(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns)
Alaina is the submitter's legal given name.
The submitter requested authenticity for 14th-16th century Welsh/English. Although this name is registerable, it is not authentic because the submitter needs to rely on the Legal Name Allowance to document Alaina.
This name combines a Gaelic given name with a Scots byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
The submitter might be interested to know that a fully Scots form of this name, Angus Keith, is authentic for circa 1600 Scotland. If the submitter prefers this form, he may make a request for reconsideration.
This name does not conflict with the registered Caitríona inghean mhic Lochlainn. Removing mhic is a change to a particle, which is a substantial change in spelling and appearance of one syllable under PN3C2 of SENA. [Catherine de Mailly, May 2016 LoAR, A-West].
The submitter indicated that he preferred the byname von Gar if it could be documented. In commentary, Lillia Crampette was able to document Gar as a 16th century Dutch place name. Therefore, the submitter could have either the wholly Dutch byname van Gar or the wholly German von Gaar. Since a change in language is a major change, which the submitter does not allow, we have left the byname in the German form as submitted. However, if the submitter prefers the Dutch form, he may make a request for reconsideration.
This order name does not conflict with the registered Hart and Horne Inn under NPN3C2 because a syllable in the substantive element is substantially changed in sound and appearance. The vowel and final consonant cluster in Hand differ from the vowel and final consonant cluster in Horne. No one hearing or seeing these two words would mistake them for each other.
Nice 16th century Scots name!
(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns)
Submitted as Ingrid Biørnsdottir, the submitter requested the spelling Ingrid Bjørnsdottir if it could be documented. In commentary, ffride wlffsdotter documented Bjørnsdottir in Norwegian. Accordingly, we have made this change for registration.
Nice 15th century Norwegian name!
The submitter requested authenticity for an unspecified time, place or culture. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research. This name appears to be authentic for Wales circa 1400.
Submitted as Hakon Gunnarsson inn grai, the name as submitted was not grammatically correct. When a descriptive adjective byname follows a patronymic byname, the descriptive adjective byname refers to the father and must be in the genitive (possessive) case. Using the correct grammar, the name should be Hakon Gunnarsson ins graa (omitting diacritical markings throughout). However, if the descriptive "the gray" is intended to refer to him and not to his father, the name should be constructed as Hakon inn grai Gunnarsson. With the submitter's permission, we have changed the name to Hakon inn grai Gunnarsson to match his intended meaning.
The submitter requested authenticity for an unspecified time, place or culture. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research. This name appears to be authentic for 9th-10th century Iceland.
(to Ansteorra acceptances) (to Ansteorra returns)
The designator List for an order name was previously registered to the Barony of Loch Salann in December 1993 as part of the order name List of Grace. As such, the Barony may continue to use this designator for order names under the Existing Registration Allowance.
This name combines a Gaelic given name and an Old Norse byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C as long as both elements are dated prior to 1100 C.E. as is the case here.
The submitter requested authenticity for "10th-11th century (Norway)." Although it can be registered, the name is not authentic for the requested time and place because we have no evidence of mixed language names in that era. Instead, where the cultures overlapped, we see Gaelic given names rendered in Old Norse (i.e., Gaelic Niall becomes the Old Norse Njall) or vice versa.
Submitted as Morgann Greindour, the submitter requested authenticity for 13th-15th century Welsh. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research.
This name was documented on the Letter of Intent as a combination of a standardized Gaelic given name and a 15th century Welsh byname. However, in the spelling Morgan_, the given name is found in 15th century Wales in, among other places, S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2017, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2017/1/name/Morgan. Therefore, we have changed the name to Morgan_ Grenindour to make the name authentic for 15th century Welsh, consistent with the submitter's authenticity request.
Nice mid-16th century Spanish or Catalan name!
(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns)
Aislinn is the submitter's legal middle name. As Aislinn is a given name by type, it can be registered as a given name.
This name combines an English given name with a French byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a wolf's head ululant.
Alsacia is the submitter's legal middle name. As Alsacia is a given name by type, it can be registered as a given name.
The byname Rabynovicha was documented on the Letter of Intent as part of her mother's registered surname. However, no letter attesting to the relationship was provided with the submission. Fortunately, in commentary, Lillia Crampette constructed Rabynovicha as a Russian patronymic byname, which can be combined with the submitter's legal middle name.
Submitted as Alþrúðr Karlsdottir, diacritical markings must be used consistently throughout Old Norse names. Therefore, we have changed the name to Alþrúðr Karlsdóttir for registration.
