica Chojnacka, Working Women of Early Modern Venice (Baltimore: John Hopkins Press, 2001). It is also found in Juliana de Luna, "Names from Sixteenth Century Venice" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/juliana/16thcvenice.html), where it was recorded as a feminine given name prior to 1600. Brucioli is a surname found 62 times in David Herlihy, R. Burr Litchfield, Anthony Molho, and Roberto Barducci, editors, "Florentine Renaissance Resources: Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" (http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/tratte/doc/TLSURNAM1.html).

Commenters noted that the 'c' in the byname is pronounced /ch/, as in the word church.

As originally drawn, the tertiary leaves blurred the line between palewise and bendwise. With the submitter's permission, the device has been redrawn.

4: Astrid Sigrun Ulfkillsdottir - New Name returned & New Device returned

Per chevron sable and argent, three wolf's teeth issuant from dexter and as many sinister and a raven counterchanged

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Language/culture (Norse) most important. Astrid is presumably based on Ástríðr, which is found in The Viking Answer Lady, "Old Norse Women's Names" (http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONWomensNames.shtml). The entry states the following:

The entry cites GB p. 15 s.n. Úlfkell; FJ pp. 347, 349 s.nn. Ulf-, -ketill; CV pp. 337-338, 668 s.v. ketill, úlfr; NR s.nn. Ulfkæ(ti)ll, Ulf-, -kæ(ti)ll.

This submission had several major problems: (1) The submitted spelling of the given name was not supported by the documentation, (2) documentation on the patronym was lacking, (3) the patronym was a mixture of two languages, and (4) double given names don't appear to have been used in at least two Scandinavian languages, Old Norse [Tómas Halvar, 12/2007 LoAR, R-Outlands] and Norwegian [Wilhelm Skallagrimsson, 11/2009 LoAR, A-Caid]. As the submitter allowed us to drop the second given name, one of those problems was easily corrected.

The spelling Astrid is found in 1388, but as a Swedish name, in SMP, s.n. Astridh (http://www.sofi.se/5187). The byname Ulfkillsdottir is a patronym formed from the Old Danish Ulfkil and the Old Norse or Old Swedish -dottir. We cannot mix languages in the same name phrase, however. The submitter indicated that she was most interested in a Norse name, but changing to the Old Norse Ulfkell in the patronym is a change in language. This is a major change under our rules, which the submitter does not allow. I would put it all in Old Danish to preserve the submitted sound of Ulfkil, but strictly speaking, changing from -dottir to -dotir is also a change of language. This is an instance where the submitter has tied our hands and we cannot correct the name, even if all we have to do is remove two letters. I tried to contact her, but her email address did not work, and the consulting herald (who was cc'd) did not respond. As a result, I am forced to return the name so that the submitter can clarify what language she wants when she resubmits.

If the submitter wants a name that's all in Old Norse, it would be Ástríðr Úlfkelsdóttir. If she wants the spelling Astrid, she could combine it with the Old Norse Úlfkelsdóttir or the Old Danish Úlfkilsdótir. (The accents can be omitted, as long as this is done for the entire name.) There would be a step from period practice for combining Swedish and Old Norse [Sighfridh hauknefr, 03/2009 or Bjarki Einarson, 04/02], or for Swedish and Old Danish [Ulf Einarson, 04/02], but both combinations are registerable. Gillian Fellows-Jensen, in "The Vikings and Their Victims: The Verdict of the Names" (http://vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/Fellows-Jensen.pdf) mentions that Ulfketil is found in runic inscriptions in Sweden, so Astrid Ulfketilsdotter and Astrid Ulfketilsdottir are possible all-Swedish forms. (We found -dotter and -dottir in SMP, s.n. Cecilia. Other spellings of 'daughter' are also found in SMP, if one of these isn't acceptable to the submitter.) Note, however, that there might be a step from period practice for temporal disparity between the elements, unless we can find a later instance of Ulfketil.

As kingdom cannot create holding names, the device must be returned with the name.

5: Beatrice de Warynton - New Badge forwarded

(Fieldless) A bee bendwise argent

Her name was registered 08/2010 via the East. A device, Argent, a peacock and on a chief embattled azure three crescents argent, was registered 11/2010 via the East.

This badge is clear of Sine ní Dheaghaidh (05/1998, Atlantia), (Fieldless) A honeybee argent. There is one CD for fieldlessness and another for the change of orientation.

6: Birna Svensdotter - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Gules, a bear rampant, on a chief argent three wooden staves bendwise sinister proper

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Language/culture (Viking) most important. Meaning ('she-bear') most important. Birna is a feminine given name found in the Viking Answer Lady (http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONWomensNames.shtml), which states that it, may be identical with the Old Icelandic birna, "she-bear", citing GB pp. 8; CV pp. 63 s.v. birna. Svensdotter is a patronym formed using the information in the Viking Answer Lady's section on matronyms and patronyms (http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONNames.shtml#general_info). Documentation for the father's name was not provided, but the name Sveinn is found in the same article (http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONMensNames.shtml):

The entry cites GB p. 15 s.n. Sveinn; FJ pp. 276-282, 351 s.n. Sveinn, Svein-; CV p. xxxiv s.v. "Pet Names"; CV p. 608 s.v. sveinn; NR s.n. Svæinn. The combination of Danish and Old Norse is a step from period practice [Andor i Ólgarði, 06/05]. Note that the form is a color printout, and the red is definitely red at this time.

