Submitted as Áine ingen Flaithimhin, the patronymic combines an Early Modern Gaelic patronymic with a Middle Gaelic particle, such combinations are not registerable. The correct particle in this case is inghean. In addition, Early Modern Gaelic grammar requires feminine patronymics starting with the letter F lenite. We have changed tthe name to Áine inghean Fhlaithimhin to reflect these requirements.
The submitter requested authenticity for Romania circa 1470. The given name is Polish and the byname is Russian. No documentation was provided and none found that either name was used in Romania in period. The name is certainly registerable, but we are unable to make it authentic.
Blazoned on the LoI as Sable, three ravens displayed and on a chief argent a kris blade fesswise argent [sic], we have reblazoned this to match the artwork; as the tertiary charge was conflict checked for all possible tinctures anyway, we see no need to pend this.
Submitted as Donecan of Maccuswael, the submitter requested authenticity for 10th Scots language/culture. We note that the Scots language did not exist in the 10th century. However, if what he wants is a non-Gaelic name from 10th C Scotland, this is a reasonable choice.
The byname was changed to partially fulfill the request.
The submitter proposed the form Maccuswael as a variant of Maccuswel based on the statement in Black, Surnames of Scotland, that wael is the Old English word for well or pool. In this instance, Black is mistaken. According to the OED wael is an Old English word for a ridge or wale; the Old English word for pool is wæl. As there is no evidence that the "Æ" and "ae" are interchangable in Old English, this variant is not a valid spelling for this name. Black, s.n. Maxwell lists a John de Maccuswel in 1210; we have changed his name to Donecan de Maccusel in order to register it.
Please advise the submitter to draw the saltire larger.
The purpose of the petition is to show there is support for the submission by the populace of the group. The petition included with this device had nine signatures but no indication who were officers or what percentage of the populace this petition represented. In this case, we were able to find a list of the officers for the group which matches the names on the petition and will accept this petition as sufficent support for the submission.
The form is an apparent victim of too many rounds of photoreduction. AH IV.C.1.d says "The emblazon of any armory must be depicted in a size adequate for complete rendition of details of the armory and for equitable application of the 'across the field test.' In general, this means that the field for an escutcheon should be approximately six inches in height and five inches wide at its widest point..." While Laurel has decided to allow this particular form, it should be noted that forms reduced to less than ninety per cent of the standard size may not be accepted in the future.
This is clear of Alaric of Owef, whose official blazon is Or, a sword sable and a flax blossom [Linum usitatissimum] slipped and leaved proper in saltire, but whose emblazon does not match that; Alaric's sword and flower are actually reversed in orientation, so there is one CD for the field and one for change in orientation of the charges. Alaric's device is reblazoned elsewhere on this letter.
The bird on this badge is identical to the one on the barony's already registered badge.
The question was raised whether the name Thorin was used by humans in period. Jensen Scandinavian Personal Names in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire cites a Grunekell f. Thorin 1066-69.
Submitted as Wilhelmina von Ravensburg, all available documentation says that the given name was not found until after the 17th C. The article "Cijnsboek Oost- en Middelbeers 1542", http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Amelsvoort/cijnsb1.html, is a census taken in 1542 and written in Latin. It shows a Wilhelma filia Servatii Michaelis; we have changed the given name to this form. This combines a Latinized Dutch and German byname in a single name, but such combinations are not considered a step from period practice.
This is clear of Albrechtus Vagus: Per pall arrondi sable, azure and argent. RfS X.4.a.ii.c regarding Field-Primary Armory says "independent changes to the tincture, direction of partition lines, style of partition lines, or number of pieces in the partition may be counted separately when comparing two pieces of field-primary armory." (emphasis added) There are separate CDs for the number of pieces, and for changing the style of the line from straight to arrondy. The latter was established by the following precedent:
[Quarterly Or and vert] This device does not conflict with ... Quarterly arrondi sable and Or. There is one CD for changing the tincture of the field. Recent precedent has been mixed about whether there is a CD for making a field division arrondy. The weight of the recent precedent and the commentary is in favor of giving a CD between these two lines. This is an SCA choice (rather than one which can be based on period evidence). The weight of precedent, and the fact that there is a visual distinction between a straight and an arrondy line, indicates that we should give a CD for this change. [Br{o,}ndólfr the Stout, 03/03, A-Middle]
Her previously registered device, Sable, on a bend sinister azure fimbriated three dogwood blossoms palewise argent seeded Or, is retained as a badge.
This is clear of Solveig Throndardottir: (Fieldless) A lozenge Or, with one CD for fieldlessness and one for adding the highly prominent fleurs-de-lys at the points.
This name combines English and Gaelic in the same name; this is one step from period practice.
The question was raised at the meeting whether the crosses were clechy or patonce. As there is not a CD between these two types of cross, it is safe to go with clechy as submitted, though the submitter might be advised to draw the crosses more clearly.
Submitted as Máel-dúin MacCormaicc, the submitter requested authenticity for 8th-10th C Manx language/culture and accepted minor changes. Unfortunately, no information is available for Manx names at that time.
With a few tweaks, this becomes a very reasonable 8th-10th C Irish name. In the 8th-10th C, patronymics, such as mac Cormaicc were literal not inherited. However, the form, MacCormaicc is typically used to show an inherited surname; literal patronymics typically separate the partical and the patronymic with a space and show the particle in lowercase. In addition, the documented forms of the given name appear without the hypen. We have therefore changed the name to Máel Dúin mac Cormaicc to make this name fully consistent with 8th-10th C Irish Gaelic practice.
While the position of the spinning wheel in this case is forced to chief by the tinctures of the field, we have specifically blazoned the wheel's position at the request of the several scribes at the meeting.
Submitted as Svava in litla, this name is presumptous according to the Rules for Submissions VI.2. which says "nmes containing elements that allude to powers that the submitter does not possess are considered presumptuous... Such claims include...given names that were never used by humans, like the names of some Giants or Dwarves in Norse mythology." According to the submitted documentation, Svava is a Valkyrie; no documentation was submitted or any found that this name was ever used by humans. We have changed the given name to Svana, a name with a similar look and feel found in the Landnámabók.
Submitted as Anastasiia Ivanova Petrshalov, Russian grammer requires that the second patronymic be feminized to match the gender of the given name. We have, therefore, changed the name to Anastasiia Ivanova Petroshalova.
This name combines Old Irish Gaelic with Early Modern Irish Gaelic, which is one step from period practice. Since the given name is only documented as an Old Irish name, an all Old Irish form would be appropriate -- we suggest Báethhán man Duib.
This is clear of Cecelia Corr Mháire: Per saltire vert and azure, in cross four bowen knots crosswise argent. There are CDs for type and tincture of the charges. Precedent gives a CD between triquetras and quatrefoil knots: [comparing Azure, a triquetra inverted Or to (Fieldless) A quatrefoil knot] "we have no trouble granting a CVD between a quatrefoil knot and a triquetra." [Jan 1991, Acc-Caid, Halldór Skaptason] Bowen knots look even less like triquetras than do quatrefoil knots, so the CD between Bowen knots and triquetras is simple to extrapolate.
This name mixes Scots and Gaelic, which is one step from period practice.
Fiona is an SCA-compatible name.
Nice name!
The purpose of the petition is to show there is support for the submission by the populace of the group. The petition included with this device had signatures but no indication who were officers or what percentage of the populace this petition represented. In this case, we were able to find a list of the officers for the group which matches the names on the petition and will accept this petition as sufficent support for the submission.
The thistles had been blazoned as proper on the Letter of Intent, but truly proper thistles have green heads (only the "top fuzz" is purpure). We have reblazoned this armory to reflect the actual emblazon.
Originally submitted as Svatava Ivanova Petreshalova, the name was changed at kingdom to Svatava Ivanova Petreshalov. Because this is a feminine name, both patronymics need to be in the feminine form, as they are in the originally submitted form. We have, therefore, changed the name back to this form.
The question was raised whether this name is a claim of relationship with Anastasiia Ivanova Petreshalova listed earlier in this letter. The bynames strongly suggests they are sisters. RfS VI.3 says "Names that unmistakably imply identity with or close relationship to a protected person or literary character will generally not be registered...Explicit claims to descend from a particular person, such as Edwin fitzWilliam Marshall or Rhys ap Cariadoc of the Bow will not be registered... In some cases a unique name, surname, or epithet is so closely related to an individual that its use alone can imply relationship to that individual. There is only one family that uses the name Baggins of Bag End , so Joan Baggins of Bag End would not be appropriate." This clearly defines "close relationship" as being the child or parent of a protected name or using a well-known byname unique to a particular family. Neither is the case here, therefore, this name does not violate RfS VI.3.
The question was raised whether this name is a claim of relationship with Dmitrii syn Dmitrii Rostislavich listed earlier in this letter. The bynames strongly suggests they are brothers. RfS VI.3 says "Names that unmistakably imply identity with or close relationship to a protected person or literary character will generally not be registered...Explicit claims to descend from a particular person, such as Edwin fitzWilliam Marshall or Rhys ap Cariadoc of the Bow will not be registered... In some cases a unique name, surname, or epithet is so closely related to an individual that its use alone can imply relationship to that individual. There is only one family that uses the name Baggins of Bag End , so Joan Baggins of Bag End would not be appropriate." This clearly defines "close relationship" as being the child or parent of a protected name or using a well-known byname unique to a particular family. Neither is the case here, therefore, this name does not violate RfS VI.3.