The submitter is a duchess and is thus entitled to bear a ducal coronet in her armory.
The submitter's previous device, Azure, on a fess argent between a crescent and two scimitars in saltire Or a lotus flower in profile azure, is retained as a badge.
Artist's note: Please draw the mullets larger to fill the available space.
Britton was documented in the Letter of Intent as the submitter's legal given name. However, the submitter does not need to rely on the Legal Name Allowance because Britton is a 16th century English surname that can be used as a given name by precedent.
This name combines a French or Dutch given name with an English byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
The submitter has been granted two separate augmentations. The first augmentation was registered in the May 2004 LoAR. That augmentation, Per pale vert and argent, a lion passant counterchanged, armed, langued and orbed gules and as an augmentation on a canton azure a whelk within a bordure Or, is released.
Nice mid-16th century English name!
Sankt Vladimir is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Submitted as João Drago Da Costa, the documentation supported João Drago da Costa. We have made this change for registration.
Nice 16th century Portuguese name!
The submitter requested authenticity for "Norse, Old Icelandic, Scandinavian." This name only partly meets that request. Both elements are Old Norse, but only the byname Jafnkollr is attested specifically in Iceland. In addition, Kristófórus appears in Old Norse much later in time than the byname.
As documented on the Letter of Intent, the two elements in this name were dated more than 500 years apart, which is prohibited by PN2C2 of SENA. Fortunately, heralds at the Pelican decision meeting were able to find the Latinized Leofricus as a 15th century literary name in the Middle English Dictionary, bringing the elements close enough in time for registration.
Lorelei is the submitter's legal given name.
Nice mid-16th century English name!
Nice 16th century Scots name!
Submitted as Natasia Novikova, the documentation does not support the submitted spelling; it shows Natas'ia for the given name instead. By precedent, the apostrophe cannot be omitted from this transliteration from Russian. [Natas'ia Sveneva, 7/2017 LoAR, A-Meridies] Accordingly, we have made the change to Natas'ia Novikova for registration.
Nice 9th-10th century Icelandic name!
Nice 9th-10th century Icelandic name!
Nice late 15th century German name!
Questions were raised in commentary whether Rothais, an English given name dated to 1086, could be used as an unmarked matronymic at that early a date. The introduction to Reaney and Wilson gives examples of unmarked patronymic bynames as early as the 11th century. Lillia Crampette found examples of marked matronymics in the data in the 11th century and unmarked ones as early as the 12th century. Accordingly, while a marked form such as Roland filius Rothais would be more typical with the 11th century Rothais, the data are sufficient to give the submitter the benefit of the doubt and register the name as submitted.
The submitter's previous device, Azure, an elephant rampant contourny proper maintaining in its trunk a cluster of Rowan flowers argent, slipped and leaved vert, is retained as a badge.
There is a step from period practice for the use of paw prints.
The elements Sigríðr Úlfsdóttir were previously registered to the submitter and thus are treated as neutral in language and time under the Existing Registration Allowance and can be combined with the Anglo-French byname de Lacy.
The submitter's previous name, Sigríðr Úlfsdóttir of Aschehyrst, is retained as an alternate name.
Nice late 16th century English name!
(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)
Gavin filed a heraldic will in February 2018 leaving his armory to the Barony of Nottinghill Coill.
Gavin filed a heraldic will in February 2018 leaving his armory to the Barony of Nottinghill Coill.
Nice English name for late 16th century London!
Reed was documented on the Letter of Intent as the submitter's legal middle name. However, the submitter need not rely on the Legal Name Allowance as commenters found Reed as a gray period English given name that can be borrowed into German under the February 2015 Cover Letter.
(to Atlantia acceptances) (to Atlantia returns)
Under standard Gaelic grammar, a given name beginning with C would lenite following inghean Uí. However, in commentary, Brian dorcha ua Conaill provided multiple examples from the various Gaelic Annals in which lenition was not applied to a C following inghean Uí. Accordingly, under the July 2017 Cover Letter, this name can be registered exactly as submitted.
This name does not conflict with the registered Áine inghean Chuinn under PN3C2 because the addition of Uí in this name counts as the addition of a syllable for the purposes of conflict. [Caoilfhionn inghean Uí Fhaoláin, 4/2014 LoAR, A-East]
Nice Irish Gaelic name from the 12th century onwards!
The submitter's previous device, Per fess wavy azure and ermine, a brock argent marked sable and three water-bougets vert, is retained as a badge.