As documented, this name consists of an Old Norse given name and a Swedish byname (-dotter is found in SMP, s.n. Cecilia). This is still registerable, but with a step from period practice for the language combination [Sighfridh hauknefr, 03/2009]. The all-Old Norse form would be Birna Sveinsdóttir.

The tertiary charges were blazoned as "poking sticks", which is not a charge previously registered in the SCA. Documentation to support a defining instance was not provided. However, as they could be some sort of staff, they have been reblazoned as "staves".

7: Biya the Jurchen - New Name returned & New Device returned

Per pale azure and purpure, two cockatoos respectant and in chief a plate between an increscent and a decrescent argent

All elements are from Giovanni Stary, A Dictionary of Manchu Names: A Name Index to the Manchu Version of the "Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners" Jakūn gūsai Manjusai mukūn hala be uheri ejehe bithe Baqi Manzhoushizy tongpu (Harrassowitz Wiesbaden, ed., 2000, Aetas Manjurica 8, a work that purports to cover a period from Manchu pre-history through the 18th century. According to Stary, scholars have identified certain patterns in Manchu personal names. These patterns include names based on nature such as Ula 'river', Hargi 'rapids', Usin 'field', Wargi 'west', Akjan 'thunder', and names based on qualities, such as Ayun 'big', Bayan 'rich', Niowanggiyan 'green', Jili 'wrath', and Ibagan 'monster'. Names were also based on objects, plants, animals, spirits, and materials such as copper, stone, and honey. Biya is Manchu for 'moon'. This assertion is supported by an entry from a Manchu-English dictionary (http://code.google.com/p/enenggi/source/browse/trunk/source/Documents/Manchu-English+Dictionary.txt?spec=svn4&r=4), and from Penglin Wang, "Indo-European Loanwords in Altaic", published in Sino-Platonic Papers, No. 65 (Feb. 1995). P.G. von Mollendorff, A Manchu Grammar (American Presbyterian Mission Press, 1892; http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023341112, p. 7) also supports the word biya for 'moon' in the context of naming months. The submitter has selected a two-element name solely because it is required by the College for registration. If it were possible to register just Biya, she would do so. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the term Jurchen is an Anglicization of the name of a tribe, originally from Manchuria, which established the ruling dynasty of China from 1115-1234. While the submitting herald has found ample evidence for the existence of the Jurchen in period, she has been unable to find any evidence for what the Jurchen people were called in period or whether "the Jurchen" would be a reasonable byname. The submitter requests the assistance of the College. The use of a cockatoo is a SFPP [Ymanya Bartelot, 05/2009].

This name is being returned because the submission did not meet the requirements of RfS I.1, Compatibility. It failed to establish that Western Europeans had significant, direct contact with this particular culture prior to 1600. We found no evidence that Europeans knew of the Jurchen or Manchu - by any name - in period, although there was contact in the gray period after the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. A Persian historian, Mohammed En-Nesawi (1269) supposedly mentioned the fall of "Djerdja Khitāy" [Jurchen Cathay] [see K.A. Wittfogel, "General Introduction", In: Transactions, American Philosophical Society, vol. 36, Part 1, 1946, http://books.google.com/books?id=g08LAAAAIAAJ], but a footnote to this part of the book identifies this people as the "Tchourtché ou Niou-tchi, peuple qui habitait le bassin de l'Amour" [see Mohammed En-Nesawi, Histoire du Sultan Djelal Ed-Din Mankobirti, O. Houdas, ed., 1895; http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/arabe/nesawi/sultan.htm]. I also found no evidence that this book was ever known by Europeans in period. Although we know that Europeans had contact with Persians, the Ming Dynasty, and the Mongols, and the Jurchen had contact with at least one Persian, the Ming Dynasty, and the Mongols, evidence of secondary contact has not been accepted in the past:

This shows evidence of one European in Korea in the last decade of the 16th C, one slave trader who purchased five slaves, and some interaction between the one European in Korea and native Koreans. There is no evidence of Koreans in Europe prior to 1600, no evidence of regular trade, religious missions (larger than one individual), settlements, invasion, or other types of contact that we examine to determine whether cultures might have influenced each other. While there is evidence that Korea and Japan had substantial contact, and that Japan and Europe had sufficient contact to show some cultural trade, substantial contact between two non-European cultures (even when one has substantial contact with European cultures) is not sufficient evidence to allow registration of names from a culture with no evidence of substantial direct contact itself with European cultures [Yang SuGyong, 08/2007, Æthelmearc].

This was also discussed recently on the 11/2010 Cover Letter:

To register a personal name from a non-European culture, you need to present evidence that the culture in question had contact with Europe and Europeans before 1600. But before you get too concerned about presenting that evidence, take a look through LoARs to see if we've registered other names from that culture. If we've registered a name from that culture recently, don't worry too much about proving that contact again. However, there are many cultures that have not been shown to be registerable. A discussion of the kinds of evidence one might present is given in the January 2003 Cover Letter, dealing with Tibetan names. Note that second-hand contact (contact with a group of people who had contact with Europe) is not sufficient. In the case of India, we often look to the late-period Portuguese coastal possessions as evidence for contact. History books are generally necessary to argue for these points, as websites created by private individuals often include poorly sourced information and cannot be trusted.