The question was raised whether this name is a claim of relationship with Dmitrii syn Dmitrii Rostislavich listed earlier in this letter. The bynames strongly suggests they are brothers. RfS VI.3 says "Names that unmistakably imply identity with or close relationship to a protected person or literary character will generally not be registered...Explicit claims to descend from a particular person, such as Edwin fitzWilliam Marshall or Rhys ap Cariadoc of the Bow will not be registered... In some cases a unique name, surname, or epithet is so closely related to an individual that its use alone can imply relationship to that individual. There is only one family that uses the name Baggins of Bag End , so Joan Baggins of Bag End would not be appropriate." This clearly defines "close relationship" as being the child or parent of a protected name or using a well-known byname unique to a particular family. Neither is the case here, therefore, this name does not violate RfS VI.3.
The question was raised whether this name is a claim of relationship with Dmitrii syn Dmitrii Rostislavich listed earlier in this letter. The bynames strongly suggests they are brothers. RfS VI.3 says "Names that unmistakably imply identity with or close relationship to a protected person or literary character will generally not be registered...Explicit claims to descend from a particular person, such as Edwin fitzWilliam Marshall or Rhys ap Cariadoc of the Bow will not be registered... In some cases a unique name, surname, or epithet is so closely related to an individual that its use alone can imply relationship to that individual. There is only one family that uses the name Baggins of Bag End , so Joan Baggins of Bag End would not be appropriate." This clearly defines "close relationship" as being the child or parent of a protected name or using a well-known byname unique to a particular family. Neither is the case here, therefore, this name does not violate RfS VI.3.
Nice name!
Submitted as Dominika Anatolikina, Metron Ariston notes a problem with the derivation of the byname:
The cited form of the masculine name alluded to in Chavez' article is Anatolicus, the Latin form, which in this case is derived from a Greek form that could be transliterated as Anatolikos. However, this name is geographical in origins and derives from an adjective used to describe someone who came from Anatolia. The use of this sort of adjective as a given name was common for slaves and many early Christian given names were of this sort. However, in the relatively early Byzantine period alluded to in the documentation, a byname would probably be still adjectival in nature rather than patronymic when using this adjective so the basic adjective should simply be changed to the feminine which would give a transliterated form such as Dominika Anatolika, which would mean Dominika the Anatolian.
We have, therefore, changed the name to Dominika Anatolika.
In reblazoning this submission, we have decided to follow Metron Ariston's suggestion, and the orientation impled therein is hereby made explicit: the default orientation for a drinking horn is embowed to dexter (as well as bell to chief), as depicted in the Pictorial Dictionary (2d edition) #388.
Submitted as Isabel Juliana Cortes, the submitter requested authenticity for 15th C Spain. No evidence was provided and none found for double given names in 15th C Spanish naming practices. We have registered the name as Isabel Cortes to fulfill her request for authenticity.
Please advise the submitter to draw the wolf's head larger.
Submitted as Aelfwyn Ironhair, no documentation was provided and none found for this spelling of the given name. However, Reaney and Wilson, s.n. Alwin say "Ælfwin Finche is probably identical with Ailwinus, Alwinus Finch 1168, 1173." We have changed the name to Ælfwin to match this documentation.
The submitter noted that Ironhair was intended to mean "someone who curls her hair with a curling or crisping iron." The intended construction is verb+object; a not uncommon form of English nickname. However, this meaning is highly unlikely. While the word Cryspyngeyren (crisping or curling iron) is dated to 1483 in the OED, the verb in this construction is "crisp" or "crisping", not "iron." The OED dates the first instance of the word "iron" as a verb meaning "smooth or press with a heated flat-iron" to 1680. Before that date, the meaning is to cover with iron, or to shackle with irons. The nickname Ironhair is more likely to denote someone with strong hair or iron colored hair.
Her old name, Guilla Ironhare is released.
Submitted as Elizabet Alfinnsdottir von Rhine, this name has several problems. First, the byname combines the German von with the English spelling Rhine in violation of RfS III.1.a. A fully German form would be am Reine, dated to 1300 in Socin, Mittelhochdeutsches Namenbuch. However, even with the locative in the fully German form, this name is two steps from period practice. The given name is Swedish and the byname is old Norse; this was ruled a step from period practice in 8/2002. Mixing German and Old Norse was ruled a step from period practice in 3/2004. Therefore, we have dropped the locative in order to register this name, leaving Elizabet Alfinnsdottir.
The submitter has permission to conflict with Bryon l'Ours d'Argent de Bourgogne: Sable, two swords inverted in saltire surmounted by a bear's head cabossed between two fleurs-de-lys in fess and another in base, all argent. The depiction of the bear's head is also grandfathered to the submitter as it is identical to Bryon's.
The submitter has provided a letter of permission to conflict with Finbarr Mathgamain mac Conchobair: Azure, four claymores inverted interlaced as a fret interlaced by a claymore inverted Or.
Please advise the submitter to draw the clubs longer and have them be more narrow at the point of intersection.
This is clear of Ottokar von dem Schwarzwald: Azure, on a cross formy Or a chalice gules. There is one CD for the field. A properly drawn cross formy nowy quadrate qualifies for RfS X.4.j.ii, as it meets both parts of the test for "suitable" charge under that rule. Therefore there is also a CD for type only of the tertiary charges.
Submitted as Christopher mac Coning, the submitter requested authenticity for 14th-16th C Scottish language/culture. The patronymic Coning is not the genitive form of the Gaelic Conaing as stated in the summarization. It is, instead, a Scots form of this Gaelic name. In late period Scots documents, it is usual to remove the space between the particle and the patronymic and to capitalize the particle. We have changed this name to Christopher MacConing to comply with his request for authenticity.
This name mixes Gaelic and Scots in the same name; this is one step from period practice.
Her old name, Róisín of Rowanwood, is released.
The submitter requested authenticity for 14th C England. While the name is registerable, we are unable to make it authentic for his desired time period. Withycombe says the name Timothy didn't come into use in England until after the reformation; this places the first instances of this name in England in the 16th C. The town of Shaftesbury existed in the 14th C, and no documentation was submitted nor any found of a 14th C form for this name.
Submitted as Áedán Briscoe, this name is two steps from period practice. First, it mixes Gaelic and English in the same name. Second, there is a 600 year gap between the date of the given name and that of the byname. Furthermore, as submitted this conflicts with his legal name, Aydin Bristow. The only difference in sound is in one letter in an unemphasized syllable. Similarly small changes have previously been ruled insufficient to clear conflict against a legal given name.
Happily, these problems can be fixed. Ekwall, The Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, s.n. Briscoe dates the spelling Brisco to 1204. In the 13th C, locative bynames are usually include a preposition, so we have changed the name to Áedán de Brisco This removes the temporal disparity, making the name only one step from period practice. Furthermore, the addition of the article, de clears the conflict with his legal given name. Precedent, most recently upheld in February 2002 holds that "An SCA name must differ from a submitter's legal name by at least one syllable." The addition of the article provides that syllable.
Submitted as Ailis inghean Mhairghread, Gaelic grammar requires the metronymic be in the genitive case. Rowel provides two possible genetive forms Mairghrege and Mairgreicce and notes that the former is more likely based on Early Modern Irish Gaelic spelling rules. We have, therefore, changed the name to Ailis inghean Mhairghrege to comply with Gaelic grammer.
While this arrangement could be more clearly blazoned Per chevron... in chief three... and in base a..., this is the default blazon for charges in this arrangement.
This name combines Russian and English, which is one step from period practice.
Please advise the submitter to draw the chief wider and with more pronounced waves.
Listed on the LoI as Delion le fils de feu Colinet, the forms showed Delion fils de feu Colinet. The College found some later examples of this name form without the article, therefore, we have changed the name back to the originally submitted form.
Submitted as Donn na Gall Ui Neill, no documentation was submitted and none found for using the definite article na with the descriptive byname Gall. The submitter explicitly accepted changing the given+descriptive names to the name Donngall, so we have registered this name as Donngall Ui Neill.
As documented, there was a more than 300 year gap between the documentation provided for the given name, Douglas and the byname, Brus. However, John Barbour's epic poem, The Brus dates to 1375; this poem also contains a form of the given name, Dowglaß. Thus while there is temporal inconsistency for the particular spellings, form of both names are found in the same time period.
Please instruct the submitter to draw fewer, larger, and more regular embattlements. This was barely registerable as drawn.
This was originally blazoned as Gules, two serpents erect glissant respectant argent supporting in chief a laurel wreath Or upon its registration in June 1992. A possible conflict was called against it this month, which required clarification of whether the laurel wreath was a sustained (and therefore co-primary) charge, or a maintained charge not counting towards difference. A visual check of Eikdal's device makes it obvious that the laurel wreath is a maintained charge, and we have reblazoned it accordingly.
Her current augmentation: Azure, in pale three dragons passant Or and for augmentation, on a canton azure four crescents conjoined in saltire horns outward within a bordure embattled argent, is released.
His old name, Gamel of Motrum, is released.
Her current device: Argent, a unicorn's head couped sable, becomes a badge.
This name combines Russian and English; which is one step from period practice. The byname, Dragonsclaw is grandfathered to the submitter.
His previous name William Thespos Dragonsclaw is released.
