Nice name!
Commenters mentioned that there is a small triquetra in the line decoration on each of the Thor's hammers. Since it appears to be part of the artistic detailing of the hammer, it is not considered to count for difference.
Her previous device, Per pale vert and azure, a chevron between three Thor's hammers argent, is released.
His previous device, Sable, a chevron throughout Or mullety sable and in base a spear entwined by a serpent Or, is retained as a badge.
This badge is clear of the badge of Roger of York, (Fieldless) A rose vert. There is a CD for the field and a CD for the addition of the quite visible sun, which will not be mistaken for seeding. Also, Roger's rose is entirely green.
Seagirt is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Nice device!
This device can be blazoned Per bend bendy argent and vert and vert, a swallow volant bendwise argent, and must also be checked for conflict under that blazon. Fortunately, it is also clear under that interpretation, and we can register it.
No documentation for the byname was provided on the LoI. Had the commenters not provided the missing documentation, we would have been forced to return this name.
The byname of Wessex is a lingua anglica rendering of Old English of Wesseaxum. This name combines Old and Middle English, which is a step from period practice.
The submitter requested authenticity for a 12th C Norman living in England. This request cannot be accommodated because the kingdom of Wessex ceased to exist after 1066, when it was split among the followers of William the Conqueror. Wessex as a geographical name did not come back into use until Victorian times.
This does not conflict with the Crown Province of Østgarðr; the first syllables of the two names look and sound significantly different.
Listed on the LoI as Jódís_in glaða, the name appeared on the forms as Jódísin glaða. While the change made in kingdom, to separate the given name Jódís from the definite article in, was correct, it was not summarized on the LoI, nor noted on the forms. Submissions heralds, we remind you that if you make a change to a name in kingdom, the changed form of the name must be clearly written on the form and the change must be discussed on the LoI. Failure to do so can result in the pend or return of the name.
The documentation for the non-standard depiction of the beviled line of division was not adequately summarized on the LoI, which could have been considered grounds for return. The line of division that appears in the emblazon is a variant style of per bend bevilled, one which appears in Legh's Accedens of Armory, folio 79, and on the August 1992 Cover Letter under the header "The bevil made me do it".
We will not grant difference between the various depictions of per bend bevilled.
The use of per bend bevilled with charges on the field is a step from period practice.
The badge is not in conflict with the device of William of Sark, Sable, a flame proper. There is a CD for a fieldless badge against a fielded design, and a CD for the change of tincture of the primary charge, from proper to gules, by precedent:
The "old-SCA-style" proper flames (drawn either as gules voided Or or vice versa) are not a period depiction of flames, as stated in the cover letter with the April 1995 LoAR. A ruling giving tincture difference between the "old-SCA-style" and "new-SCA-style" proper flames has unfortunate ramifications. It would be necessary to inspect all the registered proper flames and reblazon the flames which did not meet the current definition of flames proper. This would affect between 150 pieces of armory (armory using the two word-phrase flame proper in the blazon, which only considers single flames) and 450 pieces of armory (armory using the substrings flame and proper in the blazon, which could include armory which did not have a proper flame in it at all, but includes some other proper charge, and a flame in a standard heraldic tincture.) Because the April 1995 ruling was relatively late in the SCA's heraldic history, we expect that the majority of the armory using flame(s) proper use the "old-SCA-style" proper.
If we reblazon the "old-SCA-style" flames to match their current emblazon, we would not allow the submitters who had learned that the "old-SCA-style" flame was not period to choose to draw their proper flames in a period fashion henceforth. The reblazon would require them to continue to draw non-period flames, or to resubmit their arms. This does not seem like a desirable policy.
We therefore rule that, as a special case due to the SCA history of the charge, there will be no difference given between the various emblazons of flames proper.
As William's flame proper could as easily be depicted in the currently acceptable style, with alternating tongues of gules and Or flame, there is a CD for tincture between it and any flame tinctured entirely in either gules or Or.
The Principality has permission to conflict with the device of Alanus of Bunghea, Per chevron azure and Or, in base a flame gules.
The order name pattern Order of the Silver <heraldic charge> is grandfathered to the submitters.
This badge was to be associated with the Order of the Silver Sparkes. Since that name was returned, we are unable to make that association.
There is at least a CD between a winged wolf and an opinicus, which has an eagle's head, neck, wings, and forelegs, a lion's hindquarters, and a camel's tail. Therefore, this is clear of the device of Genevieve Charbonneau, Per bend sinister rayonny Or and pean, in dexter chief an opinicus segreant to sinister sable. Though the placement of Genevieve's creature is forced, there is a CD for the changes to the field and a CD for changing the type of primary charge.
Originally submitted as Cairistiona inghean Mhorghainn, that form of the name was two steps from period practice, because of temporal and lingual disparities. It was changed in kingdom to the submitted form after consulting with the submitter. According to the forms, the submitter cares most about having a given name that sounds like Christiana. While the currently submitted form of the name is registerable, please advise the submitter that Cairistiona is pronounced closer to /kar-ih-STYEE-nuh/ than /kri-STYEE-ann-uh/. If she would like a name that sounds like Christiana and is closer to her originally submitted name, we recommend Christiana Morgan. Christiana is dated to 1220 in Reaney & Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, s.n. Wellesley, and the byname Morgan to 1214 in the same source, s.n. Morgan.
Submitted as Cyma in kyrra, the LoI claimed that Cyma was a feminine name, but in fact it is not; it is masculine. Hence, the name combined an Old English masculine given name, Cyma, with an Old Norse feminine byname, in kyrra. The descriptive byname needs to match the gender of the given name. Since the submitter desires a feminine name, we prefer to change the given name to a feminine form rather than change the byname to a masculine form. The closest Old English feminine name that we found is Cymme, a hypocoristic of the name Cyneburg, which was used in the 8th and early 10th C according to the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England. We have changed the name to Cymme in kyrra to correct the grammar in order to register it.
The submitter requested authenticity for 1280-1420. This is a fine 14th C German name.
There was some discussion of the form of the jar in the badge. Typically, apothecary jars in our heraldry are seen with straight sides, and this would be the first registration of a jug in SCA heraldry.
Research done by Wreath staff has turned up many containers of this general shape, including the Baluster jugs found on the website of the Ashmolean museum (http://www.ashmolean.org/PotWeb/PotChron2.html). Items described as "drug jars" come in various shapes, as can be seen at the website for the Victoria & Albert museum (http://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?q=drug+jar). Since a similar search at the V&A for 'jug' shows several pieces that share the same outline as the submitted jar, we are expanding the definition of an apothecary jar to include objects which do not have straight sides.
The use of lightning bolts is a step from period practice.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the owl with smaller eyes.
This device is clear of the device of Johanna le Walkere, Quarterly azure and sable, four quatrefoils argent. There is a CD for the field and a CD for the change of orientation of the charges. Johanna's quatrefoils are, as expected, set crosswise, while the clovers are set saltirewise.
This device is not a conflict with the device of Castile, Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, by X.1. The chevron is the primary charge in Reyner's submission.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the point of the chevron higher on the field, instead of just barely crossing the per fess line. Medieval artwork usually shows the tip of a single chevron nearly reaching the top of the field.
The byname O'Neill was documented from MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland, which source was ruled unacceptable as the sole source of documentation on the July 2007 Cover Letter. Rowel provided alternative documentation for the byname:
There's evidence for <O Neill> in 1601 (see below). This set of records has the names in Anglicized Irish and includes scattered examples of <O'...> forms, so <O'Neill> should be fine for Anglicized Irish circa 1601 based on these docs.