The documentation didn't show that the examples used to justify the name Biya were found in period, or that biya was a period word. It was documented as a word in Manchu, which is derived from, but not the same as Jurchen [see Herbert Franke, "Notes on Some Jurchen Words in Chinese Orthography", in: Roy Andrew Miller, Karl Heinrich Menges, and Nelly Naumann, eds., Language and literature: Japanese and the other Altaic languages (http://books.google.com/books?id=3oGLez4d-ncC, pp. 51-65)]. The submitter may wish to know that the word is found in the Jurchen language as well as Manchu. The Divan of Gada'i (http://books.google.com/books?id=u1Q5fMqnWbEC, p. 35) implies that the word is found in Sino-Jurchen glossaries from the Ming Dynasty, and indicates that biya is based on a Chinese phonetic rendering of the Jurchen word for 'moon'. Thus, it appears to be a valid transcription and translation. The author cites a book by Gisaburo Kiyose, A study of the Jurchen language and script: Reconstruction and decipherment, which is in turn based on research on Jurchen manuscripts from c. 1500 [see John King Fairbank and Denis Crispin Twitchett, The Cambridge History of China, (Vol. 3, Vol. 6, p. 688; http://books.google.com/books?id=iN9Tdfdap5MC)]. Whether this word is also found in the earlier language, Old Jurchen, could not be determined. The submitter should be aware that most sources on the Jurchen language are in Chinese, so the romanizations are derived from modern standard Mandarin transcriptions; they may not reflect the original Jurchen pronunciations. A longer discussion on transcribing Jurchen into Chinese is found in Franke (op. cit.).

If the submitter wishes to try this name again, it would be helpful if the examples of the naming pattern were roughly dated (based on when they appear in the genealogies) to show that such given names were definitely used in period vs. the 18th century. This would help us determine if the examples are temporally compatible with the c. 1500 date for the word. If adequate documentation can be found to show significant contact of the Jurchen culture with Europeans pre-1600, the Jurchen is likely a valid lingua anglica form.

As kingdom cannot create holding names, the device must be returned as well.

8: Charis Olynthia - Resub Device forwarded

Gules, an ounce's head cabossed Or charged with the astrological symbol for Leo sable, a bordure argent semy of suns gules

Her name was registered 08/2010, via the East. Her previous submission, Gules, an ounce's head cabossed Or charged with the astrological symbol for Leo sable, a bordure argent semy of suns gules, was returned at the same time:

9: Conall an Doire - New Name forwarded & New Device pended

Per pale sable and azure, a tree couped and in chief three crescents argent

The submitter desires a male name. No major changes. Client requests authenticity for 15th century. Language/culture (Irish/Gaelic) most important. Conall is a masculine given name found in Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Index of Names in Irish Annals" (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Conall.shtml) as the name of 45 men, years 565-1599. The submitted spelling is the standard Old Irish, Middle Irish, and Early Modern Irish Gaelic nominative form. an Doire is a masculine descriptive byname meaning '[of] the Oak-grove/Oak-wood' (ibid., http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/DescriptiveBynames/anDoire.shtml). It is the standard Early Modern Irish Gaelic genitive form of the name, and was used in the names of three men, years 1249-1588. The name pattern <given name> + <descriptive byname> is found in the same article (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/DescriptiveBynames/index.shtml).

Both elements in this name were found in 15th century entries in the annals, so this name could meet the authenticity request. It must be stated, however, that the annals were compiled in the 17th century from earlier material, so the spellings are sometimes from the later time instead of the years in the entries.

The default tree is an oak, so that has been removed from the blazon. The device conflicts with that of Margaret blomakinn Samsdottir (02/2004, Atlantia), Per bend sinister vert and sable, a tree blasted and eradicated and in chief three crescents argent. There is a CD for the field, but that is the only one. There is no CD between a tree and a tree blasted [Beata Lyndon of Taylorwood, 11/2008] or for a tree couped vs. a tree eradicated [Gregor MacDonald and Petronel Harlakenden, 10/2008]. I am attempting to obtain a letter of permission of conflict, and am pending this device to allow time for a reply. If the letter is received prior to the External Letter being issued, this item will be forwarded as well. If a response is not received, the device will be returned.

10: Conall mac Taichlich - New Device forwarded

Per bend embattled argent and vert, two talbots passant countourny counterchanged

His name was on the 02/2011 East Kingdom Letter of Decision and is on the East's March 24, 2011 External Letter of Intent.

11: Cristine Spinster - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Per bend sinister argent and azure, a ram's head couped contourny and a spinning wheel reversed counterchanged

Cristine is found in Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames" (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/reaneyAG.html), s.n. Christina, dated 1277-78 to 1312. Spinster is intended as an occupational byname for a woman who spins wool. It is found in the OED, dated 1362 in the submitted spelling. In addition, it is found as a byname in the Middle English Dictionary, with <Cecilia Spinster> dated 1367 and <Anna Spinster> dated 1380.