This name was returned in August 2003; in the submission Mealla was described as a saint's name, but no documentation was provided and none found showing this. This submitted has provided citations from several sources, including The Catholic Encylopedia for saint's of this name. Therefore, the name, in some form, is registerable. The spelling Mealla is modern, but consistent with Early Modern Irish spellings.
Nice name!
Nice armory!
This is clear of Gilmirron of the Blue Flame: Azure, a globe amaranth flower [Gomphrena globosa] argent. A visual check of Gilmirron's device shows that there is a CD for type between Gilmirron's globe amaranth flower and Odile's lotus blossom; there is a second CD for adding the chevronels.
Please advise the submitter to draw the braced chevrons with all the corresponding arms in parallel.
Please advise the submitter to draw the bat larger.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the line of division higher, and the charge in base larger.
Current precedent holds that descriptive bynames in Old Norse names should be written in all lowercase, however, the capitalization of the descriptive byname is grandfathered to the submitter.
His old name, Styrbjorn Ulfhamr of Uppsala, is released.
Please advise the submitter to draw the fletching of the arrows bigger.
Please instruct the submitter to draw fewer (and therefore somewhat larger) indents. This was barely registerable as drawn.
Please advise the submitter to draw the chevron somewhat narrower.
This name was originally submitted as Caoimhin MacAindriú but it was changed at kingdom to Cáemgen MacAndreas. The submitter request a name authentic to Irish language/culture. As submitted, this name has several problems, none of which is fatal.
As submitted, this name has several problems, none of which is fatal. First, the spelling Caoimhin is a modern spelling. Barring documentation for this spelling in period, it cannot be registered. Rowel notes the form Cáemgen referring to the 7th C saint. She also notes "I can find no use of it after the 7th C saint. Instead, I find forms like <Giolla Caoimhghin> (Four Masters, B, M1159.3) and <Maol Caoimhghin> (Four Masters, B, M1086.1). Note that the Four Masters use predominently Early Modern Gaelic (c1200-c1700) spellings." This is not unusual for the name of an important saint; in Irish culture, names of saint's were often considered too holy to use and instead devotional forms meaning "servent of saint's name" were used. However, saint's names were generally part of the Irish naming pool, the bare saint's name, Cáemgen or Caoimhghin are also registerable.
The documentation sited for the patronymic shows the name Andreas in a Latin context, not in a Gaelic context. Rowel notes, "The first example of Andreas I've found in the annals is in 1249 (Four Masters, C, M1249.2). The earliest example I've found of Aindriú [the Early Modern Irish Gaelic spelling for this name] was in 1318."
Therefore, we have changed the given name to the Early Modern Irish Gaelic form and change the patronymic back to the originally submitted form, giving Caoimhghin MacAindriú. Because of the use of the bare saint's name, this is not an authentic Irish name. However, the submitter cares most about sound. Changing the given name to the devotional form Maol Caoihmghin MacAindriú would make it authentic, but it would significantly change the sound.
Please advise the submitter to draw the roses slightly smaller.
Submitted under the name Gregor MacGregor.
The submitter requested authenticity for 14-15th C Welsh. The metronymic Luned is documented only from Arthurian legend; no documentation was submitted and none found that this name was part of the regular Welsh naming pool. As such, it is registerable but not authentic for the submitter's desired time period.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the point pointed smaller. This was barely small enough not to be confused with the bottom quarter of a per saltire field division (which is not registerable as either a charge or as a field division).
Submitted as Mary ferch Thomas, the submitter requested authenticity for 12th-14th C Welsh. The patronymic particle ferch is the standard modern Welsh spelling; verch is the appropriate 13th C form according to Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn, "A Simple Guide to Constructing 13th C Welsh Names." We have changed the name to Mary verch Thomas to fulfill her authenticity request.
Please advise the submitter to draw the arrows with bigger fletching.
Listed on the LoI as Caitlin inghean Tomais ui Dhuibhir, the forms showed Caitlín inghean Tomáis uí Dhuibhir. The submitter requested authenticity for 16th C Irish near Tipperary.
Caitlin is a modern form of this name and, by precedent, not registerable:
Caitilín ni Killane. Submitted as Caitlín ni Killian, there were some issues with this name. No documentation was provided and none was found that the form Caitlín was used in period, though evidence was found of it as a modern name. We have changed the given name to the documented Early Modern Irish Gaelic (c. 1200 to c. 1700) form Caitilín in order to register this name. [Trimaris-A, LoAR 09/2003]
Mari neyn Brien, "Index of Names in Irish Annals" lists several examples of Caitilín in the 16th C. The same article also shows Tomás. Finally, a search of CELT, Corpus of Electronic Text (http://www.ucc.ie/celt) lists Duibhir only as a modern form; this is consistent with the documentation provided by the submitter, which dated the name to the 18th C. CELT does show a name that is the likely Early Modern Gaelic form, Duibhihir, listed in the Annals of the Four Masters in the 1585 entry. To make the name registerable and to comply with her request for authenticity of we registered this form of her name Caitilín inghean Tomáis uí Dhuibihir.
Most of the submitted documentation was from Coughlin, Irish Christian Names:an a-z of First Names. This is not a reliable source for name documentation. It may be a reasonable place to start looking for a name, but it is not a reasonable place to stop researching the name.
Nice name!
There was a significant amount of discussion about the arrangement of the swords, and whether they were identifiable as such. They are, in fact, not identifiable. However, they are also identical to the swords on the previously returned submission, and their lack of identifiability was NOT given as a reason for return on that previous return (quoted here in full):
[Returning Azure, six daggers conjoined at the pommels points outwards proper within an orle Or] The device conflicts with Kilic ibn Sungur ibn al-Kazganci al-Turhani, Sable, a sheaf of five swords argent within an orle Or. There is one CD for changing the field. Normally, there would be a CD for changing the orientation of the swords, from points to chief to points outwards. However, the visual similarity between these two agglomerations of swords is too strong to give a second CD per RfS X.5. The fact that the hilts on Lachlan's armory are all in the center, and the ones in Kilic's armory are all in base, would give difference for sword posture if the emblazons were drawn correctly. However, in both of these emblazons, the sword hilts are visually insignificant. Thus, these two groups of swords appear to be groups of pointed sticks argent conjoined in the center (six and ten sticks, respectively). There is not enough visual difference between these two groups to consider the armory clear under X.5. [Aug 2003, Ret-Ealdormere, Lachlan MacLean]
So we cannot return this submission for that reason. We do, however, strongly suggest that the submitter draw the swords to be readily identifiable as such.
The orle is correctly placed with respect to the chief, as noted by al-Jamal quoting precedent:
This is the correct placement of an orle with a chief: the orle runs parallel to the edge of the chief, and is not surmounted by it. See the arms of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, used by them c.1590. (Bromley & Child, Armorial Bearings of the Guilds of London, p.180) [Aug 1992, Acc-Atenveldt, Guillaume de la Rapiere]
Submitted as Rachel Gray, the submitter requested authenticity for 15th-16th C. Every pre-17th C form of the given name that we were able to find ended with two Ls. Therfore, we have changed the name to Rachell Gray to fulfill her request for authenticity.
Submitted under the name Samuel Tosh McTier.
Questions were raised in commentary about the identifiability of the leaves. The full-size emblazon shows the primary charges clearly as maple leaves, but the submitter should be advised to draw them taller so as to fill the space better.
This was originally blazoned as Or, a sword sable and a flax blossom [Linum usitatissimum] slipped and leaved proper in saltire upon its registration in January 1974. A possible conflict was called against this blazon this month. Alaric's emblazon, however, does not match that; Alaric's sword and flower are actually reversed in orientation from the blazon's description, so there actually was no conflict. We are changing Alaric's blazon to reflect the actual emblazon.
Nice name!
Listed on the LoI as Bartholomew of Baskin, the forms showed Bartholomew Baskin. The submitted documentation also shows the dated forms of this name without a preposition; this is not surprising, since the byname is derived from an unmarked patronymic. We have dropped the preposition and changed the name back to the originally submitted form.
Nice name!
Submitted as Constance de Coligny, the submitter requested authenticity for 16th C French language/culture. The given name Constance is the modern French spelling of this name. It is also found in the 14th C manuscript Grandes Chroniques de France (http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/texte/manuscrit/aman5.htm) which shows a rubricated line containing the phrase la royne constance. While we do not have an example of this name in the 16th C, given the identical forms at such diverse dates, Constance it is likely to also be a 16th C spelling. A play called La Tragedie de feu Gaspard de Colligny iadis Admiral de France (http://www.ex.ac.uk/french/textes/colligny) was published in 1575. We have changed the name to Constance de Colligny to comply with her authenticity request.
This is not a conflict with the British politician Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, 1704-1775.He is post-period, the name was not recognizable to most of the commenting members of the College of Arms, and the Encylopedia Britannica notes he is "notable chiefly for the success with which he exploited public office for private gain." He is not important enough to protect.
The submitter requested a name authentic to Portugese/Spanish language/culture and accepted no changes. Although there are names that combine Spanish and Portugese name elements, usually a name would have only one or the other. Ildaria Nuñez de Camiña would be a consistently Spanish version of this name, although the name elements are 200 years apart.
The submitter requested authenticity for 14th-16th C England and accepted minor changes. By the 16th C, surnames in England were inherited and the preposition had disappeared from most surnames derived from locatives. However, as the submitter will not accept major changes, we are unable to drop the of to comply with her request for authenticity.