Source: "Appendix III: Fiants of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth". pp. 29-276. The Seventeenth Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records in Ireland. (Dublin: Alex. Thom. & Company, 1885). http://books.google.com/books?id=NSwNAAAAYAAJ. Record 6489 (year 1601) lists on p. 174 near the beginning of the record: Cormack O Neill, Henry O Neill, Tirlagh O Neill, and others
Thus, the name is registerable as submitted.
Please instruct the submitter to draw all charges to better fill the available space.
Please instruct the submitter to use less internal detailing on the swans, so they are easier to recognize.
Submitted as Crespin Le Vasseur, the article was not capitalized in the documentation. We have made this correction.
Submitted as Ichijou Ichisaru Sukeaki, there were problems with the documentation and construction of the yobina Ichisaru. The LoI justified Ichisaru as a constructed name based on ichi 'one', dated to 1332 as part of a surname, and saru 'monkey', dated to 1600 as part of a given name. However, no argument was given that the combination of an element found in a surname with an element used in a given name can result in a reasonable yobina (given name), nor that the meaning 'one monkey' is a plausible meaning for a yobina. Additionally, the yobina mixes onyomi (Chinese) and kunyomi (Japanese) readings of the kanji characters in a single name element. Precedent states that mixing onyomi and kunyomi readings in a single name element is not registerable (v. Uraji Tarou Noritatsu, LoAR 08/2002, Meridies-R). Lacking evidence that such a combination is plausible in period, this ruling is still valid.
As the submitter allows all changes, we have dropped the problematic element. The resulting name consists of a family name + nanori, a formal given name. This construction is not common in Japanese, but it is found, as indicated by precedent:
There was some question whether this name followed construction patterns found in Japanese names. We believe it does reflect a documentary form, the form [surname] + [nanori] (a nanori is a formal name reserved to the aristography [sic], according to Solveig Throndardottir, Name Construction in Medieval Japan). This is the form of the name that would appear on official documents. However, the form [surname] + [yobina] + [nanori] is considerably more likely, especially for the 16th C (the yobina is a less formal "use" name). [Yamahara Yorimasa, LoAR 03/2006, Æthelmearc-A]
His previous device, Vert, on a plate a stag's head cabossed sable, on a chief embattled argent a roundel between an increscent and decrescent sable, is retained as a badge.
This is in conflict with the badge of Elyn de Hauocmore, Azure, a mullet voided and interlaced, within and conjoined to an annulet argent, registered last month. Commenters were divided on whether or not the Thor's hammer was worth a CD. Had the submission been a solid mullet charged with a Thor's hammer, this hammer would be acceptably large as a tertiary charge. There is a CD for adding a tertiary charge, even such a small tertiary charge. Therefore, there is a CD for the addition of the secondary Thor's hammer. Elyn has provided a blanket permission to conflict for armory which is one countable step from her armory, so this device may be registered.
The submitter has permission for her name to be presumptuous of the name Diek Rabynovich. The elements Natal'ia, Diekova, and Rabynovicha are grandfathered to her.
Her previous name, Natal'ia Diekova zhena Rabynovicha, is released.
Submitted as Osric of Blæcw{o-}d, the byname of Blæcw{o-}d was documented as a coined locative byname constructed from Old English blæc 'black' and w{o-}d 'wild, frenzied'. However, no evidence was provided, and none could be found by the College, that a compound meaning 'black wild' or 'black frenzied' is a plausible Old English place name. Lacking such evidence, Blæcw{o-}d is not registerable in the context of a locative byname.
If Blæcw{o-}d was not registerable, the submitter noted that he would accept an appropriate Old English locative byname meaning 'of Blackwood'. Correct Old English forms of 'of Blackwood' include of Blæcwudu and æt Blæcwudu. We have changed the name to Osric of Blæcwudu in order to register it.
This name combines Middle Irish and Early Modern Irish, which is a step from period practice.
Sylvia has permission to conflict with the device of Phelan Ó Coileàin, Azure, a horseshoe inverted within a bordure Or.
Submitted under the name Saba Ó Coileáin.
This does not conflict with Liam McManus. While Willelmus is a Latin form of William, and Liam is a diminutive of Uilliam, the Gaelic form of William, Liam is not a diminutive of Willelmus. The two given names look and sound significantly different, so they are clear by RfS V.1.a.i.
This name combines English and Gaelic, which is a step from period practice.
Submitted as Geneviève l'Escrivainne, the given name was documented from Colm Dubh, "Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris". As precedent notes:
Submitted as Geneviève la Douce, the given name was documented ... as a spelling found in Colm Dubh, "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris" (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html). Accents found in this work reflect modern editorial additions in the 1837 compilation from which these names were taken; they do not appear in the original census document. Given this, we have changed the name to Genevieve la Douce. [LoAR 10/2007, Caid-A]
We have removed the accent in order to register the name.
Precedent on the depiction of peacocks says:
When the peacock is in its default (i.e. with its tail downwards), there is no heraldic difference for the tail's exact placement (straight to base, curved bendwise, etc.), nor for the exact degree of the tail's spread (closed tight, slightly spread, etc.) ["From Wreath: Concerning Peacocks", April 2007 Cover Letter]
The peacocks in this badge submission are, therefore, depicted in their default posture. The fact that their tails curl under them is an unblazoned artistic detail.
Submitted under the name Colen MacDonald.
There was some question whether Courtney, documented as a surname, was registerable as a given name. Noir Licorne found a period example of Courtney used as a given name in the early grey era:
[A] period example of Courtney as a (masculine) given name: "Courtney Sprinckthorpe, of Newark, and Barbara Medopp, of U. 30 Jan 1603 " from Nottinghamshire parish records at ancestry.com. This particular record is from Upton. The names are not normalized. The same event, also from Nottinghamshire but this time from Newark-upon-Trent, gives "Courtney Springthorpe & Barbara Midup 30 Jan 1603".
The byname of the White Meadow is grandfathered to the submitter.
Her previous name, Actaeone Courtney of the White Meadow, is released.
Her previous device, Per bend sinister argent and purpure, an escallop inverted gules and a narwhal embowed to base argent, is released.
Commenters mentioned that the black-and-white emblazon on OSCAR differed in outline from the color emblazon. The differences are merely artistic and not blazonable. Following the conventions established on the August 2009 Cover Letter, under the title "Artistic Variations in Submitted Emblazons", this submission is registerable.
The use of a compass star is a step from period practice.
Last month, in passing the arms of François Griffin, we ruled:
It was the consensus of the College that a divided field in which the two parts are tinctures that share the same background is allowable if there is an ordinary to aid in the separation of the two parts, though the practice is not documented. [Thorgrimr inn kyrri, 02/2001, A-Atlantia]
Because the practice has not been documented, the use of a divided field in which the two parts are tinctures that share the same background, separated by an ordinary, is a step from period practice. [François Griffin, November 2009, A-Ansteorra]
Therefore, the submitted device is registerable with a single step from period practice.
The nowing of the tail is a blazonable artistic detail which does not count for difference.
Please instruct the submitter to draw a more easily recognizable alphyn. An alphyn resembles a wolf or heraldic tyger. It has a lion's tail, frequently has a beak, and the front legs are replaced by either eagle legs or (rarely) ox legs. The creature depicted in this submission more resembles a feline.
Erin was documented on the LoI as the submitter's legal given name. Edelweiss provided alternative documentation for Erin used as a given name in English context from the IGI Parish Record extracts:
There's a grey period baptism for Erin: Erin Johnson bap. 27 April 1634, East Kirby, Lincolnshire
and an in period marriage: Erin Laurence mar. Richard Woodyat 22 June 1584, Bosbury, Herefordshire
Thus, Erin is registerable as a given name in late-period English contexts.
Her previous name, Edana of Dreiburgen, is released.
As ruled on the September 2007 Cover Letter, the use of an unmarked patronymic byname in Russian is a step from period practice.
Nice 15th C Danish name!
