Name Articles
This page is a directory of educational material regarding names, naming practices and related subjects. The articles here should be of interest to submitters as well as heralds of all levels in the SCA.
Jump to Topics
- General Advice
- Name Construction
- About Name Sources
- Name Resource Archives
- Name Article Collections
- Multiple Cultures
- Household Names
- Order Names
Jump to Sources by Culture
These articles commonly make use of a special notation to represent characters outside the typical English alphabet and US-ASCII encoding. This notation is called Da'ud Notation [PDF], after its developer, Da'ud ibn Auda.
DISCLAIMER: Use of these articles does not guarantee registration. A submission using only period elements documented from these articles might be returned for any of the following reasons:
- It conflicts with a protected name.
- Its individual elements are period, but the construction of the name is not. For instance, a combination of Arabic and Irish name elements would not be registered.
- We discover an error in the article(s) on which it is based. The authors of these articles are careful and knowledgeable, but we cannot completely rule out the possibility of typos or other errors. See Standard Source Errata for known issues with some of these sources.
General Advice
- What is an SCA Name? by Jasper Greensmith and Zenobia Naphtali (1992)
- How to Document a Personal Name Submission by Elisabetta Tommaso di Carduci
- A Brief Introduction to the History of Names by Scolastica la souriete (1997)
Name Contruction
- Naming Construction and Patterns in SENA as Appendix A
- Types of Bynames in SENA as Appendix B
- Regional Naming Groups and Their Mixes in SENA as Appendix C
About Name Sources
- Name Sources for which Laurel Does Not Require Photocopies in the Administrative Handbook as Appendix H
- Search Common Name Sources: Locate matching articles across a dozen "no-photocopy" sites.
- Name Sources to Avoid in the Administrative Handbook as Appendix F
- Name Research Without Books by Ursula Georges
- Using FamilySearch Historical Records by Domhnall na Moicheirghe and Juliana de Luna
- Mining FamilySearch Historical Records for Name Articles by Jeanne Marie Lacroix
- Standard Source "Errata" by Jeanne Marie Lacroix
Name Resource Archives
- Some Name Resources: Collected resources from Pelican Sovereign of Arms
- Name Resources: Criteria by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Documentation by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Header Forms in Documentation by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Familysearch (IGI) by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: SENA Appendixes by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Order Names and Heraldic Titles by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
Name Article Collections
- Medieval Names Archive at s-gabriel.org: The Academy of Saint Gabriel collection of articles on medieval and renaissance names.
- Academy of Saint Gabriel Reports at panix.com: Articles from a heraldic consultation service that assisted members of the SCA in finding historically authentic medieval names and coats of arms.
- Articles by Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada at medievalscotland.org
- Articles by Juliana de Luna at medievalscotland.org
- Articles by Effric Neyn Ken3ocht Mcherrald (Sharon Krossa) at medievalscotland.org
- Articles by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn (Heather Rose Jones) at heatherrosejones.com
- Articles by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (Sara Uckelman) at ellipsis.cx
Multiple Cultures
- Name Resources: Marital Bynames by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Patronymic Bynames by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Matronymic Bynames (Northern) by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Matronymic Bynames (Southern) by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Double Given Names by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Culturally Mixed Names by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Languages by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Regional Naming Groups by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Gender-Neutral Resources by Clare Drake
- The Unisex Names Project compiled by Rúnfríðr Keiliselgr at stmonica.lochac.sca.org
Household Names
- Name Resources: Household Names by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Household Designators by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Alys's Simple Guide to Household Names by Alys Mackyntoich
Order Names
- Medieval Secular Order Names by Juliana de Luna
- Registering an Order Name in the SCA by Ursula Georges
- Alys's Simple Order Name Checklist by Alys Mackyntoich
- Alys's Simple Guide to Naming Awards and Orders (For People Who Are Not Book Heralds) by Alys Mackyntoich
Asia
- Women's Names from (Mostly) 16th Century Inscriptions at Tirupati (India) by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Some Sources for pre-1600 Indian Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Mongolian Naming Practices by Marta as tu Mika-Mysliwy
- Introduction to Pre-16th Century Chinese Onomastics [PDF] by Ii Katsumori
- Name Resources: Asian by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Middle Mongol Grammar for SCA Names by Ursula Georges
- Korean Names from the 13th and 14th Century (Goryeo) [PDF] by Herveus d'Ormonde
- Women's Names in Edo-Era Japan [PDF] by Mihriban bint Rüstem
- Titles of Nobility in the pre-1650 CE Indian Subcontinent by Sara al-Garnatiyya
- How to build a Japanese name by Mōri Tsubakie at tanbo-cho.com
Baltic/Slavic
- Russian Names Database by Paul Wickenden of Thanet
- Locative Bynames in Medieval Russia by Paul Wickenden of Thanet
- A Guide to Some Estonian Naming Patterns compiled by ffride wlffsdotter
- A (Very Brief) Guide to Some Livonian Naming Patterns compiled by ffride wlffsdotter
- A Guide to Some Lithuanian Naming Patterns compiled by ffride wlffsdotter
- A Guide to Some 15-16th Century Latvian Naming Patterns compiled by ffride wlffsdotter
Eastern Europe
- Early Croatian Given Names by Walraven van Nijmegen
- Common Czech Names of the 15th &16th Centuries by Walraven van Nijmege