Nice name!
Submitted as Ruadán Fota, the documentation showed that the given name had two accents, Rúadán. We have added the accent to the given name to match the documentation.
The submitter requested an authentic name for the 14th-16th C with a French surname. Aryanhwy merch Catmeal, "Names from a 1587 Tax Roll from Provins" notes two examples of Tristan. The famous mistress of Henri II of France, Diane de Poitiers is noted in modern sources to have lived from 1499-1566. However, no documentation was provided to show whether this is the 16th C form of her name. Therefore, we believe this name is an authentic 16th C name, but cannot guarantee it.
The documentation was not adequately summarized. In this case, only the fact that each name appeared in a particular source was listed. It is not enough to say that a name appears in a book; you have to say what the book says about the name. Failure to summarize documentation means that if the College does not provide documentation, the name will be returned.
His previously registered device, Or, a mascle throughout sable within a bordure azure, is retained as a badge. (There are zero CDs between the two but the difference is blazonable.)
This is clear of Christiana dello Falco: Quarterly sable and argent, in bend sinister, two roses proper. There is one CD for the field and one CD for the arrangement of the primary charges. There was some concern raised in commentary that the position of the charges was forced by the field, but in this case the change in arrangement is still worth a CD. To paraphrase Boke and Black/Golden Pillar (the latter is the same person with a title change in between comment dates): The placement of the roses or the foils in both this device and the proposed conflict is not forced, since the field is neutral and the charges could have appeared anywhere except wholly on the sable parts. This circumstance is sufficient to allow a CD for the change in arrangement.
Nice name!
Originally submitted as Anacletus MacTearlaich, the name was changed in kingdom to Anacletus MacKerley to avoid a non-registerable mixture of Italian and Gaelic and because MacTearlaich was a modern form of the patronymic. The submitter requested authenticity for 13th C Scotland.
The first Pope Anacletus was a saint, while the 2nd Anacletus was an anti-pope in the 12th C recognized in Scotland. Furthmore, the name is a Latin name making it a possibility as a devotional name for a monk or priest. However, as no examples have been found of the use of this name by Scots in the 13th C, it is not an authentic Scottish given name.
As listed on the LoI, there is a temporal gap of more than 300 years between the 12th C date of the given name and the modern header form of the byname. Black, Surnames of Scotland, dates McTerlach to 1436. Because this is closer in date to the given name and closer in appearance to the name originally submitted, we have changed this name to Anacletus McTerlach.
Submitted as Betha of Walnut Vale, the byname was justified as a "treename + generic topographic" construction. However, according to the OED, the word Walnut by itself was not used as a tree name until 1600; all earlier citations are for the name of the nut. This makes it extremely unlikely that this is a "tree + generic topographic" construction. However, the OED shows walnotetre in 1400 and Walnott tree in 1483. We have changed the name to Betha of Walnott tree Vale in order to follow period practice.
Nice name!
Submitted as Dharr al-Nasir al-Mawsili, the submitter requested authenticity for 16th C Ottoman. We note that the Ottomans were Turks; this is an Arabic name, not a Turkish name.
About the name al-Nasir, al-Jamal notes, "al-Nasir is one of the 99 Names of Allah; in period, the expected form would be 'Abd al-Nasir, which would be used as an *ism*, a given name." The lone form of the name was documented from the names of several kings. However, it is common in Arabic naming practices for names of kings to be shortened in modern texts. These examples may or may not reflect period practice. To partially comply with his request for authenticity, we have changed the name to Dharr ibn 'Abu al-Nasir al-Maswili.
Please advise the submitter to use fewer crescents in the semy and slightly smaller crescents on the fess.
Order and award names of the form Order of the Silver + charge are SCA-compatible.
Listed on the LoI as Isabella of Northunberland, the forms showed Isabella of Northumberland. As the spelling on the forms is correct, we have changed the name back to that spelling.
Although there is no evidence that the name Jerusha was actually used in England during our period, names from the Bible are generally registerable for languages/cultures such as English where Biblical names are found in the naming pool. This general precept has been stated time and again over the years. We note the the spelling of the given name is a Middle English spelling as well as a modern English spelling; Jerusha appears in Wycliffe's translation of the Bible from the late 14th C. Wycliffe's Bible is available at http://www.sbible.boom.ru/wyc/wycle.htm.
Blazoned on the LoI as proper, the trillium flower as drawn is mostly white with little purple flecks, green sepals, and a yellow center. Given that trillium flowers appear in nature as purple, red, pink, and white, there is no reasonable "default" tincture for a trillium. Henceforth, the tincture of a trilliums must be blazoned explicitly. We have reblazoned this trillium flower according to its emblazon.
Listed on the LoI as Maredudd Cethin, the forms show Meradudd Cethin. No documentation was submitted and none found that the spelling Meradudd is a reasonable variant of this name. It is not found in any of the standard sources, and a web search shows it used only in reference to and by this submitter. Heather Rose Jones in A Welsh Miscellany lists the spelling from the LoI. We have, therefore, registered this name as listed on the LoI.
Blazoned on the Letter of Intent as Argent, chapé ployé per pale gules and sable, the reblazon is more likely to reproduce the picture.
Please advise the submitter to draw the ragules on the chief more boldly and to make the roses larger and more clearly roses.
Submitted as Vörsa-Hvitr eldr, the question was raised about whether two nicknames were registerable in the same Old Norse name. In May, 1996, Da'ud set this precedent:
The name was submitted as Blund-Úlfr Kleykir. Though we have no evidence for Old Norse use of more than one nickname at a time, there is some indication that at times a preposed nickname combined with the given name to produce what was effectively a new given name. We are therefore giving the name the benefit of the doubt, though we have followed what seems to have been normal documentary practice in fusing nickname and name.
The character ö is a modern internet transcription for o-oganek (a character that looks like an o with a tail); the College of Arms typically transcribes this character as {o,}. Therefore, we have made this transcription change and fused the nickname and the name, giving V{o,}rsehvitr eldr.
The submitter requested authenticity for Old Norse language/culture and accepted only minor changes. Because there are no examples of this combination of nickname-name, and the practice where nickname and name become fused into a single name appears to be rare, we cannot make this name authentic. If the submitter is interested in an authentic Old Norse name, we suggest Hvitr eldr
His old name, Grimr inn feilan, is released.
Nice name!
Nice armory!
Her current device: Or, a gurges azure, overall four caltraps in pall gules, is retained as a badge.
Submitted as Amanita Villarosa, the documentation showed a masculine name, Amannito in 15th C Florence. We have changed the given name to Amannita to match the submitted documentation.
Submitted as Aislinn de Tanet, the name as submitted is two steps from period practice. First, the given name, Aislinn is SCA-compatible. Second, it mixes Gaelic and English in the same name. We have changed the given name to Ascelina, a name similar in sound and appearance. Ascelina is found in Reaney and Wilson, s.n. Aslin dated to 1214.
Black notes Benson in 1560, establishing Ben as a standard diminutive form of Bennet or Benjamin.
Some commentors questioned whether Brerecliffe was a reasonable English placename. Brerecliffe is a reasonable 16th C form of Briercliffe, the header form in Ekwall, The Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names. The OED shows several examples of brere in the 15th and 16th C. It also shows Kliffes in 1300, cliffes in 1550 and 1600, and cliffe in 1483.
Please advise the submitter to draw the chief with somewhat larger trefoils and less space between them.
Submitted as Cano MagFhionnghail, we have changed it to Cano mag Fhionnghail. By precedent "In period, Mac was not connected to the patronym in Gaelic. We have added a space to follow documented period examples. [Gavine Mac Cormaic, 12/2003 LoAR, A-Trimaris]
This name mixes Middle Irish Gaelic given name with an Early Modern Irish byname; such combinations are one step from period practice. Cano is found in the 1170 entry for the Annals of Tigernach.
Submitted as Carlos el Lobo, no documentation was submitted nor any found for forming Spanish animal bynames with an article. We have registered this name as Carlos Lobo to match period examples.
This name combines an Italian given name with an otherwise Spanish name; this is one step from period practice.
Submitted as Draka Bronov, Nebuly notes a problem with the grammar of the locative:
The LoI has misspelled the name of the town listed in Wickenden (p.432). The name of the town is Bran' (or Bron). The soft sign was left off in the LoI, and although it is not necessary for registration, it can affect the grammar when endings are added. In this submission, the locative should be spelled Bronev, since the town's name ends in a "soft" sound.
We have changed the name to Draka Bronev to correct the grammar.
Please advise the submitter to draw the line of division higher, so as to mose closely bisect the area of the field.
Nice name!
Please advise the submitter to draw the lilies less like tulips.
Please advise the submitter to draw the chief wider and resize all the crosses accordingly.
The submitter requested authenticity for 12th-14th C Germany near Hamburg. The documentation provided on the referenced St. Gabriel letter documents the name to a later period than the submitter requested. Barring further documentation, we cannot be sure that this name is authentic to her requested time period.
Listed on the LoI as Ian O'Muirgheasa of Strikkenwoode, the forms and documentation showed Ian ÓMuirgheasa of Strikkenwoode. These comments are based on the spelling shown on the forms. As submitted, this name is two steps from period practice. First, Ian is an SCA-compatible name; all available evidence is that it is a post-period spelling. Second, this name combines Gaelic and English, which is the second step. Ó Corrain and Maguire, Irish Names, s.n. Eoin give Ioan as a 13th C form of this name. There is usually a space between the patronymic and the particle, so we have changed the name to Ioan Ó Muirgheasa of Strikkenwoode. This changes the SCA-compatible name to a documented name, which makes the name registerable.