The use of paw prints is a step from period practice.
Submitted with the blazon sabers, heraldic sabers have curved blades. Since these charges have straight blades, we have blazoned them as rapiers.
The use of a doubly enarched chief is a step from period practice.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the wolf's teeth conjoined at the edge of the field.
Listed on the LoI as Reina MacCormick, the forms showed that the name was originally spelled Rhianna McCormick. While the LoI explained the reasons for changing the byname, no mention was made to the change of the given name. Had the reason for the change not been provided in commentary, we would have had to pend this name so that it could be researched with the information of the originally submitted form.
The submitter requested authenticity for 11th-12th C English, but noted that she cared most about the spelling Willingham. The earliest date we found for this spelling is 1254; the name is a fine choice for 13th C English, but we cannot confirm that it is authentic for her period. For an authentic 11th-12th C form of the name, we recommend Susanna de Willingeham. Willingeham is dated to c1115 in Ekwall, Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names, s.n. Willingham, and Reaney & Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, s.n. Willingham date Odo de Willingeham to 1190.
Tanna is the submitter's legal given name.
While the device is very evocative of the armory of England (and by extension, France), it is not presumptuous. While commenters mentioned that the arms of Eton College, Sable, three lilies argent, on a chief per pale azure and gules, a fleur-de-lys and a lion passant guardant Or, include the charges on the chief as a sign of royal favor, this does not automatically make any use of those charges in those tinctures, even on the same backgrounds, a sign of royal favor. We would certainly protect the chief on Eton's arms as presumptuous, but these arms do not have that charged chief.
This device is clear of that of Thistle, March of the, Vert, on a bend sinister between two laurel wreaths argent a thistle and another inverted conjoined at the slips proper. There is a CD for the change of number of primary charges, a CD for the change of type of the secondary charges, a CD for the change of arrangement of half of the secondary charge group, from palewise to bendwise sinister, and a CD for the removal of the tertiary charge. Commenters suggested that the submission could be blazoned as Vert, on a bend sinister between a wolf's head erased contourny and an oak leaf bendwise sinister argent two bendlets vert. Under that blazon, there is a CD for the change of type of the secondary charges and a CD for the change of arrangement of half of the secondary charge group, from palewise to bendwise sinister.
Submitted as Adhemar de Chartres, the submitter requested authenticity for 12th-13th C France. The name as documented combined a 14th C Occitan given name with a 13th C (northern) French byname; a name authentic for France would either be wholly Occitan or wholly French, not a mixture of the two. The French form of the given name, Ademar, was used in the 11th and 12th C according to Academy of S. Gabriel Report #2583. We have changed the name to Ademar de Chartres to meet the submitter's request for authenticity.
His previous name, Gwalchmai Saethydd, is released.
Submitted as Aldred_Lyccidfelth_, Lyccidfelth was documented as an Old English place name from the 8th C. In this period, we do not have any examples of unmarked locative bynames in Old English; the earliest examples that we have are from the Domesday Boke (cf. the introduction of Reaney & Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, and Tengvik, Old English Bynames, pp. 125-30, 137-8.) Lacking evidence for unmarked locative bynames in Old English before the Conquest, they are not registerable. Watts, Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names, s.n. Lichfield dates the phrases Anliccitfelda and Onlicitfelda 'on/of Lichfield' to late 11th C/early 12th C copies of charters originally written c715. (The change from -feld or -felth to -felda or -feltha following on or an is a requirement of Old English grammar.) In the context of a personal name, we would not be surprised to find the preposition an or on separated from the place name, e.g., on Licitfelda. We have changed the name to Aldred on Lyccidfeltha to make the byname a marked locative so that we can register it.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the per pall line of division so that the central joint is slightly further down on the field and to draw the dice larger, to better fill the available space.
This name combines Russian and German, which is a step from period practice. The byname von Wulfhagen is grandfathered to the submitter.
His previous name, Folland von Wulfhagen, is released.
A chatloup, or calopus, is a period heraldic monster with a wolf's body, a cat's face, and goat's horns. As such, there is a CD between it and either a wolf or a lion.
Therefore, the submission is clear of the device of Rognvaldr Byrgisheraðingr, Azure, a wolf salient and a base engrailed Or. There is a CD for changes to the type of monster and another CD for the change of type of peripheral ordinary. It is also clear of Gelre (important non-SCA arms), Azure, a lion rampant queue-forche Or. There is a CD for the change of type of monster and another for adding the tierce.
Both the submitted form and the LoI listed this as a new device; however, he already has a device registered. His previous device, Or, a pine tree couped proper and on a chief azure three mullets argent, is released.
Please instruct the submitter to draw a thicker bordure and larger, more easily recognizable acorns.
Charging ordinaries which are counterchanged over other ordinaries was declared to be a step from period practice in the return of Rycharde's original submission, in February 2009. This submission uses a wolf sejant rather than a wolf sejant ululant, which means there are no longer two steps from period practice and the device is registerable.
Submitted as Thomas Fleischer, this conflicted with Thomas Fletcher as the bynames are not significantly different in sound and appearance. The submitter allowed all changes and cared most about the meaning of the byname, 'butcher'. Another German byname for a butcher, Fleischacker, literally meaning 'flesh-hacker', is dated to 1433 in Schwind, Ausgewählte urkunden zur verfassungs-geschichte der deutsch-österreichischen, p. 335. Fletcher and Fleischacker are significantly different in sound and appearance, so they do not conflict. We have changed the name to Thomas Fleischacker to remove the conflict so that we can register the name with his desired meaning.
Submitted as Elisande Walters, the given name Elisande was documented from Academy of S. Gabriel 2893, which says:
The root of <Elisande> is the Continental Germanic name <Elisind>, which is found in Latin records from France as <Elissindis> a. 965 and <Ilissendus> a. 984. [2] These names gave rise to the Old French <Elisant> or <Elissent>, which is recorded in England as <Elysant> in 1190 and <Helisent> in 1221. [1] <Elisande> is the spelling that would be expected in later-period and modern French if the name remained in use; however, we have no evidence that it did. [3]
None of the commenters were able to find any evidence that the name remained in use until the period when the spelling Elisande is plausible. Lacking such evidence, the spelling Elisande is not registerable. We have substituted the most similar documentable form, Elisant, in order to register the name.
This name combines French and German, which is a step from period practice.
A table-trestle is a period charge, as seen in the arms of Awersberg (Siebmacher, plate 33).
This device conflicts with the device of Mar Arthursson, Gules, a chevron couped Or. There is a CD between a chevron and a properly drawn trestle, with supports on the inside of the top angle, as seen in this submission, but that is the only CD. Thankfully, Mar has provided a letter of permission to conflict, so we can register this device.
This device is clear of a badge of Northshield, (Fieldless) A pair of compasses Or. There is at least a CD between a table-trestle and a pair of compasses and a CD for a fielded design compared to a fieldless one.
Listed on the LoI as Deitrich von Saxony, both the forms and the documentation spelled the given name Dietrich. We have made this correction.
The byname von Saxony violates RfS III.1.a Linguistic Consistency by combining German von with English Saxony. While the submitter did not allow major changes, he specifically allowed the correction of the byname to a wholly German form. The German name for Saxony is Sachsen; this spelling is found in the 16th C according to Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "German Place Names from a 16th C Czech Register". We have changed the byname to von Sachsen in order to register it.
This name combines English and Italian, which is a step from period practice.
The submission on OSCAR lacked the black-and-white emblazon. Both black-and-white and color emblazons are required by the new Administrative Handbook. Since the official change to the new handbook was announced after this letter was posted, we are allowing it in this case.