12: Dabíd Docair - New Name forwarded

The submitter desires a male name. Language/culture (Gaelic) most important. Meaning (David) most important. Dabíd is the Middle Irish Gaelic (c900-c1200) nominative form of a masculine name found in Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Index of Names in Irish Annals" (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Dauid.shtml), s.n. Dauíd, Dabíd / Dauídh, Daibhídh. Forms of the this name are used by six men in Annals entries for the years 1164-1582. Dabid is found in the CELT database in the Lives of the Saints from the Book of Lismore (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G201001/)). For example, a <Dabid meic Iese> is mentioned in line 1778 of Part 5 (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G201001/text005.html). The notes on the text state that it is "By unknown authors in Irish monastic scriptoria Date range: c. 1100-1200, various and unknown" and that approx. 99% of the text is Middle Irish and Early Modern Irish. Docair '[the] Grievous/Troublesome/Difficult (Mischievous)' is a masculine descriptive byname (ibid., http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/DescriptiveBynames/Docair.shtml), s.n. Docair. It is the standard Early Modern Irish Gaelic nominative and genitive form of the name, found in entries for years 1383 and 1387 as the name of one man. Docair is also found as a common word in the Lives of the Saints from the Book of Lismore from c1100-1200 (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G201001/text005.html, line 1886): "De dia furtacht cona riabhi docair di a tuismed a meic" ("An angel of God came to help her, so that the bringing forth of her son should not be difficult"; translation found at http://books.google.com/books?id=sBgMAAAAIAAJ; Whitley Stokes, ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980, p. 204). As stated earlier, this text would either be Middle Irish or Early Modern Irish Gaelic. The name follows the pattern <single given name> + <descriptive adjective> (ibid., http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/DescriptiveBynames/index.shtml). The combination of Middle Irish Gaelic and Early Modern Irish Gaelic is a SFPP [Tigernach Ó Catháin, 11/01], of which the submitter is aware.

13: Drogo Bryce of Middlefordshire - New Name forwarded & New Device pended

Quarterly azure and vert, a calygreyhound rampant guardant argent

The submitter desires a male name. No major changes. Language/culture (Norman) most important. Drogo is a given name found in Bardsley, s.n. Drew, with the example <Drogo Beuviere> purportedly found in the Domesday book (1086). The entry (s.n. Drew) simply states "Bapt. 'the son of Drew,' or 'Dru' (Drogo in Domesday)". Bryce is also supposed to be found in Bardsley, s.n. Brice. The submitted spelling does not appear in our period; however, the spelling <Brice> is found as a given name in 1273, and a byname in 1273 and 1312. The i/y switch is ubiquitous in English, as seen in the surnames Bridoke (1334) and Brydok' (1379), both found in Bardsley, s.n. Brideoake, so the submitted spelling seems plausible. of Middlefordshire is intended as a locative byname based on the name of the submitter's first branch, Middleford, Shire of (Ansteorra, 06/1984), so this element may need to be constructed.

Bryce is found in Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "An Index to the 1332 Lay Subsidy Rolls for Lincolnshire, England" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/LincLSR/). When using branch names as locatives in personal names, they must be used exactly as they are registered (minus the designator); thus, the name would need to be Drogo Bryce of Middleford. However, commenters were able to construct the modified branch name in order to support this submission:

Middle- is found in Watts, s.nn. Middleton, Middlemarsh, Middleham, Middle Moor, Middleton, Middle Fen, and Middlesbrough, with <Tres Middelton> (1201, 1242), <Middelmersh> (1227), <Mid(d)elham> (1184), <Middelmor> (1286), <Middelton> (1194-1332), <Middelfen> (1251), and <Middlesbrough> (1407).

ford + shire is found in Ekwall, s.nn. Oxford, Herefordshire, Hertford, and Bedford with <Oxnafordscir> (1010) and <Herefordscir> (1038, 1056), <Heortfordscir> (1050), and <Bedanfordscir> (1011). For the use of shire in a locative name, R&W, s.nn. Berkshire, Shropshire, and Lancashire, has <William Berksir> (1249), <William de Barkescire> (1317), <John Barksher> (1525), <Edith de Shropshir'> (1226), <Alice de Shropshire> (1327), <Richard Shropschire> (1414), <Richard de Lancastreschire> (1387), and <Robert Lancashire> (1604).

The device conflict with that of Tristram O'Shee (08/2006, An Tir), Per saltire gules and sable, a calygreyhound rampant argent. There is one CD for the field, but nothing for the head position [Ulfr Raude, 01/1998]. I am attempting to obtain a letter of permission of conflict, and am pending this device to allow time for a reply. If the letter is received prior to the External Letter being issued, this item will be forwarded as well. If a response is not received, the device will be returned.

14: Elgiva Wilhelm - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Argent, on a roundel azure a bat displayed Or, in chief three flax flowers azure

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Sound (unspecified) most important. Elgiva is a header form found in Withycombe. On checking the entry, it states that this spelling is "a 19th-C revival of a latinized form". Wilhelm is found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Women's Surnames in 15th- and 16th-Century Germany" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/womenssurnames.html). No information was provided, other than the URL. On checking the article, I found the examples <Helena Wilhelm Rumlin> and <Ottilg Wilhelmyn>, both from 1497. The latter uses a feminized form, Wilhelmyn. Unmodified surnames are also attested in this article.