The submitter requested authenticity for Irish language/culture. Ioan Ó Muirgheasa is a reasonable Irish name; the patronymic is found in the Annals of the Four Masters in the entry for 856 and 1516 and is a reasonable Early Modern Irish Gaelic form. We would drop the locative to fulfill the submitter's request, but the submitter will only accept minor changes.
There is a more than 300 year gap between the 1637 date for Kathren and the 1310 date for the locative byname Invirnisse. This is one step from period practice. A more temporally consistent form of this name is Kathryne Ross of Innernis. Talen Gwynek, "List of Feminine Names Found in Scottish Records," shows this spelling of the given name in 1509; Johnston, The Placenames of Scotland, shows this spelling of the locative in the same year.
The submitted requested authenticity for Lowland Scots. The surname is a locative formed from an English placename. While it is a reasonable name for an Englishwoman living in Scotland, it is not a native Scots name.
The submitter requested authenticity for 9th C Arab/Berber from Valencia. This name is a fine Arabic name, but the ism, Khalil, has not been found in the data we have from al-Andalus. In addition, the documentation does not show whether any of these names are 9th C. Therefore, we are unable to confirm that this name is authentic for his desired place and time.
The name was documented from Brechnmacher as a header form. In most cases, header forms are plausible for period and so are registerable. However, precedent (most notably regarding modern forms in Ó Corráin & Maguire) has ruled that header forms which are modern may not be registerable. (This has been handled on a case by case basis.) Tonnemacher is a modern form of this name; period forms listed in Brechenmacher and Bahlow include Tunenbynder in 1519 and Tunninbinder in 1378. Certainly, for an authentic name, we would recommend substituting one of these forms. However, the header form, Tonnemacher does appear to be formed in a period fashion. A scan through Bahlow shows a number of period names that use the deuterotheme -macher, including panczermacher in 1431 (s.n. Panzer), Pulvermacher in 1493 (s.n. Pulver) and Brechenmaker 1550 (s.n. Brechenmacher).
Submitted as Lucien Philip de Bordeaux, the submitter requested authenticity 14th-15th C French and accepted minor changes. The submitted documentation showed modern English forms for the names; it shows that some form of the name existed in France at that time, but it doesn't show what form. Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris" shows Lucien, Phelipe and Phelippe. Dauzat and Rostaing, Dictionnaire Étymologique des noms de lieux en France s.n. Bordeaux dates the form Bordeu to 1280. We have changed the name to Lucien Phelipe de Bordeu, a likely early 14th C form of this name, to fulfill the submitter's request for authenticity.
The LoI listed the patronymic as Marino, but the original form and documentation list Marttino. We have changed the name back to the spelling on the forms.
Please advise the submitter to draw the book more clearly as a book and with some internal detailing.
Submitted as Melisant de Montgomerie, the submitter requested authenticity for 1100. The submitted documentation from Reaney and Wilson showed Hugo de Montgomeri in 1086 and William Mungumeri in 1159. Neither form supports the final e in the byname. We have changed the name to Melisant de Montgomeri to fulfill the submitter's request for authenticity.
Nice name!
Listed on the LoI as Odette d' Amboise, the forms had Odette d'Amboise. Since elided articles are typically written without a space between the article and the noun, we have changed the name back to the originally submitted form.
There was some question of whether Savinne or Savine was an appropriate form of this name. While Savinne is a more usual form, Savine is a reasonable form. In Colm Dubh "An Index to the Given Names in the Paris Census of 1292", there are 14 unambiguous examples of masculine names ending in "n" with corresponding feminine forms. Of these, five are formed by simply adding an "e" to the end of the name, including Asceline/Asceline and Jehan/Jehane.
This is clear of Ragnar Thorbjörn: Argent, an annulet fretted with a bowen knot gules. There is one CD for adding the leaves. There is not a CD for type between a Lacy knot and the combination of an annulet fretted with a Bowen knot, but in this case there is a clear CD for orientation, as the default Bowen knot has its loops set saltirewise and a default Lacy knot has its outermost loops set crosswise.
Listed on the LoI as Vincènzo di Bartolomèo de Bréscia, the forms showed Vincènzo di Bartolomèo da Bréscia. The article da is typical for locative bynames in Italian. Also, the name was documented from de Felice. Accents in this work are a pronunciation buide, not part of the spelling of the name. Therefore, we have changed the name to the spelling on the forms and dropped the accents, giving, Vincenzo di Bartolomeo da Brescia.
The submitter requested authenticity for 13th C and accepted no changes. The placename, von Lüchtringen is problematic. No documentation was provided showing that this place existed in period or that this was a reasonable period spelling. However, the website www.luechtringen.de lists the history of this place going back to 822. This page mentions that in 900 the place is called Lutringi with a Lambert von Lüchtringen in 1224. While such websites are unreliable as primary documentation, combined with the Bahlow Deutschelands Geographish Namen citation this is sufficient to give the submitter the benefit of the doubt.
Please advise the submitter to put "facial" features on the frog.
Nice name!
Two questions were raised by this submission: whether a household name of the form "placename+Academy" was reasonable, and whether Black Isle was a reasonable placename.
The OED provides this definition of Academy dated to the early 16th C, "A place where the arts and sciences are taught; an institution for the study of higher learning; in the general sense including a university." Fortunately, there are two readily available lists of names of institutions for the study of higher learning -- the lists of Colleges of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. These each have Colleges founded before 1600 whose names are based on either locative bynames or the names of the locations administered, owned, or ruled by the College's founder. These include Merton College, Oxford, founded by Walter de Merton in 1264, Exeter College, Oxford, founded by Walter de Stapeldon, Bishop of Exeter around 1314, Pembroke College, Cambridge, founded by Mary de St Pol, wife of the Earl of Pembroke in 1347, and Clare College, Cambridge, founded by Elizabeth de Clare in 1323 and known as Clare Hall as early as 1339. Thus, the pattern "placename+Academy" is a reasonable English name formation.
Black is a common protheme in English locatives. Examples from Reaney and Wilson include Blackhale in 1332 (s.n. Blackhall), Blackmore in 1576 (s.n. Blackmore), and Blackstan in 1235 (s.n. Blackston); Julie Stampnitzky, "Surnames in Durham and Northumberland, 1521-1615" has these examples in the 16th C: Blackburne, Blackwell, and Blackye. Siren notes "The spelling Isle is found in 1086 (the listing is I(s)le) and is found again in late period in the 1593 Isle of Doges Ferm (Mills s.n. Isle of Dogs). Therefore, Black Isle is constructed using period patterns and spellings. This makes Black Isle Academy a reasonable household name using the established pattern "placename+Academy."
The question was raised whether this should be considered as Sable, on a fess argent a sun sable for purposes of conflict checking. The fact that the "fess" is enarched on one side only is a strong hint that this design does not involve a fess.
Please advise the submitter to draw the bend larger and with deeper embattlements, and to draw the guide rod of the skyrocket as long as will fit in the available space.
Some commenters questioned whether Mephiboseth was a reasonable transliteration of the Hebrew name found in 2 Samuel. Argent Snail checked a Hebrew Bible and notes,
it turns out it is a reasonably close transliteration.... unless I have forgotten how to read Hebrew, it is fine as it is...that transliteration is a Sephardic one. There are two basic ways to pronouce Hebrew... Sephardic is how Arabic Jews and Israelies pronounce it, Ashkenazic is how European Jews do it...both forms are legit, as long as you are consistant. Luckily the rest of the name can go either way.
The submitter asked for authenticity for 1st C CE. While the given name Mephiboseth is found in the Bible, no documentation was submitted and none found that it was in use as a given name in the 1st C. Therefore, we are unable to say whether this name is authentic for that time.
Submitted under the name Anne Marshall.
Submitted as Cairistiona inghean Choinnaig, the patronymic was a hypothetical genitive form of Cainneach. The Annals of the Four Masters (B), entry M1098.24 lists Mac Giolla Choinnigh I Urdhain; we have changed the name to Cairistiona inghean Choinnigh to match this documented Early Modern Irish Gaelic form.
Submitted as Coinneach Micha Moray, the element Micha has several problems. First, no documentation was submitted and none found that Micha is found in period. The website from which this name was documented is an index to a book, Jewish Surnames from Prague (15th - 18th Centuries) by Alexander Beider. While the book gives dates, the index does not; so, we don't know whether this name was found in the 15th C or in the 18th. Furthermore, and more important, no documentation was submitted and none found for substantial contact between Bohemia and Scotland in period. Barring such documentation, combining Bohemian with either Scots or Gaelic in the same name is not registerable. We have dropped the problematic element and registered this name as Coinneach Moray. In that form, the name is still one step from period practice, but it is registerable.
Nice name!
The given name, Gavine, is grandfathered to the submitter. His previous name Gavine Mac Cormaic is released.
This is clear of Wilhelm von Armfelt, as reblazoned elsewhere on this LoAR: Per chevron vert and gules, a dexter arm fesswise embowed erased at the shoulder, fist clenched, armed argent. There is one CD for changes to the field, and one for changing the orientation of the arm. (The old blazon had impled that the arm was palewise, the default, which would not have had the second CD.)