Listed on the LoI as Beatrix_Behr, the name was originally submitted in kingdom as Beatrix von Behr and changed because no documentation was provided, and none could be found, for Behr as a place name. Pelican Emeritus found evidence for the locative byname von Behr in our period:
Mecklenburg im Zeitalter der Reformation, 1503-1603 By Heinrich Schnell, p 23, refers to a "Marquand von Behr" in 1522 (zumal wenn dieselben wie Klaus von Lützow und Marquard von Behr im Jahre 1522 weder lesen noch schreiben konnten.' which the free translation programs says means something like "especially since it is likely that Klaus von Lutzow and Marquard von Behr in 1522 could neither read nor write)
Staatshandbuch für Mecklenburg By Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Germany), p 364 lists an <Eleonore von Behr> in, probably 1506. This is a list of women's names that appears to be a list of cloistered women of some sort.
We have restored the name to the originally submitted form, since it can be documented.
Submitted as Fionn-an Coille, the submitters allowed all changes and requested help forming a Scottish Gaelic place name meaning 'wood of the white river' for the period 675-1400. As submitted, the name had various problems, including the lack of a designator, required by RfS III.2.b, lack of dates for any of the place names cited in the supporting documentation, and problems with the construction. Given the submitters' desires and constraints, Rowel provided the following information:
As best as I can tell right now, the Early Modern Irish Gaelic (c1200-c1700) form of a placename meaning "Wood of the White River" would be <Coill Fionnabhainn>.
This form still needs to be checked for minor grammatical corrections. For example, <Fionnabhainn> needs to be checked to confirm that it is in the genitive case. Also, if <Coill> is a feminine word, then <Fionnabhainn> would lenite.
I found examples of <Fiodh> and <Coill>/<Coillte> used to mean "Wood" or "Woods" at the beginnings of placenames combined with a second element that was derived from a proper noun. However, I had trouble finding examples of these where (1) O'Donovan provided footnotes that included the meanings of the names and (2) where the second element was a formal placename instead of being derived from a given name or from a family name.
I did find examples of <Gleann> "Vale/Glen" as the first element in constructions with the second element being derived from a river name. <Gleann> (at the beginning of a placename) is used in similar constructions as <Fiodh> and <Coill>/<Coillte>, so I believe that finding support for <Gleann [genitive form of river name]> is sufficient to grant the benefit of the doubt on a construction formed <Coill [genitive of river name]>.
Combining this construction with the support for river names formed [color][word for river] and lake names formed [color][word for lake], supports: [Coill [genitive of river name formed [color][word for river]].
The unusual complexity of that construction is in line with the example of <Cluain Fionnlocha> (#1 below) which combines the word for "Lawn/Meadow" with a lake name that is a [color][word for lake] construction, resulting in the complex: [[toponymic][genitive form of lake name formed [color][word for lake]], which is similar to the constructed <Coill Fionnabhainn>.
In follow-up commentary, after the members of the group confirmed that they were happy with a name like Coill Fionnabhann, Rowel concluded:
I searched the annals for Early Modern examples of <Abhainn> and <Abhann> used in placenames and found them about evenly split as genitives in placenames. So, based on that, it seems like <Fionnabhann> and <Fionnabhainn> are both plausible genitive forms.
The DIL (p. 95, col. 27, s.n. caill) gives this word as feminine (<caill> is the Middle Irish form; <coill> is Early Modern Irish). So, in an Early Modern form of a complex placename such as <Coill Fionnabhann>/<Coill Fionnabhainn>, the second element would lenite, making the Early Modern forms <Coill Fhionnabhann> and <Coill Fhionnabhainn>.
Ruby confirmed that the group is a Shire, so the appropriate designator is Shire of. We have changed the name to Coill Fhionnabhann, Shire of.
Submitted under the name Sebastian Behr.
Submitted as Haus_Behr_, that form of the name conflicted with the Barony of Seagirt's Order of the Beare; Behr and Beare are not significantly different in sound. Additionally, no documentation was provided for the construction Haus + <Surname> in German contexts. Concerning the construction of household names in German, Pelican Emeritus provided the following information:
Die Hausnamen und Hauszeichen im mittelalterlichen Freiburg, by Karl Schmidt, published 1930 (The housenames and housesigns of medieval Freiburg), shows no example of housename using the word "Haus" that does not include an article/preposition combination (which isn't to say they might not have existed, just that in medieval Freiberg they didn't). P 32 considers names based on Bär (bear), including <ze dem Bern> 1326, <zum schwarzen Beren> 1565, <hus zum guldin Bern der schuchmacher trigstuben> 1394, <zem roten beren> 1390, <haus zum weissen Beren in der Vitschivisgasse> 1444, <zum blawen Beren> 1565.
Now, assuming Behr is a placename rather than an animal word, the aforesaid work has examples for that too (although not for the placename <Behr>, but again, always with the article/preposition:
Ortnamen (Placenames): zum Hohen Asperg 1565 zum Basler 1587 zum Bondorf 1343 zum Freiberger 1374 zum Briedenweiler 1565 zumm Opfinger 1404 zum (O:)sterreich 1554 zum R{o:]mer 1403 zum Schwarzwald 1378 zum Unger 1452
(Although, I'll admit, this looks like adjectival forms -- "of the (person from) Rome/Freiberg/Briedenweil" rather than straight up placenames. )
On the basis of these examples, either Haus zum Beren, referring to bears, or Haus zum Behrer, referring to a person from the city Behr, is a plausible German household name, and neither conflicts with the Order of the Beare, as the substantive elements Beren and Behrer look and sound significantly different from Beare. Because the latter option is closer to the originally submitted form, we have changed the household name to Haus zum Behrer in order to register it.
Nice 16th C Gaelic name!
Nice device!
The submitter grants blanket permission to conflict with his registered name, Domhnall na Moicheirghe.
This letter of blanket permission to conflict allows armory to be registered that is one countable step (CD) from Domhnall's device.
Both commenters and the Letter of Intent questioned if the use of a Beaufort yale combined with the surname Beaufort is presumptuous, citing the badge of Margaret Beaufort, which we would blazon as (Fieldless) A yale rampant argent spotted Or. This badge was used both by the Beaufort family and by Margaret's descendants, the Tudor kings of England. While we might forbid someone using the Beaufort name to register a device that is a close variant of this badge, the submitted design is three CDs from it, which more than sufficient to clear the name/device combination from appearance of pretense by the standards set on the October 2001 Cover Letter.
Therefore the only reason to disallow it would be if we protected any use of the Beaufort yale with that surname. We disallow certain combinations of charges and surnames, such as disallowing the Lancaster rose with the surname Lancaster. However no evidence was presented that the Beaufort family is important enough that their badge should be protected in that manner. While Margaret clearly is important as the mother of Henry VII, she was not the only Beaufort to use this badge.
Knowledge of the use of the yale as a royal badge is relatively limited, known primarily to specialists. Since it is specialist knowledge, it does not rise to the importance of badges like the Tudor rose, which are known to anyone who has studied the Wars of the Roses. The use of the Beaufort yale will not be restricted.
The low-contrast spots on the yale are allowed by the following precedent:
[A yale passant argent spotted gules] Conflict with ... An antelope statant argent. By the precedent set in August 1991 LoAR (p. 21, s.n. Jervisa Wainwright), there is not a CD between an antelope and a yale, and by the precedent set in November 1995 (p. 13, s.n. Ciaràn Dubh Tuathail), the spots on a yale can be drawn or left off at the artist's discretion and thus do not generate difference. [Marguerite des Baux, 06/00, R-Calontir]
Because they do not generate difference, they are like maintained charges in that they must have some contrast, but do not need to have good contrast.
The submitter grants permission to conflict with any name which is not identical to her alternate name Luveday de Vigne.
The documentation for both elements was not adequately summarized on the LoI: Only a URL was given, with neither the titles nor the authors of the sources identified, nor any summary of the information therein. Had the commenters not provided the missing information, we would have been forced to pend or return this name.