Baronial Youth Combat Champion is a generic identifier.
Baronial Bardic Champion is a generic identifier.
(to Avacal acceptances) (to Avacal returns)
Patronymic bynames in the form son of X (where X is the father's given name or his full name) are attested in the Middle English Dictionary.
The submitter successfully created an IAP demonstrating low-contrast stag's heads and a single complex primary charge counterchanged over a field per pale gules and sable to late period German armory.
Questions were raised in commentary as to whether NykR was a given name used by humans. Although there appears to be a relationship between this name and the Old West Norse word nykr (meaning "nicor, nixie, water goblin"), there is at least some evidence that NykR was a human name. Therefore we will give the submitter the benefit of the doubt and register the patronymic Nyksdóttir.
This name combines a German given name with a Danish byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
Submitted as Clan of Gallow Glass, Gallow Glass was documented as the full name of a person in English. However, no evidence was found to support the pattern Clan + person's full name in English. When Clan appears in English, it is followed by an Anglicized form of a Gaelic personal name.
However, there is an attested pattern of House + a person's full name in English. [Brigit inghean ui Dhomhnaill, House of Hammer Fall, 11/2014 A-East] With the submitter's permission, we have changed the name to House of Gallow Glass to use a documented household name pattern.
The submitter may be interested to know that Ursula Palimpsest found evidence suggesting that a form of gallowglass could be used as a household name designator along with a person's surname. For example, the Fiants of Elizabeth I include a reference to the M'Swines' galloglas in Ireland. If the submitter is interested in pursuing this construction for his household name, he should contact Palimpsest for more information.
Nice 16th century Spanish name!
Artist's note: Please draw the needles thicker to aid in identification.
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns) (to Caid pends)
Alanna is the submitter's legal given name.
Golden Sea is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Nice English name from 16th century London!
This name combines a French given name and an Italian byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
The submitter may be interested to know that an entirely Italian form of this name would use the given name Antonio instead of Anthony. If from northern Italy, the name would be Antonio da Sicilia; if from southern Italy, Antonio di Sicilia. If the submitter prefers either of these forms, he may make a request for reconsideration.
Nice late 16th century German name!
Submitted as Conúil_ mac Niocláis, Conúil is an entirely modern form of the name rendered in period as Conamail. Although the spelling Conuil appears occasionally in some period Gaelic documents, it is as the genitive (possessive) form of the given name Conall. Genitive forms cannot be registered as a person's given name.
With the submitter's permission, we have changed the name to Conall mac Niocláis for registration. Conall is a Gaelic saint's name appearing in, among other places, the gray period Martyrology of Donegal. Accordingly, it can be combined with the late period Gaelic element Nioclás.
Énán is a Gaelic saint's name appearing in, among other places, the gray period Martyrology of Donegal. Accordingly, it can be combined with the late period Gaelic element Nioclás.
Permission was procured from Cynwrig Cynydd to conflict with his device, Argent, a chevron gules between two mullets of six points voided and interlaced and a greyhound statant sable.
Artist's note: Please give more internal detailing to the ravens to aid in identifiability.
The submitter provided sufficient evidence to prove the submitted arrangement of the primary charges as an integral feature, rather than an artifact of the shield shape, allowing this deviation from the standard expectations of unity of arrangement.
Submitted as Kathryn di Fiamma, the name was not correctly constructed.
The pattern di X can be used in Italian only when X is a given name or a place name. However, Fiamma is a surname or family name rather than a given name. We have changed the name to the correctly-constructed Kathryn dei Fiamma for registration.
This name combines a German given name with an Italian byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
Nice 13th or 14th century Mongol name!
This does not conflict with the device of Jaufres de Carcassona, Or, a chevron between three winged bulls rampant azure. There are DCs for the type and orientation of the secondary charges.
The submitter's previous device, Or, a chevron between two gloves azure each charged with a bezant and a falcon striking azure, is released.
Ríoghnach is a Gaelic saint's name appearing in, among other places, the gray period Martyrology of Donegal. Accordingly, it can be combined with the late period Gaelic element Nioclás.
Rónán is a Gaelic saint's name appearing in, among other places, the gray period Martyrology of Donegal. Accordingly, it can be combined with the late period Gaelic element Nioclás.
Nice 13th or 14th century Mongol name!
This name was documented on the Letter of Intent as a combination of post-1100 Norwegian and Old English, which is not an acceptable combination under Appendix C. Fortunately, in commentary, ffride wlffsdotter re-documented the entire name in Swedish, making it registerable.