Undated forms in Withycombe are not reliable. Luckily for the submitter, we were able to find the name in the online MED:

(c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900) 517: This Elgiva my3t conceyve no childe by the kyng and therfore heo toke that Suanus whanne he was newe bore of a prestes wif.
(c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900) 518: Harold Harefote was..anone as he was y-bore ybrou3t to the bedde of this Elgiva and leyde by hir as thou3 heo had y-bore hym.
(c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900) 7.517: Elgiva my3t conceyve no childe by the kyng and therfore heo toke that Suanus..and leyde hir silf doun as it were a child bedde and child by hir.

The combination of English and German is a step from period practice, but is registerable [Godfrey von Rheinfels, 05/2004].

15: Erhart von Stuttgart - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Sable, a cross between in bend two eagles and in bend sinister two sinister gauntleted fists Or

The submitter desires a male name. No major changes. Client requests authenticity for 16th century German (Neckar River region). Sound (unspecified) most important. Language (German) most important. Culture (16th century German, Neckar River region) most important. Erhart is intended as an "evolved version" of a notable family name, Erhard, found in the area of Bavaria in the 1300s. The spelling as a masculine given name is found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "German Names from Nürnberg, 1497" (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/german/nurnberg1497.html). The documentation mentions <Erhart Hegenwalt>, a writer of hymns in 1524, <Erhart Altdorfer>, a court painter at Schwerin in 1533, and <Erhart Ratdolt>, a typographer of the city of Ausburg in 1486, according to tax records of that city (sources not provided). von is the German locative preposition, e.g., <Ulrich von Hutten> (1488-1523). Source not provided. Stuttgart is documented in Jacob Gretser, Elias Hasenmüller, and Cleophas Distelmeyer, Histori des Jesuitischen Ordens (http://books.google.com/books?id=rEY8AAAAcAAJ), published 1595. The locative is found on p. 367 ("zu Stuttgart"). Copies not provided.

The lack of documentation would normally be grounds for return; however, commenters were able to fill in the gaps. The given name Erhart is found with a count of 43 in Aryanhwy's article (op. cit.). The preposition von is found in the same article, e.g., <von Augspurg> and <von Munchen>. The locative was found in the cited book from 1595, as described in the iLoI.

Commenters noted that this design was not marshalling:

Isabelle of Carolingia. Device. Purpure, a cross between in bend two anchors and in bend sinister two bells and on a chief Or a rose fesswise purpure slipped brown leaved vert. Many commenters suggested that this should be considered a marshaled design. It is not. Our rules require that the field be divided for it to have the appearance of marshalling or impalement. While the addition of a cross throughout does not remove the appearance of marshalling on a divided field, neither does it add the appearance of marshalling on a singly-tinctured field. [Isabelle of Carolingia, 09/2008]

16: Grim the Skald - Resub Device forwarded

Or, on a saltire cotised gules a Norse sun cross argent

His name was on the December 31, 2010 External Letter of Intent (East). The device was returned in kingdom on the 22 December 2010 Letter of Decision for conflict:

The device is returned for conflict with Donal macRuiseart (10/1976), Or, on a saltire gules four anchors Or, with one CD for the change in type and number of tertiary charges. The device is clear, however, of Bruce, former royal house of Scotland (important non-SCA arms, 12/1994), Or, A saltire and a chief gules, with a CD for removing the chief and another for adding a tertiary charge. It is also clear of Rosamund Kilpatrick (An Tir, 10/2003), Or, a saltire gules and overall a cross engrailed vert, with CDs for removing the overall charge and for adding a tertiary charge.

The Norse sun cross was barely overall, which has long been grounds for return. In addition, overall charges need to have good contrast with the field. We couldn't find enough period examples of overall charges that had only low contrast, so the device was redrawn to make the sun cross a true tertiary charge. The submitter has approved the new art. It is clear of Mary Garrett of Seasalter (03/1991, Middle), Barry engrailed argent and azure, on a saltire cotised gules a covered saltcellar argent, with one CD for changing the field and one for the change in type and orientation of the tertiary charge. It is clear of Eiríkr Blódhskegg Bjarnarson (09/1997, Ansteorra), Or, on a saltire gules between four phoenixes sable, five roses argent, with two CDs for changing the type and tincture of the secondary charges, and one more for the multiple changes to the tertiary charge group.

17: Hadchester, Shire of - Resub Name forwarded & Resub Device forwarded

Per fess embattled purpure and Or, a decrescent and a laurel wreath counterchanged

The original submission, Hadrian's Keep, Shire of, was returned on the East Kingdom's 10-30-2010 Letter of Decision:

There is a valid petition. This is a resubmission of the original device that was returned with the branch name. The same petition with the name includes the blazon for the device. Additional copies have been made to go with the name and device forms.

The following info was provided by Aryanhwy merch Catmael:

Watts, _Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names_ s.n. Hadfield derives this place name from OE <hæth> 'heather' + <feld> 'field'. Period spellings of the place include <Hadfeld> 1372 and 1378. Another origin for the prototheme <Had-> is the OE personal name <Hæda> or <Hædda>; this is the origin of the element in Much Hadham, period forms of which include <Magna Hedham> 1278, <Muchel Hadham> 1373. This is an unusual origin of the element; the entry says "The absence of the genitive ending -an is note- worthy; for this reason the name has usually been taken to be 'heath homestead'. The difficult here is the lack of any trace of -th-."