Precedent says:
[Vert, on a cross flory Or a rose proper] ... no difference for changing the type only of the tertiary charge. A cross flory is not a "suitable charge" for RfS X.4.j.ii, which states in pertinent part, "A charge is suitable for the purposes of [RfS X.4.j.ii] if (a) it is simple enough in outline to be voided..." Crosses fleury are analogous to crosses moline for purposes of considering whether they are too complicated to void or to fimbriate. The LoAR of July 1999 stated, "This is being returned for violating the precedent set by Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme as Laurel (January 15, 1993, cover letter) concerning which charges are suitable for fimbriation. A cross moline is too complex to fimbriate." [Victoria Anthoinette Sauvignon, 03/04, R-Calontir]
However, since that time, evidence has been provided that crosses flory were voided in period armory:
The Livro da Nobreza, c.1520, cites the coat of Barbalonga: Argent, a cross flory voided sable within an orle of ivy vert. [Tristram Thorne, April 2006]
Therefore, we hereby overturn the March 2004 precedent. Crosses flory may be both voided and fimbriated and, therefore, are suitable charges for purposes of X.4.j.ii.
Therefore, this device is clear of the badge of Maddalena Salutati, (Fieldless) A Latin cross fleury argent charged with a rose gules, barbed vert and seeded argent. There is a CD for a fielded design compared to a fieldless badge and another, under X.4.j.ii, for changing only the type of the tertiary charge.
It is also clear of the device of Micheál Ó Comhdhain, Quarterly sable and gules, on a cross fleury throughout argent a rose slipped and leaved proper. There is a CD for the field and a CD, under X.4.j.ii, for changing only the type of the tertiary charge.
This device is technically clear of the device of Isabella Rowe, Per pale purpure and argent, a chevron between three crosses of Jerusalem counterchanged. Swapping the tinctures yields three CDs: one for the change of tincture of the field, one for the change of tincture of the primary charge, and one for the change of tincture of the secondary charges.
Several commenters asked if this was in visual conflict with Isabella's device. Isabella and Aengus were contacted, and have provided each other permission to conflict, so we do not have to rule on this question.
Please instruct the submitter to use less internal detailing. Heraldic art is not modern, shaded clip art: it is stylized and two-dimensional.
This device is technically clear of the device of Aengus de Killmor, Per pale argent and purpure, a chevron between three crosses of Jerusalem counterchanged. Swapping the tinctures yields three CDs: one for the change of tincture of the field, one for the change of tincture of the primary charge, and one for the change of tincture of the secondary charges.
Several commenters asked if this was in visual conflict with Aengus' device. Isabella and Aengus were contacted, and have provided each other permission to conflict, so we do not have to rule on this question.
Submitted as Iseabail uá Dunbegane, there were problems with both the given name and the byname.
The given name was documented from Dunkling, Scottish Christian Names, s.n. Isabella. This source is not an acceptable source of documentation; it is essentially a modern baby-name book, and contains few, if any, dates or discussions of medieval usage. Furthermore, no summary of the documentation was provided, nor photocopies of the book, which is not listed on Appendix H. Both of these are grounds for return. Rowel provided the missing information:
[W]hat page 74 has is an entry with the header <Isabella>. The first paragraph reads:
The Italian form of Elizabeth, and the preferred spelling of a name much used in Scotland until the 1960s. It also occurs as Isobel, Isobell, Isobella, Isobelle, Isabel (the modern Spanish form), Isabell, Isabelle, Ishbel (Scottish form), Iseabail (Gaelic)."
That is the only mention of <Iseabail> in that entry. So, it gives no support for <Iseabail> as a period Gaelic form.
The medieval Gaelic form of Isabella is Isibél, according to Mari Elspeth nic Bryan, "Index of Names in Irish Annals".
The byname ua Dunbegane is not correctly constructed. The word ua is means '[male] descendant, grandson'; because the given name is feminine, ua cannot correctly modify it. Furthermore, Dunbegane was documented as a Scots-language placename dated to 1498. Combining it in the same phrase as ua violates RfS III.1.a. Linguistic Consistency as well as being incorrect; ua is correctly followed by a personal name, not a place name. The correct way to form a locative byname from a 15th-C Scots placename is to use of. As the submitter allows all changes, we have changed the name to Isibél of Dunbegane in order to register it. This name combines Gaelic and Scots; a wholly 15th-C Scots form of the name would be Isabell of Dunbegane. Isabell is dated to 1466 and 1473 in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Index of Scots names found in Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue".
The submitter requested authenticity for 10th-13th C Old Norse. All of the elements of the name can be found in Landnámabók, and so are appropriate for the early part of his period. The use of both a locative byname and a patronymic byname is unusual, but Lindorm Eriksson, "The Bynames of the Viking Age Runic Inscriptions", has one example, Ólaf Erlendsson á Bygglandi.
Submitted as Margrett Norwoode_, that name conflicted with Megge de Northwode, as Megge is a diminutive of Margrett, and the bynames are insignificantly different. The submitter noted that if there was a conflict, she agreed to the addition of the locative of Bristol. However, no documentation for this element was provided on the LoI. Had Elmet not provided the following documentation, we would have been forced to return this name for conflict:
Ekwall p. 66 s.n. Bristoll gives the period spelling <Bristoll> dated to 1200. "English Names found in Brass Enscriptions" by Julian Goodwyn lists <Bristol (sheriff of, recorder of)> dated to 1439 (http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/brasses/lastnameAH.html)
Submitted as Will O'hAnain, the submitter requested authenticity for Ireland. As submitted, the name was not authentic, because it combined English Will and O' with Gaelic hAnain. An authentic Irish name would be wholly anglicized or wholly Gaelic, not a mix of the two. A wholly anglicized form of the name would be Will O Hanain. Woulfe, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, s.n. Ó hAnnáin dates the Anglicized Irish spellings O Hannaine and O Hanain to temp. Elizabeth I - James I. A wholly Gaelic form of the name would be Uillec Ó hAnnáin. Uillec is a nickname of Uilliam, the standard Gaelic form of William, just as Will is a nickname of William in English. Ó Corráin & Maguire, Irish Names, s.n. Uilliam note that Uillec came into use in the 14th C.
Either Will O Hanain or Uillec Ó hAnnáin is an authentic name for Ireland. Because the former is closer to the originally submitted name, we have chosen to register that form.
Listed on the LoI as Ian de la Grene, the name was originally submitted as Ian the Green, and changed in kingdom because the Green was not documented. Concerning the form of the byname, Siren notes:
The Middle English Dictionary (s.n. green) dates <Willelmus Grene> to 1247 and <Will. Grenehod> to 1297. I don't see a form of green with <the> in a personal name. However, there are some with other colors: <Johannes le White> 1313 (s.n. white), <Hugo le Rede> 1220 and <Roberd þe rede> c. 1300 (s.n. red), and <Christina la Gelewe> 1221 (s.n. yelwe, i.e. yellow).
On the basis of these examples, le Grene or the Grene are unremarkable for the 13th or early 14th C. We are registering the name as Ian the Grene to partially restore it to the originally submitted form.
Ian was documented on the LoI as the submitter's legal given name. Edelweiss provides grey area citations from the IGI Parish Record extracts of Ian as an English name:
Ian Moore mar. Margret Hewsonn 27th November 1608 Leconfield, Yorkshire
Ian Sharp baptised 23rd March 1614 Kidlington, Oxfordshire
Since it is likely that Ian Moore was more than 9 years old when he was married, the first grey-period citation supports Ian as a registerable English name. It was almost certainly pronounced /YAN/, not /EE-ahn/, as it is modernly.