- Hungarian Names 101 by Walraven van Nijmege
- Hungarian Feminine Names by Walraven van Nijmege
- Hungarian Personal Names of the 16th Century by Walraven van Nijmege
- Name Resources: Eastern European by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Eastern European (Baltic) by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Hungarian by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Polish by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
England
- The First Thousand Years of British Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Names of Women of the Brythonic North in the 5-7th Centuries by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Given Names from Early 13th Century England by Talan Gwynek
- An Index to the 1296 Lay Subsidy Rolls for Rutland, England by Karen Larsdatter
- Yorkshire Given Names from 1379 by Talan Gwynek
- Names from 15th Century York by Karen Larsdatter
- An Index to the 1523 Subsidy Roll for York and Ainsty, England by Karen Larsdatter
- Late Sixteenth Century English Given Names by Talan Gwynek
- Gemstone Names in 16th Century England by Elisabetta Tommaso di Carduci
- A Survey of the History of English Place-Names by Scolastica la souriete
- English Names found in Brass Enscriptions by Julian Goodwyn
- Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames by Talan Gwynek
- "Misplaced" Names found in A Dictionary of English Surnames by Jeanne Marie Lacroix
- Early Modern English Spelling Conventions [PDF] by Elisabetta Tommaso di Carduci
- 12th & 13th Century English Textile Surnames by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- 14th Century Worcestershire Names by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- 16th Century Gloucestershire Names by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- English Given Names from 16th and Early 17th C Marriage Records by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Feminine names from 14th C Exeter by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Feminine names from Devon, 1238 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Index of Names in the 1292 Subsidy Roll of London by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Cam, Glouchestershire, Marriage Registers 1569-1600 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Charlton Kings, Glouchestershire Marriage Registers 1538-1600 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Frocester, Glouchestershire Marriage Registers 1559-1600 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Maisemore, Glouchestershire Registers 1538-1600 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Minchinhampton, Glouchestershire Marriage Registers 1566-1600 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Oldbury-on-Hill, Glouchestershire Marriage Registers by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Quedgeley, Glouchestershire Marriage Registers 1559-1600 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in Rangeworthy Bishops, Glouchestershire, Registers 1575-1600 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in the Berkeley Hundred Court Rolls by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names from 13th Century Northumberland by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Name Resources: Middle English (1066-1500) by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Anglo-Saxon (Old English) by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Late Period English by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: English Men's Names by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: English by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
France
- Early Medieval Breton Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris by Colm Dubh
- An Index to the Occupational By-Names in the 1292 Census of Paris by Colm Dubh
- Occitan Townspeople in the 14th Century by Juliana de Luna
- Given Names from Brittany, 1384-1600 by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Late Period Feminine Names from the South of France by Talan Gwynek
- Feminine Names from Aosta, 1337 and 1351 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Feminine Names from Périgueux, 1339-1340 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- French Names from Chastenay, 1448-1457 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- French Names from Paris, 1421, 1423, & 1438 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names found in a French Marriage Register, 1595 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names from 13th- and 14th-Century Latin Records from Gascony by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names from a 1587 Tax Roll from Provins by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names from Artois, 1601 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names from Choisy, France, 1475-1478 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Occitan names from Saint Flour, France, 1380-1385 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Names from Lallaing 1384 - 1600 by Domhnall na Moicheirghe
- Documenting a French Name by Brunissende Dragonette
- Some Names from Picardy in the 14th Century [PDF] by Brunissende Dragonette
- Name Resources: National French Library by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: French Placenames by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: French by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: French Occitan/Provencal by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
Germany
- German Given Names 1200-1250 by Talan Gwynek
- Some Early Middle High German Bynames by Talan Gwynek
- German Names from Kocise, 1307 - 1505 by Guntram von Wolkenstein
- 15th-Century German Women's Names by Talan Gwynek
- Medieval German Given Names from Silesia by Talan Gwynek
- Late Period German Masculine Given Names by Talan Gwynek
- German Names from Nürnberg, 1497 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Name Resources: German by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
Greece Byzantium
- Common Names of the Aristocracy in the Roman Empire During the 6th and 7th Centuries by Bardas Xiphias
- Personal Names of the Aristocracy in the Roman Empire During the Later Byzantine Era by Bardas Xiphias
- Greek Feminine Names from Thera by Elisabetta Tommasso di Carduci