This is also clear of Black Taylor of Lochaber, as reblazoned elsewhere on this LoAR: Vert, a dexter arm erased palewise embowed proper sustaining a needle bendwise argent. There is one CD for changes to the field, and one for adding the co-primary needle. (The previous blazon had been unclear whether the needle was co-primary or maintained.)
Concern was raised in commentary about the eligibility of this submission for consideration despite the recent change in policy disallowing the registration of devices for consorts and heirs effective December 2003. Trimaris had a submission for the Prince returned in that same LoAR; Laurel specifically stated that Trimaris would be allowed to resubmit a device for the Prince because the original submission was initiated prior to the deadline. Had the original submission been registered, they would have been allowed to make changes to it later despite the ban; this appears to be why the Grandfather Clause was mentioned, but it isn't completely applicable in this case. Nevertheless, this submission is eligible for consideration.
The Admin Handbook (site) limits joint registration to two owners. As we are unable to determine which of the three names on the submission form this item should be jointly registered to it is being registered to the first name listed. If the submitters continue to wish this badge to be jointly registered they may submit an administrative request via the kingdom submissions process to add a second owner.
The submission claimed the byname under the grandfather clause as his wife's registered byname. However, no documentation of this relationship was presented beyond his statement. The October 2002 cover letter states "Support for use of the "Grandfather Clause" by family members must be included with the submission. Such support may be a letter signed by the family member with the original registration indicating the family relations, or it may be other documentation such as a birth certificate." However, Siren provided documentation supporting the byname:
Edgewood is a reasonable construction; see Edgeworth on p.160 of Ekwall for use of Edge- as a placename element meaning "by an edge or hillside" which could easily be combined with -wood. Naming a castle for its nearby village is a common practice in England --- Leeds Castle is a good example of this practice.
Therefore, the byname of Edgewood Castle is registerable independent of the grandfather clause.
His old name, Byran Ciúinchalaidh, is released.
Her old name, Anna Genevieve, is released.
Her previously registered device, Per bend sinister sable and argent, on a bend counterchanged, two spindles palewise gules and Or, is retained as a badge.
Please advise the submitter to draw the base a little smaller.
- Explicit littera accipendorum -
Conflict with the modern day Clan Maxwell. Maccusweal is a proposed spelling variant of Maxwell and the two are nearly identical in sound.
This violates RfS VII.7.a, Identification Requirement: "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance." It was not possible to determine what type of beast the primary charge is (guesses at the meeting included lion, bear, badger, and otter). This must be returned for a redraw to make the primary charge clearly identifiable as a bear.
This conflicts with the Shire of Eikdal, whose device was originally blazoned as Gules, two serpents erect glissant respectant argent supporting in chief a laurel wreath Or. However, a visual check of Eikdal's device makes it obvious that the laurel wreath is a maintained charge. So while there is one CD for changing the field, that is the only countable difference, as the maintained laurel wreath cannot count for difference. (Eikdal's device is reblazoned elsewhere in this letter.)
The occurrence of rayonny lines of division is an uncommon late-period phenomenon, which occurs far more frequently in SCA armory than it does in late-period armory. This particular depiction is apparently found only in a post-period tract (albeit one from our "grey area"). It also blurs the distinction between rayonny and indented, between which there is a CD as lines of division.
al-Jamal notes:
...even Guillim notes it as a "rare" charge, stating that "had not the shining raies of this glistering Pale extrarodinarily invited me to gaze upon the rarity of this bearing I should ... omitted to have here demonstrated this Coat-armour", and as has been noted before, "we must draw our general rules from the common usage, not the anomaly." (LoAR August 1987, p. 16) Given that the near-period usage is so "rare", and that the emblazon here does not match the near period emblazon, and that the emblazon here confuses the eye with its half-rayonny/half-indented line, I think this should be returned.
There was some confusion as to whether the all-wavy and alternating lines were both gray-area-only. The all-wavy does appear to occur in late period while for alternating we have only the grey area example. We therefore concur with al-Jamal that the alternating depiction is too far from period practice, and therefore not registerable.
This must be returned for a redraw. The "field division" on the full-size emblazon issues from the top corners of the shield; a per chevron inverted field division should bisect the area of the shield.
The problem with the field division is not something the College would have been able to spot, as the miniature emblazon on the Letter of Intent had the field division issuing (more properly) from the sides of the shield. Admin Handbook V.b.2.e, Miniature Emblazons, states: "An accurate representation of each piece of submitted armory shall be included on the Letter of Intent." In this case, the miniature is not an accurate representation of the full-size emblazon.
We are unclear how to blazon the charges in base, but it does not seem that the submitted blazon would generate something close enough to the depictions in this emblazon.
This is returned for a redraw. The line of the bend is only barely wavy; it needs to be redrawn to be noticeably wavy.
Blazoned on the Letter of Intent as Per bend vert and azure, a bend wavy between a mermaid Or and a claymore bendwise inverted argent, the field tinctures were reversed.
Conflict with the House of York. The elements The Honorable League and House of are designators and therefore transparent for purposes of conflict.
This is, on the other hand, a lovely English company name, and we encourage the submitter to resubmit with the name of a different locality.
The question raised here is whether an order name using the secular name+object pattern is consistent with period naming practices for Order names. To determine this requires an examination of known Order names and the practice of Order naming within the Society.
Is there evidence that names of regular people were used to form Order names in period? Neither the submitter nor the College have provided any. The earliest Order named for a secular person we were able to find evidence for was the Order of Maria Therese founded in 1758, well outside our period. Meradudd Cethin, "Project Ordensnamen" has one possible counterexample, Order of Godefroy. However, this seems to be a misinterpretation of the source, Great European Orders, http://www.chivalricorders.org/vatican/holysep.htm, which says of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, "Several historians of the Order have attributed the actual foundation of the Order to Godefroy, Duke of Bouillon, first Christian King of Jerusalem, after the liberation of Jerusalem in 1099."
Is there evidence that Saint's names appeared in Order names or in common usage or Order names without the word Saint? There are no examples in the "Project Ordensnamen" collection showing a Saint's name without the identifying title.
So, the formation is not found in period, but does it follow a period pattern? That depends on how you interpret the available examples. Take, for example, The Order of Saint James of the Shell. On one level the pattern for this order name is holy-name + object. On this level, the jump to non-holy-name + object seems to be only a single step. However, there is an alternative and somewhat more descriptive interpretation: Saint or Object of Religious Veneration; the formation holy-name + object then becomes an interpretation of the structure of the saint's or relics signifier, not an intpretation of the structure of the Order name itself. Under this interpretation, the formation secular name+ object bears far less similarity to a period order name formation.
Because Order names of the form secular name + object are not found in period and do not follow period models, they are not registerable. We note that, under the current rules, the previously submitted Order of the Mirror no longer conflicts with Order of the Polished Mirror. By RfS V.2.c "The addition of one or more modifiers to an unmodified noun is a significant change, so Black Lion Herald does not conflict with Lyon King of Arms ."
Conflict with the real-world Lacy family. The badge, [Tinctureless] A Lacy knot, registered as important non-SCA arms, is the badge of the Lacys'. Nine of the eighteen registrations of the name de Lacy have a device or badge using this charge. This suggests that, within the SCA, the mundane family name is closely enough associated with the registered charge that the name should also be protected.
Tir-y-Cwningen is a post-period form of this name. The submitted documentation shows several examples of Tir-y- names, but the earliest of them dates to 1666. The documentation dates the form Tireconynger to 1472. To change the locative to this form would be a major change which the submitter will not accept. Therefore, the name must be returned.
This item was originally pended on the January 2004 LoAR.
The device is being returned for lack of documentation for the specific form of the merman. al-Jamal cites the following precedent, which is relevant in part:
While we register brown beasts proper if the animal is found naturally brown, such as a brown rabbit, or a brown hound, this is not a beast, but rather a monster, because of the wings and halo. Since monsters do not have proper coloration, they cannot be brown. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR May 1998, p. 28)
While it is true that merfolk do have a defined proper coloration, that is because their torsos must be torsos of human figures seen in heraldry. For a merman to have a brown-skinned torso, that torso must be of a recognized heraldic human figure whose skin is typically brown. As drawn, this does not match any of the known variants, nor was documentation provided for this style of human figure.
This has a complex low-contrast line division overlain by a nonskinny charge. It therefore violates RfS VIII.3 which says in part: "For instance, a complex line of partition could be difficult to recognize between two parts of the field that do not have good contrast if most of the line is also covered by charges." As al-Jamal notes, "arrondy is considered a complex line of division. As a consequence, it may not be used between two low contrast tinctures with a overlying charge, precisely for the reason shown in the emblazon - the line of division becomes very difficult to identify when it is obscured by an overlying charge." Brachet notes: "Whether or not there is a CD for quarterly arrondi vs quarterly in field-only armory, it is quite clear that the arrondi part simply does not show up in low contrast when the center part of it is obscured by a lozenge." The central part of the field illuminates the lion's share of the difference between plain and arrondy partitions. Obscuring that intersection with a nonskinny charge makes it very difficult to distinguish between plain and arrondy, blurring the difference between two lines of division that have a CD between them.
The name and device submission was withdrawn by the submitter.
Originally blazoned as Sable, a wall issuant from base argent, masoned and portalled sable, in chief an A-frame plumb line between two pairs of compasses Or, as drawn the "wall" placed on the "field" is indistinguishable from a per fess field division and we have changed the blazon to reflect that.