Nice late 16th century English name!
Although the submitter initially requested authenticity for 5th-7th century Byzantine, this request was withdrawn during commentary. Submitted as Tullia Ionna, the name in this form was not correctly constructed because it used an Imperial Roman element with a later Byzantine Greek element. Fortunately, in commentary, Alisoun Metron Ariston was able to document Tullia Ionnia as a wholly Greek name from the coastal areas of Asia Minor. With the submitter's permission we have made this change.
(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns)
Okynfirth is a constructed English place name based on the attested elements okyn- and -frith or -firth, meaning roughly "oak woods."
Red Sky is a constructed English place name in the form of a place name plus a family name, as discussed in Juliana de Luna's "Compound Placenames in English" (http://medievalscotland.org/jes/EnglishCompoundPlacenames/). Red is an attested form of a place name derived from the Old English hr{e-}od ("reed-bed") or ro{e-}d ("a clearing"). Skye is an English family name found as early as the 13th century.
Aurora is the submitter's legal given name.
The Letter of Intent documented the place name Unikankare as the name of an SCA branch. However, the Branch Name Allowance currently permits only the form of Unikankare, which the submitter would prefer not to register unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, we do not have to rely on the Branch Name Allowance. In commentary, Pietari Töllöö provided documentation allowing us to construct Unikankare as a constructed Finnish place name. Combined with the documentation in the Letter of Intent showing an adjectival form of a place name plus a given name in Finnish, we are able to register the name as submitted.
Kristiina is the submitter's legal given name.
The Letter of Intent documented the place name Unikankare as the name of an SCA branch. However, the Branch Name Allowance currently permits only the form of Unikankare, which the submitter would prefer not to register unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, we do not have to rely on the Branch Name Allowance. In commentary, Pietari Töllöö provided documentation allowing us to construct Unikankare as a constructed Finnish place name. Combined with the documentation in the Letter of Intent showing an adjectival form of a place name plus a given name in Finnish, we are able to register the name as submitted.
Tuuli is the submitter's legal given name.
The Letter of Intent documented the place name Unikankare as the name of an SCA branch. However, the Branch Name Allowance currently permits only the form of Unikankare, which the submitter would prefer not to register unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, we do not have to rely on the Branch Name Allowance. In commentary, Pietari Töllöö provided documentation allowing us to construct Unikankare as a constructed Finnish place name. Combined with the documentation in the Letter of Intent showing an adjectival form of a place name plus a given name in Finnish, we are able to register the name as submitted.
The Letter of Intent documented the place name Unikankare as the name of an SCA branch. However, the Branch Name Allowance currently permits only the form of Unikankare, which the submitter would prefer not to register unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, we do not have to rely on the Branch Name Allowance. In commentary, Pietari Töllöö provided documentation allowing us to construct Unikankare as a constructed Finnish place name. Combined with the documentation in the Letter of Intent showing an adjectival form of a place name plus a given name in Finnish, we are able to register the name as submitted.
(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)
Julie was documented on the Letter of Intent as the submitter's legal name. However, the submitter does not have to rely on the Legal Name Allowance because Seraphina Ragged Staff documented Julie to 1553 in London, England in FamilySearch Historical Records.
Trinovantia Nova is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Artist's note: Please draw the wings larger.
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns) (to Ealdormere pends)
Nice French name from at least the 14th century onwards!
Submitted as Álfdís Holtadottir, diacritical markings must be used consistently throughout Old Norse names. Therefore, we have changed the name to Álfdís Holtadóttir for registration.
The submitter's previous name, Yamada Kiku, is retained as an alternate name.
Nice 9th-10th century Icelandic name!
The submitter's previous device, Per pale sable and argent, a fox and a bear rampant addorsed counterchanged, on a chief vert three arrows inverted argent, is retained as a badge.
Artist's note: Please draw the orle wider to give more room for the ermine spots.
Specifying the type of breed of a dog beyond that which is normally found in heraldry (e.g. talbot or greyhound) is a step from period practice.
This badge conflicts with the device of Clarice Walker, Argent, a bend sinister between two triquetras purpure, with one DC for change to the type of secondary charges. Permission to conflict has been received from Clarice.
The Letter of Intent requested a change in designator from Award to Order, but incorrectly identified the original order name as Award of the Gilder. In fact, it was registered on the June 2015 Letter of Acceptances and Returns as Award of _ Gilder. As the Letter of Intent relied on the Existing Registration Allowance and did not document either Award of the Gilder or Order of the Gilder, we cannot change anything other than the designator. Therefore, we are registering Order of _ Gilder.