- Name Resources: Roman by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Latin by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
Ireland
- Some Masculine Ogham Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- 100 Most Popular Men's Names in Early Medieval Ireland by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Fourteenth to Sixteenth Century Irish Names and Naming Practices by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Manx Names in the Early 16th Century by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Names Found in Anglicized Irish Documents by Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada at medievalscotland.org
- Name Resources: Gaelic and Anglicized Irish by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Irish Gaelic by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
Islam/Middle East
- Arabic Naming Practices and Period Names List by Da'ud ibn Auda
- Andalusian Names: Arabs in Spain by Juliana de Luna
- Moorish Place-names in Portugal by Pedro de Alcazar
- Jewish Names in the World of Medieval Islam by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Jewish Women's Names in an Arab Context: Names from the Geniza of Cairo by Juliana de Luna
Italy
- Masculine Names from Thirteenth Century Pisa by Juliana de Luna
- 15th Century Italian Men's Names by Talan Gwynek
- A sample of Jewish names in Milan 1540-1570 by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Jews in Rome during the 1550's by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Feminine Names from 15-Century Bologna (Italy) by Gianna Maddalena Alberti
Jewish
- Names of Rabbis in Pirkei Avot by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Jewish Naming Convention in Angevin England by Eleazar ha-Levi
- Jews in Catalonia: 1250 to 1400 by Juliana de Luna
- A sample of Jewish names in Valencia 1293-1485 by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- A sample of Jewish names in Milan 1540-1570 by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Jews in Rome during the 1550's by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Jewish Names in the World of Medieval Islam by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Jewish Women's Names in an Arab Context: Names from the Geniza of Cairo by Juliana de Luna
Low Countries
- 10th Century Frisian Masculine Names by Talan Gwynek
- Dutch Womens' Names to 1100 by Walraven van Nijmege
- Flemish Feminine Names 1259 - 1530 by Guntram von Wolkenstein
- 15th Century Dutch Names by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- 15th Century Dutch Names by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Dutch Given Names from 1573 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Dutch Names 1358-1361 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Dutch Names 1393-96 by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Name Resources: Alternative Titles in Dutch by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Gender Neutral Names from the Netherlands by Ava van Allecmere at ava-s-corner.com
- A Handful of Nuns in Flanders by Ava van Allecmere
- Amsterdam Marriage Banns 1565 by Ava van Allecmere at ava-s-corner.com
- Female Poorters in Leiden, 1450-14589 [PDF] by Ava van Allecmere at ava-s-corner.com
Roman
- A Simple Guide to Imperial Roman Names by Ursula Georges
- Vindolanda Tablets Online (Names) at ox.ac.uk
- Inscriptions of Roman Tripolitania at kcl.ac.uk
Scandinavia
- A Very Brief History of the Scandinavian Languages by Talan Gwynek
- Using Scandinavian diplomatria for fun and profit [PDF] by Birgitta Lulli
- Finnish Names by Rouva Gertrud: Accompanied by an Ancient Finnish Names Chart: [HTML] [PDF]
- Swedish Feminine Names from 1300 by Lindorm Eriksson
- Name Resources: Old Norse by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Scandinavian by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Danish by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Iron Age Finnic Personal Names [PDF] by Birittha Wf
Scotland
- A List of Feminine Personal Names Found in Scottish Records by Talan Gwynek
- 12th Century Scottish Women's Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- A Simple Guide to Constructing 12th Century Scottish Gaelic Names by Effric neyn Kenyeoch vicralte
- Names from 13th Century Scottish Parliamentary Records by Alys Mackyntoich
- Name Resources: Scots and Gaelic by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Mac/Mc by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
Spain/Iberian Peninsula
- Romance Languages of the Mediæval Iberian Peninsula by Pedro de Alcazar
- Andalusian Names: Arabs in Spain by Juliana de Luna
- Catalan Names in Latin Contexts: the late 12th century by Juliana de Luna
- Jews in Catalonia: 1250 to 1400 by Juliana de Luna
- A sample of Jewish names in Valencia 1293-1485 by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
- Spanish Names from the Late 15th Century by Juliana de Luna
- 16th-century Spanish Names by Elsbeth Anne Roth
- Early Portuguese Names by Juliana de Luna
- Moorish Place-names in Portugal by Pedro de Alcazar
- Portuguese Names 1350-1450 by Juliana de Luna
- Portuguese Names from the 16th Century by Juliana de Luna
- Basque Feminine Names by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Name Resources: Spanish by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
- Name Resources: Iberian (Spanish, Portugeuse, and Arabic) by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux
Wales
- Concerning the Name "Eilonwy" by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Cornish (and Other) Personal Names from the 10th Century Bodmin Manumissions by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- 10th Century Cornish Women's Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- A Simple Guide to Constructing 13th-Century Welsh Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- A Simple Guide to Constructing 16th-Century Welsh Names (in English Contexts) by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Women's Names in the First Half of 16th Century Wales by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
- Late Sixteenth Century Welsh Names by Talan Gwynek
- Some 16th & 17th C Welsh Masculine Names by Aryanhwy merch Catmael
- Name Resources: Welsh by Juliana de Luna and Lillia de Vaux