Submitted as Order of the Venerable Griffin_, this order name does not follow patterns of period order names. The order name was justified as following the pattern "adjective" + "creature" from Meradudd Cethin, "Project Ordensnamen", exemplified by the Order of the Defeated Dragon. However, as precedent discusses:
[Order of the Shattered Spear] It may be argued that the "Project Ordensnamen" shows the Order of the Dragon Overthrown or Order of the Defeated Dragon. However, evidence suggests that these are modern names for this order, and that the period name is translated simply Order of the Dragon. Therefore, it is not relevant for arguing period order name patterns. [Tir Rígh, Principality of, LoAR 07/2006, An Tir-R].
The LoI also cited the 14th C German order Gesellen von der alden Minne 'Companions of the Old Love'. This is also not a justification for the submitted order name, since 'love' and 'griffin' are not comparable entities.
Without the additional descriptive venerable, the order name Order of the Griffin follows the well-established period pattern of orders named after heraldic charges. However, this form of the name conflicts with John ap Griffin's household name Griffin Freehold. John was contacted and supplied the kingdom with a letter of permission to conflict with his household name. Even with permission to conflict, Order of the Griffin is not registerable because it is functionally equivalent to Griffin Freehold. However, the addition of a reference to the registering branch, of Northshield, makes the order name registerable in conjunction with the letter of permission to conflict. Therefore, we have changed the order name to Order of the_Griffin of Northshield in order to register it.
This device is clear of the device of Lucia Porzia Sforza di Firenze, Gules, a bumblebee proper and a chief Or honeycombed sable. There is a CD for the change of tincture of the field and another for the change of tincture of the chief. While the field treatment honeycombed is no longer registerable, it was considered a field treatment when it was. Under section X.4.a of the Rules for Submissions, "Field treatments are considered an aspect of tincture."
Vinhold is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Blazoned when registered as (Fieldless) A hare proper standing erect on its hind feet playing Galician bagpipes, we have added the tincture for the pipes
Submitted as Ginna Björnsdottir, the byname was not correctly formed:
Submitted as Katelina Björnsdotter, the submitter allowed any changes and cares most about sound. As submitted, the formation of the byname is incorrect. The correct patronymic form of this byname in Old Norse is Bjarnardóttir. However, this changes the sound of the name fairly significantly. Therefore, we have changed this name to Katelina Biornsdottir. Biornsson is dated to 1454 in the Sveriges Medeltida Personnamn (SMP) s.n. Biorn. [LoAR 06/2005, Catalina Artemisia Anguissola, Calontir-A]
Since the given name was documented as 14th C Swedish, the Swedish byname Biornsdottir is compatible with it. We have changed the name to Ginna Biornsdottir in order to register it.
Listed on the LoI as Sedania de Corywn, both the forms and the documentation spelled the byname de Corwyn. We have made this correction.
The byname de Corwyn is grandfathered to her.
Her previous name, Caithlin de Corwyn, is retained as an alternate name.
Please instruct the submitter to draw the snake with a larger, more visible head.
Both elements of the name are grandfathered to the submitter.
Her previous name, Sophie Xylander von Augsberg, is retained as an alternate name.
This device is clear of the device of Mynjon du Jardin, Quarterly sable and Or, a cross raguly between four roundels all counterchanged. The two crosses are substantially different and, therefore, clear under X.2.
Her previous device, Gules, a seal naiant to sinister, its tail reflexed above its head, proper, within a bordure sable fimbriated Or. [Calorminus ursinus], is retained as a badge.
- Explicit littera accipiendorum -
None.
This device is returned for a redraw.
The drawing of the dove, with the crest and beak identically sized, makes it nearly impossible to tell which way the head is facing. While the difference is not significant, section VII.7.a of the Rules for Submissions requires that "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance." Please instruct the submitter to draw the head so that it is possible to determine its orientation.
It is also returned because the fret is excessively disjointed, to the point of unrecognizability. Nearly half the commenters required the blazon to determine what charge was intended, which is also a violation of RfS VII.7.a. On resubmission, draw the fret with much less space between the pieces.
While not cause for return, the chevron is also much shallower than a period depiction of a chevron, which would have the point higher on the field and originate from lower down on the edges of the field. We recommend redrawing it with a steeper angle on resubmission.
This is returned for conflict with Drachenwald's heraldic title Silversparre Herald. The commenters were agreed that there is insignificant difference in sound and appearance between these two names.
While the submitters provided a letter from the King and Queen of Drachenwald permitting this order name to conflict with Silversparre Herald, this is one of the rare cases where the letter of permission to conflict is not sufficient to allow the order name to be registered. Current practices allows someone owning Order of the X to use X Herald or X Pursuivant (v. Order of the Caltrop, LoAR 10/1999, R-Æthelmearc). The heraldic title Silver Sparkes Herald also conflicts with Silversparre Herald, and as permission to conflict was not received for that title, it was returned elsewhere on this LoAR. We cannot register Order of the Silver Sparkes to the kingdom since this would allow them to use the corresponding heraldic title, with which they do not have permission to conflict.
This is returned for conflict with Drachenwald's heraldic title Silversparre Herald. The commenters were agreed that there is insignificant difference in sound and appearance between these two titles.
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Nicolete de Saint-Denis, Argent, a chevron wavy throughout azure between three fleurs-de-lys vert. There is a single CD for the change of type of secondary charges, but no difference for changing the tincture from entirely vert to predominantly vert with a small touch of brown, and no difference between a chevron and a chevron throughout.
This is returned for visual conflict, under section X.5 of the Rules for Submissions, against the badge of Jean Grondin the Basque, Sable, two lightning bolts in pile Or, in chief a lozenge argent. While technically clear, there is insufficient visual difference between the two.
The SCA considers a conflict found under any valid blazon to be a valid conflict. This device can also be blazoned Azure, on a bend sinister between a fox courant contourny and a garb Or, a scarpe azure. Since this submission has three types of charge on the field, RfS X.4.j.ii doesn't apply here: type alone of tertiary charge counts for no difference.
Therefore, this conflicts with the device of Angus Duncan Cameron, Azure, on a bend sinister between two bells Or a claymore azure; and with the device of Blaise de Saint Thibaut, Azure, on a bend sinister between two goblets Or, an arrow inverted azure. In each case there's a CD for changing the type of the secondary charge group, but changing only the type of the tertiary charge group is not worth a second CD.
This is returned for lack of documentation for the byname. The only support provided on the LoI for the byname de Monstrum Aula was the statement that "The byname is Latin 'Monster Court/Hall'." No documentation was provided that the construction is grammatically correct for Latin or that a Latin phrase meaning 'Monster Court/Hall' is a plausible medieval place name. Such evidence is required for registration.
The only context in which the College could find evidence for Latin aula being used in placenames is the names of university colleges and halls. Siren comments:
<Aula> is certainly used in Latin contexts, along with <domus> and other words to translate the word "hall" in referring to colleges. One example is <aulae vocatae Heynesseyhall> 'the hall called Heynesseyhall' dated to 1407 and the less clearly dated <Aula Trabina> or <Aula Boemie>, named after Gilbert de Biham, who flourished c. 1249. (These are taken from W. A. Pantin, "The Halls and Schools of Medieval Oxford: an Attempt at Reconstruction." In Oxford Studies Presented to Daniel Callus. Oxford: Clarendon Press, for the Oxford Historical Society. 1964.)
In these examples, the name of the hall is not Latinized, only the designator is, thus we would expect to see Monster, not Monstrum, in conjunction with Aula.