The element <-chester> comes from OE <ceaster> 'city, old fortification', from Latin <castra> 'camp'. The term "has a fairly wide currency in OE and in place names" according to Smith, _English Place-Name Elements_, s.v. ceaster. The entry says "In place names, <ceaster> was clearly used to describe important Roman towsn [sic] and cities, being often added in OE as a suffix to the Romano-Brit names...But there are p.ns. with this el., esp. in the NCy, which cannot be associated with particular remains of this kind'...As a final el., it is combined with: (v) OE or other pers.ns, or words denoting people, as Godmanchester, Kenchester, Muncaster, Pabcastle, Tadcaster."

As such, this name seems to be plausible as a constructed English place name.

With the submitter's permission, the device has been redrawn to make the charges larger and to make the line of division more substantial.

18: Hans Steiner - New Name Change forwarded

Old Item: Hans Krüger, to be released. The name was submitted as Hanse Steiner. Submitter desires a male name. No changes. Language/culture ("Steiner", German) most important. The submitter's current name was registered 05/2007 (East). Although the "no changes" boxes were checked, this is just for the given name. The submitter will accept Hans der Steiner and any other minor changes to the byname as needed for registration, as long as the first name is unchanged. Hans is a masculine given name in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "German Names from 1495" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/german1495.html), with this spelling appearing 272 times. Note that article does not contain the submitted spelling. Assistance finding it would be appreciated. Steiner is a surname that appears once (ibid., http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/surnames1495n-s.html). der was noted as the German locative preposition. A source was not provided. Note that copies were not provided.

We could not find the submitted spelling of the given name Hanse, and noted that the documentation was for the spelling Hans. The submitter was contacted in order to clarify his intent, and he indicated that he will accept the spelling Hans. (This spelling is also grandfathered to him.) It was noted that a variant spelling of the byname, <Steyner>, is dated 1366-71 in Bahlow/Gentry, s.n. Steiner.

19: Isobel of Werchesope - Resub Device forwarded

Gules, a saltcellar Or, spilling salt argent

Her name is on the East's 12-31-2010 External Letter of Intent. Her original submission, Gules, three New World pineapples, one and two Or, and three points argent, was returned on the East's 10-30-2010 Letter of Decision for using three points, which is an unregisterable motif. This is a complete redesign.

20: Jekel von dem Hayn - New Name fowarded & New Device forwarded

Per bend sinister azure and argent, a pegasus segreant counterchanged, on a chief argent five annulets, three and two, azure

The submitter desires a male name. Language/culture (mid-14th C Silesia, specifically Gorlitz) most important. Jekel is found in Talan Gwynek, "Medieval German Given Names from Silesia" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/bahlow/bahlowMasc.html). It is a variant of Jacob, found in 10 instances dated between 1350 and 1396. von dem Hayn is a byname interpolated from "Henczel von dem Hain = Henczel Hayn, Görlitz 1352" and "Matz Drausche von Hain, Görlitz 1566", both found in Bahlow/Gentry, s.n. Hain.

With the submitter's permission, the device was redrawn to correct the line of division so that it issued from the corner made by the bottom of the chief.

21: Katrina MacCullauch - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Per pale argent and sable, two swan's necks respectant erased and necks entwined counterchanged

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Katrina is found in Talan Gwynek, "A List of Feminine Personal Names Found in Scottish Records" (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/scottishfem.html#scottishfemlate). The name is a variant of Katherine, and is dated 1548. MacCullauch is based on Black, s.n. MacCulloch, which has an example <M'Cullauch>, dated 1439. The scribal abbreviation has been expanded for registration.

The forms appeared to be modified when the emblazon was added using a computer art program, as the escutcheon wasn't lined up quite correctly. In addition, the majority of the commenters had a problem identifying the swan's heads. The device was redrawn with the submitter's permission to try to correct these problems.

22: Lillia de Vaux - New Blanket Permission to Conflict forwarded

(Fieldless) A crampet argent

This badge was registered 12/2007 via the East.

23: Lillia de Vaux - New Blanket Permission to Conflict forwarded

(Fieldless) A crampet azure

This badge was registered 08/2010 via the East.

24: Lillia de Vaux - New Blanket Permission to Conflict forwarded

(Fieldless) A crampet argent ermined vert

This badge was registered 08/2010 via the East.

25: Lillia de Vaux - New Blanket Permission to Conflict forwarded

Argent semy of crampets, a bend azure

Her name was registered 11/2006 via the East. The device was registered 12/2007, also via the East.

26: Marion Quyn - New Name forwarded

The submitter desires a female name. Language/culture (British Isles) most important. Marion is a feminine given name found in the online MED: "(1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E. 126/162: We presente Marion, þe wif of John Thornton, for a foreyn, retaillyng and byeng as a fre woman." Quyn is a byname found in 1457 in 'London and Middlesex Fines: Henry VI', A Calendar to the Feet of Fines for London & Middlesex: volume 1: Richard I - Richard III (1892), pp. 182-202. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=78825: "John Whitberwe, John Breynt, John Lyon, John Nycoll, Thomas Bygg, and Thomas Quyn, and John Robyns, and Margaret, his wife. Premises in Hendon and Fyncheley. Anno 36." (The bynames in this source do not appear to have been normalized.) Examples of feminine given name + surname are found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Feminine names from 14th C Exeter" (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/english/exeterfem14thc.html), e.g., Sarah Stole, Edith Obelyn, and Christine Clyne. (Given names were normalized in the source material, but bynames were not.)