The original order name, Award of Gilder, is released.
The submitter's previous name, Akiyama Kintsune, is retained as an alternate name.
Nice 9th-10th century Icelandic name!
Nice name for 16th century English (Cornwall) or Catalonia circa 1600!
Previous precedent on the byname der Jäger stated:
Submitted as Stefan der Jäger von Ansbach, the documented forms of the byname do not use the definite article der. In order to register it, we have changed the name to Stefan_Jäger von Ansbach to match the documentation [Stefan Jäger von Ansbach, 12/2008, A-Atenveldt]
Current research shows numerous examples of German occupational bynames that include the article der. For example, Socin provides the examples of der gartner ("gardener") and der Phaffe ("priest/cleric). Based on the current evidence, we hereby overturn the 2008 precedent quoted above and expressly permit registration of German occupational bynames marked with the definite article.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a dragon displayed.
Nice badge!
The submitter requested authenticity for a "Swedish/Baltic" name. This name appears to meet that request because both elements are documented from the 16th century in Hiiumaa, Estonia. We thank ffride wlffsdotter for providing evidence of the pattern of given name + unmarked patronymic in Estonian names.
Blazoned when registered in October 1985 as Per fess indented of three points vert and argent, on a pale between in base two laurel wreaths, in chief a laurel wreath, all counterchanged, this field can be more accurately described as Party of six per fess indented.
Blazoned when registered in January 1986 as Per fess indented of three points vert and argent, a pale counterchanged overall two arrows inverted in saltire gules, this field can be more accurately described as Party of six per fess indented.
Blazoned when registered in January 1986 as Per fess indented of three points vert and argent, a pale counterchanged, this field can be more accurately described as Party of six per fess indented.
Submitted as Seònaid inghean mhic Aoidh, the diacritical marking on the given name was incorrect. We have changed the name to Seónaid inghean mhic Aoidh for registration.
Nice 9th-10th century Icelandic name!
There is a step from period practice for use of a bird other than an eagle in the displayed posture.
Nice name for the first or early second century of the Roman Empire!
This name combines an Anglo-Saxon given name with an Old Norse byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
(to East acceptances) (to East returns)
Submitted as Ælfwynne s{e-}o bleáþ, two corrections were necessary for this name to be registered. First, Ælfwynne is not the nominative form; only nominative forms can be registered as given names. The submitter apparently derived Ælfwynne from "Anglo-Saxon Women's Names from Royal Charters," by Marieke van de Dal (https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/marieke/anglosaxonfem/). As we noted in the April 2017 Cover Letter:
The article "Anglo-Saxon Women's Names from Royal Charters," by Marieke van de Dal (https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/marieke/anglosaxonfem/) should be used with caution. While the bolded header forms in the article are always the nominative forms, the various spellings under the header are not. In the last several months we have had numerous submitters relying on unbolded spellings as if they were spelling alternate spellings, when in fact those spellings each represented the name in a different case and were not usable as given names.
The nominative form of Ælfwynne is Ælfwynn_. We have made this change for registration.
Second, the name must use diacritical markings consistently throughout. Therefore, we have changed s{e-}o to seó to match bleáþ.
With these two changes, we are registering this name as Ælfwynn_ seó bleáþ.
This name mixes an Anglicized Irish given name with a Gaelic byname, an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C.
Questions were raised in commentary about whether this name presumes upon the character of Santa Claus. Santa Claus is certainly sufficiently important in Western culture to protect from presumption. However, this name is not an unmistakable claim to be Santa Claus. While Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas are often conflated in Christmas lore, "Nicholas Claus" is not a common use name for this figure. A majority of the heralds at the Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium 2018 and in the Pelican decision meeting did not find this name presumptuous and we concur.
The submitter requested authenticity for 16th century German. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research. The name as submitted appears to meet that request.
(to Gleann Abhann acceptances) (to Gleann Abhann returns)
Newcomer ambassador is a generic identifier.
(to Laurel acceptances) (to Laurel returns)
The submitter's previous device, Argent, three wolf's teeth issuant from dexter and three wolf's teeth issuant from sinister gules and in base a ferret statant sable, is released.
Nice device!
Submitted as Aljohar Bat David, we have changed the byname to bat David to match the standard capitalization for Hebrew names.
This device is not in conflict with the device of Tomás an Bhogha Ó Néill, Vert, a bow reversed Or. There is one DC for the addition of the chief, and a second for orientation of the bow.