Additionally, there is evidence that English university college names were used in locative bynames; Emden, An Oxford Hall in Medieval Times, p. 49 dates John de Unicornhall to 1325, and Searle, Grace book: containing the records of the University of Cambridge for the Years 1501-1542 dates Dobbes de aula Gunwell to 1502-3, Samson de aula Clar' to 1516-7, and Mr. Rydley of Penbrooke hall to 1531-2. Thus, if Monster could be justified as a name of a university college, then either de Aula Monster or de Monsterhall would be registerable under this model.
Unfortunately, no new evidence was provided by the submitter, and none found by the College, justifying Monster as a plausible name of an English college. In the submitter's previous submission (Melissa of Monster Hall, LoAR 04/2008, Atenveldt-R), commenters noted that the Irish county Munster is recorded in English as Monster in 1536 in Gairdner, ed., Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 11: July-December 1536, entry 265, and that there is a Dutch city whose name is recorded in English as Monster in 1546 in Gairdner & Brodie, eds., Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 21 Part 1: January-August 1546, entry 330. However, no examples of English colleges named after foreign cities or counties were provided. Lacking such examples, or independent reason to believe that Monster is a plausible name for an English college, the byname de Aula Monster is not registerable.
Precedent, set on the Cover Letter for the March 2009 LoAR, says:
When both are present in a design as part of a primary charge group, or where they would be expected to be a secondary charge, the widget and annulet will both be considered part of the same group.
In this submission, the mullet, annulet, and book are considered to form a single primary charge group on the field. Therefore, this device is returned for violating section VIII.1.a of the Rules for Submissions, which says that "three or more types of charges should not be used in the same group."
This is returned for lack of documentation that the given name Saba was used by ordinary people in our period. Saba was documented from a Gaelic legendary history, in which Saba is the name of a great-grandson of Noah. Gaelic names which are only found in legendary texts are generally not registerable:
As past precedents indicate, Gaelic names which are only documented as names of legendary people are in general not registerable:
The only examples of the name Culann found by the submitter's were in the "Táin Bó Cúalnge" from the Book of Leinster (online at the CELT site, http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/T301035/). Here is it the name of a wholly legendary character from whom the hero Cú Chulainn derives his name. Barring documentation that the name Culann [was used] in non-legendary contexts in period, it is not registerable. [Culann mac Cianain, LoAR 09/2007, East-A]
Given this, there is no documentation for Luan as anything but a legendary name. As it can be documented only as a legendary name, it is not registerable. [Luan an Fael, LoAR 11/2007, Lochac-R]
[Brion mac Donnchad, LoAR 12/2008, Middle-R]
None of the commenters were able to find alternative documentation for Saba; lacking such documentation, it is not registerable.
Listed on the LoI as Saba Ó Coilean, both the forms and the documentation spelled the byname Ó Coileáin. We remind submissions heralds of the importance of making sure that names are listed on OSCAR in exactly the same spelling that they appear on the forms. Discrepancies between the two can result in the name being pended for further commentary. The byname Ó Coileáin is grandfathered to the submitter, whose brother's registered name is Phelan Ó Coileáin.
Her device has been registered under the holding name Sylvia of Atenveldt.
This device is returned for conflict with Dante Alighieri (important non-SCA arms), Azure, a sinister wing argent. There is a single CD for the changes to the field.
Please instruct the submitter, on resubmission, to draw a more standard wing: the differing orientation of the feathers makes it hard to identify the wing.
This is returned for lack of documentation of the byname McDaid. The byname was submitted under the grandfather clause, citing the registered name of Seamus McDaid. However, no proof of relationship between Seloue and Seamus was provided, so the grandfather clause cannot be appealed to. As no alternative documentation for McDaid could be found, we are forced to return this name. Pelican Emeritus notes that the similar byname Daid is dated to 1588, 1592 1599 in William Brigg, The parish registers of Otley, Co. York, volume 33, pp. 9, 12, 19. Additionally, the Anglicized Irish byname M'Deyt, which is a scribal abbreviation for MacDeyt, is dated to temp. Elizabeth I - James I in Woulfe, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish Names and Surnames, s.n. Mac Daibhéid. However, the change from McDaid to either Daid or MacDeyt is a major change, which the submitter does not allow.
The LoI documented Seloue as a Latin genitive spelling dated to 1202; normally, inflected forms such as this are not registerable. However, this spelling is also the expected Middle English nominative form, so in this particular case, Seloue is acceptable.
None.
This conflicts with Cáelán mac Domhnail. Cáelán and Colen, though significant different in appearance, are not significantly different in sound, as indicated by the fact that Cáelán was often anglicized by variants of Colin. The bynames are also not significantly different in sound; MacDonald is simply an anglicized form of Gaelic mac Domhnail.
His device has been registered under the holding name Colen of Calafia.
This is returned for conflict with the device of Heather of Arn Hold, Per saltire purpure and checky argent and purpure, in chief three bezants two and one and in base an abacus Or. There is clearly one CD for the field. However, as only the bottommost charge has changed in type, a second CD is not granted for this change. Nor is there a CD for arrangement as the depicted arrangements are essentially identical.
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Yerek the Inert, Sable, a mullet of four points voided argent. There is a CD for the field. There is no difference between a mascle ployé and a mullet of four points voided, since the differences between the two are so slight.
The submitter has permission to conflict with the device of Teceangl Bach, (Fieldless) A mascle argent.
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Dorcas Dorcadas, Sable, a three-headed hound rampant, one head reguardant, argent, langued gules. There is a CD for the addition of the goutte. There is not a CD for the change of type of the primary charges. We do not grant difference between an enfield and a canine, since the only difference is the eagle talons replacing the canid fore-legs on an enfield, by precedent:
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. [Anacletus McTerlach, July 2004, R-Meridies]
The difference between one and three heads is not worth a CD, by precedent:
...the change from one head to three heads is not sufficient for another CD. [Rodrigo Hernandez de Toledo, December 1997, R-Atlantia]
This badge is returned for conflict with the badge of Iustinos Tekton, (Fieldless) A cog wheel azure. There's a CD for fieldlessness, but precedent grants no difference between a cog wheel and a Catherine's wheel. The fact that this wheel is spoked of a Maltese cross is blazonable but is not a significant difference, since we do not grant difference between wheels.
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Rosalia la Gatta, Or, a cat rampant to sinister queue forchy the tails sable ending in roses proper within an orle azure. There is a single CD for the change from an orle to a tierce embattled, but no difference is granted for the incensing or for the number of tails. The roses at the end of the tails are maintained charges and also do not count for difference.
This device is returned for lack of identifiability. Section VIII.3 of the Rules for Submissions requires that "Elements must be used in a design so as to preserve their individual identifiability," and continues "Identifiable elements may be rendered unidentifiable by significant reduction in size, marginal contrast, excessive counterchanging, voiding, or fimbriation, or by being obscured by other elements of the design." The identifying portions of the sword are all brown, rendering it unidentifiable against the gules chief. Identifiability was further compromised because swords normally do not have wooden quillons. Any resubmission of a sword with wooden quillons should be accompanied by documentation of the existence of such a sword in period. Additionally, the brown wood handle of the halberd is difficult to identify against the lozengy bendwise field.
This device is returned for failure to provide paperwork to the Laurel office. Section IV.C of the Administrative Handbook, "Completed Paperwork" requires that "No submission, including any resubmission, appeal, change or release of a protected item, etc., shall be considered for registration until a complete set of paperwork is provided to the appropriate heraldic officer." Subsection IV.C.1 says that "A minimum of three sets of colored armory forms is required for all armory: two for the Laurel Office and the other to be maintained in kingdom files." As this was an appeal of a kingdom return, Laurel has never received paperwork for this submission, which means that this submission is returned automatically.
Submissions heralds are reminded that a full set of paperwork is required to be submitted with any submission, including all appeals. Failure to do so will cause the submission to be returned administratively.