This name conflicts with Maire Quinn (11/1992, Calontir). Maire was found as an English given name in 1599 and 1637 (IGI Parish Extracts), and <Seinte Maire Overee de Suthwerk> (Saint Mary Overie of Southwark) was found dated 1365 in 'Parishes: St Michael Paternoster', The Cartulary of Holy Trinity, Aldgate: London Record Society 7 (1971), pp. 86-90 (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64033). Thus, it appears as though Maire is equivalent to Mary in English (per RfS V.1.a). Marion is a diminutive of Mary, so those two given names conflict under RfS V.1.a.i, even if they were significantly different in sound and appearance. This leaves only the byname to possibly clear the conflict. Unfortunately, Quyn and Quinn are variant spellings of the same name and are equivalent by RfS V.1.a, so this name is about as close as you can get. The submitter has been contacted and has requested that the name be pended for a month so she can decide how to proceed.

Edit: Maire Quinn has been located and tentatively agreed to provide permission to conflict. This item has been forwarded. If the letter falls through, the submitter will accept Marion Quyn of Cheschire, where the spelling of the locative is found in Watts, s.n. Cheshire, dated 1430.

27: Maximillian Elgin - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Per bend sinister sable and gules, in pale three axes fesswise reversed Or

No changes. The form stated that this was a resubmission of a Laurel return of Max Elgin Nacrobie. However, no record of this name could be found, either in the East's files, or in Ragged Staff's. As such, this is being processed as a new submission for which the appropriate fees have been paid. Maximilian is the name of Maximilian I (1459-1519) and Maximilian II (1527-76), both emperors of the Holy Roman Emperor. Source not provided. Elgin is found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Index of Scots names found in Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/scots/dost/elgin.html), which this spelling dated between 1552 and 1648.

The submitter has confirmed that this should be a new submission.

The submitted spelling of the given name is dated 1585 in a non-modernized entry in 'Cecil Papers: December 1585', Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House, Volume 3: 1583-1589 (1889), pp. 115-128 (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=111485): "Item, geven to my heir Maximillian, the two cusshons and thinges belonging to the canapy, and also the carpet." This is nicely compatible with the earlier instances of the byname in DOST. English and Scots are registerable without a SFPP [Michael Duncan of Hadley, 04/2004].

The device has been redrawn with the submitter's permission.

28: Miles Boweman - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Gules, a drawn bow nocked with an arrow and on a chief Or a snake nowed vert

The submitter desires a male name. Miles is found in Karen Larsdatter, "An Index to the 1523 Subsidy Roll for York and Ainsty, England" (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/york16/given-masc-alpha.htm), with three instances in this spelling. Boweman is a byname of <Lowerance Boweman, tailour> found in 'Admissions to the Freedom of York: Temp. Edward VI (1547-1553)', Register of the Freemen of the City of York: Vol. 1: 1272-1558 (1897), pp. 267-273 (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=48274). The names are not normalized.

The following precedent was noted in commentary:

The byname Miles is the approved alternate Latin term for "knight". As such, it violates RfS VI.1 Names Claiming Rank and is not registerable. Miles is also used as an English given name in period. Therefore, it is registerable as a given name. However, it has to be unmistakably in a given name context. In a three element name of this type, the second element can be a byname or it can a second given name (in the 16th C). As this usage is not clearly as a given name, Miles is not registerable in this context...The form Miles Martin is also registerable as it uses Miles in a context that can only be a given name. [Mark Miles Martin, 03/2010]

As Miles in this submission is a given name, it should be registerable.

29: Riocard Docair - New Name forwarded & New Device forwarded

Per pale sable and argent, a ladder bendwise sinister argent and a torch gules, on a chief azure an open book argent

The submitter desires a male name. Language/culture (Gaelic) most important. Meaning (Richard, byname meaning 'the troublesome') most important. Riocard is the Gaelic form of Richard, found in Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Index of Names in Irish Annals" (http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Riocard.shtml), s.n. Riocard (Risderd). The submitted spelling is the standard Early Modern Irish Gaelic nominative form, found in entries for years 1322-1598 as the name of seven men. Docair '[the] Grievous/Troublesome/Difficult (Mischievous)' is a masculine descriptive byname (ibid., s.n. Docair). It is the standard Early Modern Irish Gaelic nominative and genitive form of the name, found in years 1383 and 1387 as the name of one man. The name pattern <single given name> + <descriptive adjective> is found in Mari's article (op. cit., http://www.medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/DescriptiveBynames/index.shtml). The device has a complexity count of eight, which is the rule-of-thumb limit.

30: Sarah Elizabeth Dubh Sidhe - New Name returned & New Device withdrawn

Per chevron argent and azure, four bobbins palewise Or and a hedgehog argent

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Client requests authenticity for late 16th century English, married to a Scot. Language/culture (late 16th century English, married to a Scot) most important. Sarah is found in Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames"(http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/reaneyHZ.html), dated 1201, 1249, 1384, and c. 1405. Elizabeth is dated 1205-1600 (ibid., http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/reaneyAG.html). Dubh is the "Scottish Gaelic 'Black'". Documentation was not provided. Sibhe is described as the following: "The Sidhe are considered to be a separate race, quite distinct from human beings yet who have had much contact with mortals over the centuries, and there are many documented testimonies to this. Belief in this race of beings who have powers beyond those of men to move quickly through the air and change their shape at will once played a huge part in the lives of people living in rural Ireland and Scotland." No documentation was provided.