Artist's Note: Please advise the submitter to draw the chief with fewer and larger crenellations
Artist's note: Please draw the sparks larger.
The submitter's previous device, Vert, a cross fleury within an orle of cinquefoils argent, is retained as a badge.
Nice device!
The submitter's previous name, Fiora Vespucci, is released.
Nice badge!
Nice 13th century English name!
Nice badge!
Southron Gaard is the registered name of an SCA branch.
Nice 9th-10th century Icelandic name!
Nice badge!
Nice 15th century Scots name!
Lochac Tailors Guild is a generic identifier.
Specifying the type of breed of a dog beyond that which is normally found in heraldry (e.g. talbot or greyhound) is a step from period practice. In Randle Holme's Book, c.1460, we find the arms of "John Martyne of Kent chyre", Argent, three mastiffs sable. While not as common as greyhounds or talbots, the mastiff is found in period heraldry, and so is not a step from period practice.
This household name is based on the English pattern of naming ships after birds or animals. Nighthawk is the lingua Anglica form of the Early Modern English nighte-hauke attested to gray period in the OED.
Submitted as Ragnbj{o,}rn in_ digri, the name as submitted was not grammatically correct because it used the feminine form of the byname with a male given name. We have changed the name to the correct masculine form of the descriptive byname, Ragnbj{o,}rn inn digri, for registration.
Permission was procured from George of Berwick to conflict with his device, Argent, on a bend sable, three double roses argent, barbed vert.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a gyronny arrondi field with a primary charge group.
Artist's note: Please draw at least three complete crenellations for the embattled line of division.
The submitter's previous device, Per pale argent and sable, a bend cotised counterchanged, is released.
(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns)
The submitter's previous device, Azure, a natural tiger statant guardant Or marked sable and on a chief Or a decrescent between two mullets purpure, is released.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a natural tiger.
The submitter requested authenticity for 15th century Germany. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research. This name meets the submitter's request.
Sol Haven is the registered name of an SCA branch.
The submitter requested authenticity for "9th-10th Century Irish." This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research.
This name combines a Gaelic given name with an Old Norse byname. Although this lingual mix can be registered under Appendix C, it is not authentic for the requested time and place because we have no evidence of mixed language names in that era. Instead, where the cultures overlapped, we see Gaelic given names rendered in Old Norse (i.e., Gaelic Niall becomes the Old Norse Njall) or vice versa.
There is a step from period practice for the use of paw prints.
Submitted as Hanna al-Tajiriyya, the name as submitted did not properly feminize the male byname al-Tajir; it should be feminized as al-Tajira. We have made this change for registration.
The submitter requested authenticity for a Jewish woman living in North Africa. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research. This name does not meet this request because the given name Hanna was attested in Jerusalem, not North Africa. However, al-Tajir, the masculine form of the byname, is found in the Geniza of Cairo.
The submitter's previous name, Lucia del Mar, is released.
Samirra is the submitter's legal given name.
(to Meridies acceptances) (to Meridies returns) (to Meridies pends)
Originally appearing on the October 31, 2017 Middle Kingdom Letter of Intent as Caer Gwynt, the branch name was changed on the January 2018 Letter of Acceptances and Returns to Caerwynt due to the requirements of Welsh grammar. Following the word Caer, the noun Gwynt must mutate to Wynt. We further noted:
In fact, Caerwynt and/or Kaerwynt is an attested period place name -- it is the Welsh name for the city of Winchester in England. If this branch name is registerable, it will be in the period spelling Caerwynt.
Because this branch name uses the name of an actual place, we must consider presumption and whether the English city of Winchester is important enough to protect. Winchester was the capital of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex under Alfred the Great.
Therefore, we pended the name for commentary on the question of whether Winchester, England is important enough to protect from presumption.
During the pend period, several representatives of the Barony expressed a strong preference for a name closer to their originally-submitted Caer Gwynt. After conducting additional research, we found Gwyn as a Welsh given name. The spelling of this given name does not need to change after the element Caer. With the Barony's approval, we have changed the name to Caer_Gwyn_.
This change has the added benefit of eliminating the presumption problem. As the group is no longer using the Welsh name for Winchester, we do not presently rule on whether Winchester is important enough to protect.
This name does not conflict with the registered Shire of Castell Gwent, as the substantive elements Castell and Caer differ significantly in sound and appearance.