Commentary raised the issue of whether the use of both a compass and an A-frame plumb line violates the "sword and dagger" rule. By precedent this rule applies when the field (or a charge on the field) is charged with two or more items between which there is (1) not a CD for type and (2) enough visual similarity to cause confusion, but not so much similarity as to be considered identical for heraldic purposes. RfS VIII.3 states in part that "Elements must be used in a design so as to preserve their individual identifiability." The "sword and dagger" principle illustrates one instance where confusion between two (or more) separate charges compromises their individual identifiability. Consensus in commentary and at the meeting indicates that this design does violate RfS VIII.3 by the "sword and dagger" rule.
The A-frame plumb line is a period artifact, and thus acceptable as a charge in SCA armory, but we have no evidence that it was used as a charge in period heraldry. If evidence of such use were presented, we could reconsider the degree of difference between A-frame plumb lines and compasses.
Conflict with the registered name Sorcha inghean uí Mhaoláin. To be clear of conflict, two names must differ significantly in sound and appearance. While inghean and inghean uí differ in appearance, they differ by only one unstressed syllable in sound; therefore, identical given and patronymics that differ by only these particles conflict.
Aural conflict with the registered name Thorbjorn Olafsson, registered December 1987. The given names are identical. In June 2001, the name Astrid Olafsdatter was ruled an aural conflict with Astrith Ulfsdottir. Therefore, Olafsson and Ulfsson are also an aural conflict.
Aural conflict with Catherine Ravn, registered 4/76. Only the ending a sound makes the pronunciation of Catherine and Caitríona different, and the pronunciation of the bynames is the same as well. The articles of the do not count for name conflict.
The device conflicts with Katarina la Juste: Or, a butterfly within a bordure azure. The only CD is for adding charges (a butterfly and a hand) to the primary charge group.
Please advise the submitter to draw the bordure somewhat wider, should a resubmission include one.
Conflict with the registered name Gregor Gregors. RfS V.1.a.ii.a says, "Two bynames of relationship are significantly different if the natures of the relationships or the objects of the relationships are significantly different. Both names mean "son of Gregor," therefore they conflict.
His armory is registered under the holding name Gregor of Adamestor.
The odd positioning of the pithon's back wing renders the charge unidentifiable. This must be returned for a redraw: the wings must be drawn such that they do not interfere with the identifiability of the pithon's body.
This name consists of either two given names and a marked patronymic; or of a given name, an unmarked patronymic and a marked patronymic. No documentation was submitted and none found for either practice in period Scotland. We would drop the name Tosh, making the name just a given name and a marked patronymic, but the submitter will not accept major changes.
The badge conflicts with Vladimir Vitalievich Volkov: Per pale argent ermined purpure and purpure, an annulet Or. It also conflicts with Alexander le Browere: Per pale sable and vert, a serpent involved in annulo Or. In each case there is one CD for changing the field, but nothing for the difference between a serpent involved and an annulet:
[Returning Per pale sable and vert, a serpent involved in annulo Or] The device conflicts with Vladimir Vitalieich Volkov, Per pale argent ermined purpure and purpure an annulet Or. There is one CD for the field but nothing for involved serpent vs. annulet. [Jul 1999, Ret-Atenveldt, Alexander le Browere]
(To reduce confusion we note that Alexander's device was originally returned in July 1999, but later registered in July 2001 with a letter of permission to conflict from Vladimir.)
His armory is registered under the holding name Samuel of Ealdormere.
None.
The device conflicts with Thomas Lyon of Braemar: Per bend sinister vert and sable, a bunch of grapes argent. The only CD is for the field. Piles do not issue from the top corners of the shield. As such, we have reblazoned it as a chaussé field division, the only possible way to blazon it while satisfying our style requirements. This, however, makes the bunch of grapes the primary charge, bringing it into conflict with Thomas.
The augmentation is too small to be identifiable at any distance farther than two feet: the "field" looks sable and the crescents were blurred beyond recognition. Unfortunately, simply returning it for a redraw is not sufficient. Making the escutcheon larger would make it effectively a co-primary charge with the lymphads and laurel wreath, violating RfS VIII.1.a: "[T]hree or more types of charges should not be used in the same group" (the "slot machine" rule). While the addition of augmentations can be allowed to break rules in some cases, the violations we allow are grounded in period examples. Barring examples of period augmentations that result in three types of charges in the same group, this sort of augmentation cannot violate RfS VIII.1.a. We note as one possible suggestion that making the escutcheon an azure canton would eliminate the style problem.
The device conflicts with Fuiltigherne ni Ruadh O'Finn: Gules, a wolf rampant argent, collared and chained Or, within a bordure chequy argent and azure. There is one CD for the bordure, but no difference for the maintained collar and chain. This also conflicts with Johnathan Crusadene Whitewolf: Gules, ermined argent, a wolf rampant argent. In this case there is one CD for the field.
While the enfield appears in period, the only period examples we can find are supporters. As such it is impossible to tell whether enfields were considered different from canines in period as charges on the shield. With that in mind, we are left with visual differences; at least three-quarters of an enfield is canine, and the avian forelimbs often appear close to hands, as do those of canines in period heraldry. There is not enough visual difference to give a CD between canines and enfields, so the July 1992 precedent is hereby extended to give no CD even when the critters are not holding anything. This overturns the precedent from September 2003, which was solely based on implications from the July 1992 ruling.
In addition, this submission was sent up on a form that was significantly different from the forms approved by Laurel. As such it would be returned administratively even if there had been no other problems with the device.
This conflicts with Elwyn of Snow Hill: Per chevron azure, ermined argent, and argent, in base a fleur-de-lis azure. There is one CD for the (lack of) field, but nothing for placement of the charge on the field vs. a fieldless badge. (Elwyn's fleur-de-lys is also forced to base by the field.)
This violates RfS VII.7.b, Reconstruction Requirement, which states in part: "Elements must be reconstructible in a recognizable form from a competent blazon." Consensus of the commentary on this device was that the relationship of the pithon to the shepherd's crook in this design could not be adequately described by "enfiled" or any variation thereof, nor was anyone able to come up with a blazon that could ensure this depiction.
Please advise the submitter that if a wavy bordure is used on a resubmission, the waves should be drawn a bit more boldly. (An extra wave or two might help in this regard.)
The laurel wreath is not identifiable as such. It should be drawn with distinguishable leaves. It should also be drawn with a more closed top; the opening here is as wide as the top of the torch, which is rather too wide.
The shield on the form was also too short, far shorter than the 6-inch standard given in the Administrative Handbook. For any resubmission, please use a form with a properly sized escutcheon.
Please advise the submitter to draw the bordure wider.
The tincture of the dragon on the full size emblazon is halfway between blue and purple and cannot be accurately blazoned as either. This appears to be the direct result of color printing or photocopying; it should be notedthat the color was also starting to flake off already.
This submission was sent up on a form that was blatantly different from the forms approved by Laurel. As such it must be returned administratively. In addition, the shield on the device is too thin, far narrower than the 5-inch standard given in the Administrative Handbook.
In addition, the device conflicts with Timotheos of Alexandria: Azure, a chevron Or between two open books and a unicorn rampant reguardant maintaining a quill pen argent, and with Margarete del Mare: Azure, a chevron Or between three towers argent. In each case the only CD is for change of type of the secondary charges.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the chevron more steeply if used in a resubmission.
The tincture of the letter on the full size emblazon is halfway between blue and purple and cannot be accurately blazoned as either. This appears to be the direct result of color printing or photocopying; it should be notedthat the color was also starting to flake off already.
This name is tantamount to a claim to be Ygraine, wife of Uther, Pendragon, and mother of Arthur. Pendragon is not a surname, but a title meaning "Chief of the Dragon;" the name Draco is a form of and means Dragon. We note that the grammar of the byname is in the nominitive form when it should be in the genitive (possessive) form. The correct form is uxor Draconis.
We note that while a name of the form "Ygraine, wife of Dragon" is presumptuous, a name of the form "Ygraine, daughter of non-Arthurian-name, wife of Dragon" should be registerable. We suggest that she finds a patronymic unrelated to Arthurian literature and add that to her name.
This is being returned for a redraw. The "sun" is little more than a roundel with small bumps around the edge, and should not be touching the top edge of the shield nor the center point of the field division. The heart could also stand to be drawn a bit bigger (mostly wider).
The device conflicts with Esteban de Asturias: Barry of twelve per pale azure and argent, a leopard salient to sinister coward Or. There is one CD for the field, but nothing for the maintained sword, and the type and posture of the primary charges are the same.
The device violates RfS VII.7.a, Identification Requirement: "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance." Consensus of the College and the meeting were that the primary charge was unrecognizable. Suggestions about possible redrawing included making the head cabossed, coloring in the eyes and tongue, making the head a different tincture from the wings, and using less detail on the wings. Some combination of these may render the charge identifiable (depending on the specifics of the redrawing).
Conflict with Silverthorn, Shire of. The only difference is in the designators, which are transparent for purposes of conflict.
This is being returned for a redraw. As drawn, the dragonfly is not identifiable as such, and it is impossible to tell whether this is a single primary charge group or a single primary between secondaries. The emblazon should be redone with a more identifiable dragonfly (the wings should be together), and either with a larger dragonfly and smaller crosses or with all the charges as obvious co-primaries.