This submission had multiple problems: (1) There was inadequate documentation (both for the name elements and the construction of the name/combination of languages), and (2) the name did not provide justification for the use of the name of the Sidhe as a byname for a normal human, thus running afoul of RfS, VI.2, Names Claiming Powers. Elmet Herald also noted that, "No name that tries to combine English and Gaelic in the same name will be an authentic Anglo-Scots name for the 16th century. Gaelic was not the primary language of Scotland in the 16th century, particularly for those who intermarried with the English. The name really should be entirely Scots or Scots-English if she wants authenticity." In fact, the combination of English and Gaelic is a SFPP [Ian MacHenrik, 10/1999]. A more authentic form of the name would be something like Sarah Elizabeth Macduffe or Sarah Elizabeth MacFee. (Both of those bynames are found in Black, s.n. MacFee, and are dated 1532 and 1541, respectively.) We would make the change to meet her authenticity request, but changing the language of the byname from Gaelic to Scots is a major change, which the submitter does not allow.

If the submitter truly wants a Gaelic byname, despite the authenticity request, one could be constructed from the masculine given name Dub Sidhe. This name is purportedly the Gaelic form of the Scots name MacFee in Black, s.n. MacFee, but it is found in the Annals of Loch Cé LC1577.10 [see Kára inghean Dhuibhsith, 12/2008]. Gaelic names at this time were literal, so we would need some sort of particle to go with it, like inghean 'daughter', giving inghean Dhuibhsith. (An earlier spelling would use Duib Sidhe, but this would not be registerable because it would introduce a second SFPP for temporal disparity.) A clan affiliation byname would not be appropriate for a Scottish Gael [see "Quick and Easy Gaelic Names" by Sharon Krossa, http://www.medievalscotland.org/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/]. However, as the submitter does not allow major changes like the addition of an element, we cannot make this change in order to forward on the name. The submitter was contacted in order to clarify her wishes based on the above information. She indicated that would like the Gaelic form given in Black, MacDhubhshith. Unfortunately, this byname is a modern one, and is not registerable unless documentation is provided to show that it was a period name:

The byname, MacDhubhshith, was documented from Black, Surnames of Scotland, s.n. MacFee, which says "Gaelic form, MacDhubhshith", with no dates. When Black discusses Gaelic forms without dates, he is discussing modern usage. Lacking evidence that MacDhubhshith is a period Gaelic form, it is not registerable [Uuroican MacDhubhshith, 09/2008].

As we cannot change the name according to period practice, and we cannot use the submitter's preferred, but modern, byname, this name must be returned.

The submitter actually wanted wooden bobbins, so has withdrawn the device. It had not been withdrawn, it would have been returned for violating RfS VIII.2, Armorial Contrast, due to the metal-on-metal design. It was also recommended that the bobbins be drawn to match the one in the PicDic (or documentation to support the submitted shape needs to be provided), and to raise the point of the per chevron field division so that it doesn't blur the line between a point pointed and per chevron. (The device should be divided into two parts that are approximately equal in area.)

31: Shely Magennis - Resub Device returned

Quarterly argent and sable, in bend sinister two phoenixes argent

The submitter's name is on the 02-02-2011 East Kingdom Letter of Decision. The initial device submission, Quarterly sable and argent, in bend two phoenixes argent, was returned for conflict with Finnseach de Lochiell (10/1997, Middle), Per bend sinister sable and vert, in bend two phoenixes argent. The tinctures have been reversed and the charges moved accordingly in order to clear the conflict.

Unfortunately, the resubmission did not clear the conflict, as the position of the charges was forced. The device must be returned again.

32: Ysane la Fileresse - New Name forwarded

The submitter desires a female name. No major changes. Language/culture (unspecified) most important. Meaning (unspecified) most important. Ysane is found in Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris" (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/paris.html#Y), as the name of one women, <Ysane [une fame]>. la Fileresse 'spinner' is found in Colm Dubh "Occupational By-Names in the 1292 Tax Role [sic] of Paris" (http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/names/parisbynames.html), with the example <Marguerot, filerresse de soie>. The documentation notes indicated that the submitter's persona is from the mid-1300s, and that there are two prior registrations of the byname.

We'd expect fileresse to not be capitalized, based on the pattern of the rest of the names in the cited article. However, the byname le prestre is found as le Prestre in Aryanhwy merch Catmael's "Names in the 1292 census of Paris" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/1292paris.pdf). We are giving the submitter the benefit of the doubt that the occupation could have been capitalized.

Standard Bibliography:

[Bahlow/Gentry] Bahlow, Hans. Deutsches Nameslexikon. (translation by Edda Gentry

[Bardsley] Bardsley, Charles. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames.

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

[Cleasby and Vigfusson] Cleasby, Richard, and Gudbrand Vigfusson, An Icelandic-English Dictionary.

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

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

[OED] The Oxford English Dictionary.

[SMP] Sveriges medeltida personnamn (SMP).

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

[Withycombe] Withycombe, E.G. Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names.