Submitted as Colin O'Flannery, the documentation did not support the submitted spelling of the byname. The closest spellings found in period are O'Flanory or O'Flanneragh. As the former involves the smallest change in sound and appearance from the submitted name, we are registering the name as Colin O'Flanory. If the submitter prefers Colin O'Flanneragh, he may make a request for reconsideration.
On the June 2017 Letter of Acceptances and Returns, we returned the submitter's original name, Katarzina Celjska, with the note that "[w]e would change the byname to the Polish Celjczowska, documented during commentary by ffride Joye Sans Fin, but this is a major change that the submitter does not allow." The submitter has re-submitted the suggested form and we are happy to register it for her.
The submitter requested authenticity for "10th or 11th century Russian." Although this name is registerable, it does not meet this request. Both of the elements were documented from Wickenden's A Dictionary of Period Russian Names. However, the underlying data for each element was taken by Wickenden from Moroshkin's Slavianskii imenoslov ili, sobranie slavianskikh lichnykh imen (The Slavic Name Book, or a Collection of Slavic Personal Names). As we explained on the July 2017 Cover Letter:
Moroshkin was interested primarily in common name elements that appeared across the Slavic languages and, as a result, he grouped name elements together under a "Russified" spelling even if they were found in Latin-language records from Bohemia or German-language records from Poland. Thus, a name element taken from Moroshkin and appearing in the Dictionary may not actually be a Russian element. . . . Submitters and heralds attempting to construct authentic Russian names are advised to use the Dictionary with caution. Entries sourced solely from Moroshkin should be avoided because it is likely that they are not truly Russian forms. Name elements that use the letters c or h without a c, k, s or z before it probably were not originally written in Cyrillic. Likewise, names containing the letters j, v or w likely were not originally written in Cyrillic and may not be authentic Russian forms.
As both of these name elements were taken from Moroshkin, we cannot be sure that they are actually Russian name elements.
In addition, neither name element could be dated as early as the 10th or 11th century. The given name Kolen'da is dated to 1253 and the byname Rus is dated to 1187. Thus, although this name can be registered, it is not authentic for the requested time period in Russian.
Nice Roman name from the second century B.C.E. through at least the first century and a half of the Roman Empire!
Artist's note: Please draw enough of the lower jaw to connect it to the main part of the head by more than just the tongue and teeth.
(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns) (to Middle pends)
Questions were raised in commentary whether a Dutch woman would ever use a byname ending in the masculine -ssen. Heralds at the Pelican decision meeting found multiple instances of late period Dutch women using names ending in -ssen, almost certainly representing inherited surnames rather than literal patronymics. Therefore, the name as submitted is registerable as a late period Dutch form.
The submitter requested authenticity for "Holland." This name appears to be authentic for Dutch, the language spoken in this region, circa 1600.
Originally submitted as Lars Wolf Blut, the umlaut in Blüt was added at Kingdom with the submitter's permission, apparently on the belief that it was required. However, the documentation gives the spelling of that element as Blu{v}t, with the {v} indicating a v-shaped mark over the u. Moreover, diacritical markings can be omitted from names as long as they are treated consistently throughout the name. Therefore, we have restored the name to the originally submitted Lars Wolf Blut.
(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)
Submitted as Angharad Einarsdottir, Welsh and Old Norse can be combined only if both elements are dated prior to 1100 C.E. Angharad is a later period form of the given name, first found in the 13th century.
The submitter requested that we change the byname to Haldene, an English surname found in the 1381 Suffolk Poll Tax and compatible with the 13th century and later spelling Angharad. As this request was made with sufficient time to conduct research and conflicts checks, we are happy to make this change for her.
Nice 11th-12th century Norwegian name!
Submitted as Geoffrius Robertianus, the submitter requested an authentic 16th century Latinized form of his primary name, Geoffrey fitz Robert, such as a Renaissance-era scholar might have used when publishing. However, the name as submitted was not correctly constructed for 16th century Latin. We have no evidence of Geoffrius being used as the Latinized form of Geoffrey prior to 1650. Additionally, the construction Robertianus does not mean "of Robert" or "son of Robert" as argued in the Letter of Intent. With the submitter's permission, we have changed the name to Goffridus Robertus, using the attested Latinized forms of Geoffrey and Robert.
This name does not presume on the modern Australian politician Geoffrey Robertson. Even assuming Geoffrey Robertson is significant enough to protect under PN4D1, the submitted name is not presumptuous because there is no evidence that the politician has ever been known as Goffridus Robertus.