This must be returned for a redraw. On the full-size emblazon, the laurel wreath is drawn in a very "thin-line" fashion (with the equivalent of a green pen) and is not colored in. Against the overly large ermine spots it is not identifiable at any reasonable distance. (The wreath is almost invisible on the miniature emblazon.) The line of division should also come closer to bisecting the field area. If there were two properly drawn laurel wreaths in chief, the line of division could be drawn better and the laurel wreaths would fill the space properly.
The charges on the bordure on the emblazon are not identifiable; the meeting could not agree whether they were flowers, crosses, quatrefoils or mullets. In addition, the ford should be drawn smaller and with wavy stripes of even width.
Conflict with the registered name Rónán Mac Raith, registered September 2002 via the Outlands. A check of the forms reveals that these are two different people.
The device conflicts with Taira Shirou Kaoresato: Purpure, three moths in pall, heads to center, wings conjoined argent. There is one CD for adding the other two insects, but nothing for type between moth and butterfly, nor for arrangement between a group of one and a group of more than one. Since we do not give difference for a 180-degree rotation of a moth/butterfly, one of Taira's moths is in the same position as this butterfly; therefore there is not an independent difference for orientation in this case.
No forms were received by Laurel for the badge.
This violates RfS VII.7.b, Reconstruction Requirement, and VIII.3, Armorial Identifiability. It is impossible to blazon this design such that "a competent heraldic artist can reproduce the armory solely from the blazon" (RfS VII.7.b), and neither the cross nor the field division is identifiable: "Identifiable elements may be rendered unidentifiable by [for example] being obscured by other elements of the design" (RfS VIII.3). To quote Nebuly: "The artistic effect devised by the submitter depends upon careful placement of the line of division..." and Brachet: "This violates "The drawing here totally obscures the identity of the primary charge (something that I would until now have thought impossible for a simple cross)."
The posture of the griffins here is not sejant, because their spines are horizontal (instead of diagonal). Neither is the posture statant/passant because of the position of the hind legs. The submitter should pick one posture and depict it unambiguously.
Reluctantly, I must declare this title too generic to register. One of the common definitions of generic in the OED is " Of a name or designation (as for some type of product): that is used generally for the article, etc., that it describes, and is therefore not admissible as a trade mark; not protected by legislation, non-proprietary." This definition closely fits the common SCA term "book herald," a term near and dear to the hearts of many research heralds or, as I heard from many of them when this title was discussed, book heralds.
None.
This conflicts with a badge of Wander Riordan: (Fieldless) A gillyflower argent. There is one CD for mutual fieldlessness. A visual inspection of Wander's flower shows it has the same number of petals as this submission's, so there is definitly not a CD for type.
This violates RfS VIII.3, Armorial Identifiablility, which states in part: "A complex divided field could obscure the identity of charges counterchanged." Consensus of commentary and those at the meeting agreed that this applies here. The complex line of division makes it too difficult to figure out what the charge is. Nebuly points out that part of the problem lies with the line of division mimicking the crenellations of the tower, so a plain (or possibly even a wavy) line of division could resolve the difficulty.
Conflict with the registered name Anne Marshal, registered August 1985. The only difference between the names is a doubling of the terminal "l" in the byname.
Her device is registered under the holding name Anne of Darkwater.
This violates RfS IX.2 as the combination of the crown of thorns and the fleece was looked upon as excessive religious symbolism by too many commentors and people present at the meeting.
This conflicts with Wulf Gray Wind: Vert, a wolf passant and on a chief argent two birds displayed sable. There is but one CD for the aggregate changes to the tertiaries.
Withdrawn by the submitting kingdom.
This conflicts with two badges of Sigenoth the Blissful. The first is a household badge for Maison de la Croix Blanche: Quarterly sable and vert, a cross bottony argent. The second is a personal badge: Per pale sable and vert, a Latin cross bottony argent. As drawn the swords are visually indistinguishable from a cross crosslet or bottony, and the submitted blazon on the LoI supports this interpretation. Thus against each of Sigenoth's badges there is a CD for the field, but there is insufficient difference between the charges to get a second CD.
In addition, the "cross" appears to be throughout here on three of the four arms. A cross of any type should either be throughout on all arms or not throughout on any of them. Any potential resubmissions using the "cross of swords" motif should keep that in mind.
The primary charge was not identifiable as a tilting lance as it lacks the handle to tuck under the arm. It should be redrawn to be recognizable as either a tilting spear or as some other recognizable charge.
This conflicts with Alonzio of the Peacemakers: Gyronny Or and gules, a white tiger's head caboshed proper. There is one CD for the field, but the two feline heads are almost identical.
This violates RfS VII.7.a, Identification Requirement, and VIII.3, Armorial Identifiability. As drawn on the full-color emblazon, the mermaid is not identifiable as such, and "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance" (RfS VII.7.a). The odd positioning of the mermaid's tail and of the maintained scroll also serve to obscure the identifiability of the mermaid and the scroll. We note that "elements may be rendered unidentifiable by [for example] being obscured by other elements of the design" (RfS VIII.3) and such is the case here. We quote Brachet:
This is a seriously non-standard position for the mermaid's tail, and this position acts to remove the identifiability of the charge. The tail should be curled so that the long part of the tail crosses under the mermaid's butt so that the whole creature is much more upright and less of a circle. Another standard depiction curls the tail under and does not cross it but leaves the end of the tail just below the waist of the mermaid (viz. #501 in the PicDic). While we have no inherent problem with the Art Deco hair on the mermaid, it adds to the problem in this case because it is confusable with an extension of the tail. This should be returned for a recognizable redraw.
In addition to the suggestions made by Brachet, we suggest using white details on the purpure mermaid (the full-color emblazon was much less identifiable than the miniature outline), and perhaps having the mermaid maintain the scroll off to the side (opposite the tail?). While we would have to see the actual emblazon of any resubmission before deciding on its identifiability, following the above suggestions would give the resubmission a better chance.
The device violates RfS XI.3. The following precedent directly applies:
The motif Quarterly X and Y in bend two [charges] is allowable when the uncharged quarters are plain tinctures: we don't protect plain tinctures. But when the uncharged quarters are complex fields, we lose that rationale; and the complexity then begins to make it look like an independent coat. This, beneath all the subtext, is exactly what XI.3.b. is meant to prevent. [Aric Thomas Percy Raven, Oct 1992]
This armory definitely has the appearance of marshalling as shown above.
- Explicit littera renuntiationum -
Blazoned on the LoI as Gules, on a bend between a tree and roundel argent three decrescents palewise gules, most commentors noticed that the tertiary charges were not decrescents, but nobody could have noticed that the field is decidedly not gules. We are pending this to the April 2005 meeting so that it can be researched under the correct blazon.
This was originally item number 11 on the 11 March 2004 Ansteorra Letter of Intent.
Blazoned on the LoI as Vert, in saltire two rapiers inverted argent, in chief a horseshoe inverted argent, all within a bordure wavy Or, the tincture of the horseshoe was misblazoned, and the Letter of Correction did not reach the College until the very end of the primary commenting period. We are therefore pending this to the April 2005 meeting so that it can be researched under the correct blazon.
This was originally item number 12 on the 11 March 2004 Ansteorra Letter of Intent.
The branch's name was pended on the April 2004 LoAR "until the group can submit a proper petition for their group or until four months from the publication of this LoAR, whichever comes first" (as noted on the April LoAR and LoPaD). The device is being pended until the same month as the name decision occurs, January 2005.
A device supposedly for this branch appeared on the April LoAR. That association was erroneous: the device on the April LoPaD was actually for a different branch. This is the REAL device for Cluain. The device for the other branch was registered in May 2004 under the correct branch name.
Please advise the group to draw the chief a bit more narrowly and the ship accordingly smaller. This is as large as a chief can get without being returnable for confusion with a per fess line of division. Please instruct the group also to draw the laurel wreath with a narrower opening at the top.
This was originally item number 5 on the 22 March 2004 Lochac Letter of Intent.
Possible conflict was called in commentary with a badge of the Duke of Burgundy and/or the Toison d'Or (Order of the Golden Fleece): (Fieldless) A furison striking a flint with flames. Drakkar cites Boulton's Knights of the Crown which includes some outline pictures, and Pedair na Cluaine Bige cites http://www.khm.at/system2E.html?/staticE/page476.html and http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth214_folder/burgundy_intro.html#golden_fleece as online references.
We already protect one badge of the Toison d'Or, and this badge is likely deserving of protection as well. However, we are uncertain as to the exact form(s) of this badge. Therefore we are presenting the badge to the College for further research as to its blazon and its protectability. Since we do not know whether a protectable form of the Burgundy/Golden Fleece furison badge will conflict with Ianto's badge, the latter must likewise be pended
This was originally item number 9 on the 22 March 2004 Lochac Letter of Intent.
Pended to allow the letters of transfer to arrive from Caid.
Pended to allow the letters of transfer to arrive from Caid.
Pended to allow the letters of transfer to arrive from Caid.
The blazon on the Letter of Intent was sufficiently confusing that nobody in the College could tell what it was actually supposed to mean. The miniature emblazon was blurry and unclear on commentors' copies of the LoI, so it was of no help in divining a correct descripton either. We are pending this for further research under a correct blazon as supplied above.
This was originally item number 22 on 17 March 2004 Middle Letter of Intent.
Created at 2005-01-04T17:27:10