Were it not being returned for lack of paperwork, this badge would be returned for conflict with the badge of Alexandra Raven, (Fieldless) On an open book argent bound proper two ravens addorsed sable. There is a CD for fieldlessness, but there is not a CD for changing only the type of the tertiary charge group. The standard for difference when modifications are made to tertiary charges was last redefined on the January 2009 Cover Letter:
Henceforth, when considering whether tincture changes count for the difference of tertiary charges using X.4.j.i, there are two guidelines: all of the charges in the group must change and the change must be the sort of change that would yield a CD when applied to primary or secondary charge groups. If both of these guidelines are met, then the tincture change will count as one of the two changes required under X.4.j.ii.
In this submission, not all of the charges change tincture. Both ravens are sable, as is the tower.
Were this submission not being returned for conflict and administrative reasons, it would be clear of the arms of Yale University. Precedent was set in May, 2009:
[(Fieldless) On an open book argent bound proper two ravens addorsed sable]. This is clear of Yale University, Azure, an open book argent charged with Hebrew letters sable. Current precedent says:
This submission generated much discussion on the nature of words on books. The letters on Yale University's arms, Azure, an open book argent charged with Hebrew letters sable, have previously been ruled to act as tertiary charges. Laurel has also ruled "In general, open books may be drawn with numerous small writing marks as artistic license, the writing so small that it could not be read from any distance, but such writing would not be blazoned. [Branwen filia Iohannis de Monmouth, 04/02, A-East]".
The question becomes, when does the writing become so small that it cannot be read? In general, more that [sic] 10 or 11 letters on a single primary charge will be considered unreadable and will not count for difference; for a secondary charge (or multiple primary charges) this number will be reduced due to the smaller size of the books. More than two or three letters on a tertiary charge will be too small to read. In SCA arms, such small writing will not be blazoned. In the case of important non-SCA arms this writing may be blazoned even if it does not count for difference. Thus, the letters on Yale University's arms constitute a tertiary charge group while those on Oxford University's arms (DOMINUS ILLUMINATIO MEO) do not. [Eibhlín inghean Chiaríin, January 2007, A-Atlantia]
Therefore, the letters on Yale's armory count as a tertiary charge. There is, therefore, a CD for fieldlessness and a CD for the change of type and number of the tertiary charges. [Alexandra Raven, May 2009, A-Caid]
Thus there would be a CD for fieldlessness and a second CD for the change of type and number of tertiary charges.
This submission is returned for violating the rule of tincture. Section VII.2 of the Rules for Submissions, Armorial Contrast, defines what is considered acceptable contrast. Good contrast does not exist between a metal and a metal, and RfS VII.2.b.i explicitly requires that the field must have good contrast with charges placed directly on it.
The submitter asked that this be registered using a regional style exception, per section VII.6.b of the Rules for Submissions. We quote that section here in full:
b. Regional Style - Alternatively, a proposed exceptional armorial design element may be documented as characteristic of a specific regional armorial style.
In such cases the submitted armory may be registered provided that all of the following conditions are met. (1) The submitter explicitly requests an exception to the other sections of Part VIII (Compatible Armorial Style) on the grounds that the submitted armory exemplifies a specific regional style. (2) Documentation is adduced to show that exceptional design element was not uncommon in the regional style in question. (3) Documentation is adduced to show that all elements of the submitted armory can be found in the regional style in question.
This submission has not actually satisfied any of the three requirements.
While a regional style exception was requested, no region was specified.
Documentation was provided for the use of Or crosses on argent fields, but the examples were limited to Jerusalem, kings of Jerusalem, and the banner carried by Count Eustace on the Bayeux Tapestry, which is frequently considered to be the banner that the pope sent to show his support for William's invasion of England. One example, mutated throughout history, does not show that the practice was "not uncommon."
Documentation was also not provided, and none could be found, showing that all elements of the submitted armory can be found in a regional style. None of the provided examples showed secondary charges in any tincture other than Or and none of the provided examples show any tertiary charges at all on the primary charge.
Additionally, the documentation consisted of a one-page summary, which contained citations of several web pages. No printouts were provided for any of those websites. Printouts of any source not in Appendix H of the Administrative Handbook are required by section IV.C.2 of the Administrative Handbook. The reason such printouts are required for web pages is shown in this submission: One of the web pages cited in this submission was hosted on Geocities, and accessed on March 5, 2009. Geocities was taken off the web as of October 27, 2009. It is, therefore, impossible to verify the submitter's documentation.
This badge is in conflict with the device of Betva a Bedwyn, Vert, a birch tree argent leaved Or, a bordure of knotwork argent. There is a single CD for changing the bordure of knotwork to a bar wavy. Since trees are generally considered to be tinctured based on the leaves, both trees are considered to be mostly Or.
This name conflicts with Sebastian the Bear; articles such as the do not contribute to difference, and Behr and Bear are insignificantly different in sound and appearance.
His armory has been registered under the holding name Sebastian of Grey Niche.
None.
None.
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Damian d'Outremer, Sable, a gurges Or. There is a single CD for the change of field.
This device conflicts with the device of Alan Fletcher, Sable, on a pale between two arrows inverted argent a bow sable. There is a single CD, for the cumulative changes to the tertiary charge group.
The byname of Flaming Gryphon was documented from a registered branch name. However, the barony's registered name is actually Barony of the Flaming Gryphon. SCA branch names are registered in the context of locative bynames only in the exact form in which they are registered. However, we cannot add the missing the, to register the name as Wolf of the Flaming Gryphon, because the submitter does not allow major changes, such as the addition of a word.
With the line of division drawn to connect the three points of the shield, this is more correctly blazoned as having a chaussé field. It is, therefore, returned for conflict with the device of Philip Dyemoke, Potent, a wolf rampant sable. There is a single CD for the changes to the field.
Treating this as a charged pile, as blazoned on the LoI, this device conflicts with the device of Garth of Tryon Hill, Pean, on a pile argent a crossbow vert. There is only one CD for the multiple changes to the tertiary charge.
No forms were received for the name submission by the Laurel office. Admin Handbook IV.C says, "No submission, including any resubmission, appeal, change or release of a protected item, etc., shall be considered for registration until a complete set of paperwork is provided to the appropriate heraldic officer." Because the required paperwork was not received, we must return this name.
Since the name forms are missing, it is impossible to determine if the submitter would accept a holding name. Therefore, we must assume that the submitter will not accept one and this device must be returned.
Please instruct the submitter, on resubmission, to draw the per chevron line of division so that the point rises much higher than depicted in the submitted emblazon, dividing the field more nearly in half. Per chevron lines of division in period armory rose to nearly the top of the field.
None.
- Explicit littera renuntiationum -
The submitter requested authenticity for Old Swedish language/culture, but this authenticity request was not summarized on the LoI. We are pending the name to allow the commenters a chance to address the authenticity request.
The LoI originally provided the following documentation:
Submitter desires a female name.
Language (Old Swedish) most important.
Culture (Old Swedish) most important.
Submitter found both Sighne (as Swedish form of Signý and Ivarsdottir at the Viking Answer Lady website [<http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONWomensNames.shtml>].
She also consulted wtih Frithiof, who provided documentation from Otterbjörk of Sighni as the Old Swedish form of the modern Signe. He confirmed that Ivar is the Swedish form of Ivarr and that -dotter is the correct form for Swedish. Scans of the title page and relevant name pages from Otterbjörk's Svenska förnamn were included with the submission.
Lind. Column 884 under Signy has Sighni (1378 and 1379)
Column 661 under Ivarr. Genitive Ivars- dated 1221, 1309, 1329, 1354.
Lind, E. H. Norsk-Isländska Dopnamn ock Fingerade Namn från Medeltiden.
This was item 6 on the West letter of August 31, 2009.
- Explicit -
Created at 2010-02-15T00:50:20