Submitted as Gráinne Socair, the necessary lenition was omitted from the byname. We have changed the name to Gráinne Shocair for registration.
The submitter requested authenticity for "Irish 1400's or later." This name does not meet that request. Socair is a period Gaelic word meaning "easy, quiet, tranquil." Although it is consistent with the kinds of personal attributes that were used to create descriptive bynames in Gaelic, we have no evidence that the term socair was actually used in period as a descriptive byname. Therefore, the name can be registered but it is not authentic.
The submitter requested authenticity for 14th century German. It is unclear whether this name is authentic for that time period. However, it is authentic for 15th century German.
This name combines a Scots given name and Scots byname with a Gaelic descriptive (Dubh), an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C. The pattern of given name + descriptive byname + patronymic is found in both Scots and Gaelic.
The submitter may be interested in know that a wholly Scots form of the name can be registered, replacing the Gaelic Dubh with the Scots Dow, Dowe or Doue. Using the Scots descriptive, this name would be authentic for Scotland from the 15th century onwards. If the submitter prefers a wholly Scots form of the name, he may make a request for reconsideration.
Nice Gaelic name for circa 1600!
The submitter's previous device, Argent, a fountain and on a chief azure three gouttes d'eau, is retained as a badge.
There is a step from period practice for the use of schneckes with other charges on the field.
(to Outlands acceptances) (to Outlands returns)
The submitter requested authenticity for Swiss language/culture 1450-1550. This name appears to be authentic for the early 16th century in Switzerland.
Questions were raised in commentary about whether the name Bragi was used by real people in addition to being the name of the Norse god of poetry. In fact, at least three human historical figures used the given name Bragi.
Nice 9th-10th century Icelandic name!
Cassiopeia is the submitter's legal given name.
This device is not in conflict with the device of Tatiana Ivanovna, Azure, a Russian firebird displayed Or, crested and its six tail-feathers each charged with a heart gules, with one DC for removal of the tertiary charges and another for addition of the secondary charges.
The elements Elizabetta and Morella were documented in the Letter of Intent from Emidio de Felice's Dizionario dei nomi italiani, which provided no dates for either element. We remind heralds and submitters that de Felice is valid documentation only for dated elements in that work. Fortunately, Maridonna Benvenuti and Lillia Crampette were able to document both Morella and Elizabetta to 16th century Italy.
The submitter requested authenticity for 16th century Italian. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research.
Although all of the elements are found in the 16th century, they are not all in the same dialect of Italian. The bynames are from Florence and the given name Morella is from Pisa, all of which use the Tuscan dialect. However, the spelling Elizabetta is found in Rome, which uses a different dialect. An authentic Tuscan form of the name would be Elisabetta Morella Armati Debello or Isabetta Morella Armati Debello. If the submitter prefers either of these forms, she may make a request for reconsideration.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a New World hummingbird.
Submitted as Iriniia Mishnikova, no evidence could be found to support the submitted spelling of the byname. In commentary, ffride wlffsdotter was able to document the Russian byname Myshkinova and the Polish byname Mychnikova. At the submitter's request, we have changed the name to the wholly-Russian Iriniia Myshkinova.
The submitter requested authenticity for 8th-13th century Russian. As changed, the name is authentic for 15th century Russian, but not as early as requested.
The element Saran was documented on the Letter of Intent from An Introduction to Classical (Literary) Mongolian, 2nd Edition, by Kaare Grenbech and John R. Krueger. However, "classical" Mongolian is generally post-period. Fortunately, Ursula Palimpsest was able to find alternative documentation. The Onomasticon Turcicum s.n. Sarañ cites a Mamluk named Sarañ-{chi}an dated to 1395. In addition, Saran is a 15th century Russian given name found in Wickenden, which is compatible with Mongol name elements.
Questions were raised in commentary whether the constructed name Kharakhan is presumptuous because it uses the element -khan. Ursula Palimpsest noted that the Onomasticon Turcicum s.n. Qara gives multiple examples of non-royal Turkic people from our period named Qara-{chi}an (the way that source transliterates the black + khan name elements). As Turkic and Mongolian naming practices are closely related, we will give the submitter the benefit of the doubt that the Mongolian name Kharakhan also is not a claim of landedness.
The submitter's previous name, Draigen MacConn, is retained as an alternate name.
Submitted as Lars Kalborðar, the name as submitted used a constructed byname intended to mean "cabbage-eater." SENA PN1B2b states:
Name phrases may be constructed from attested period name elements. To do this, documentation must be provided to demonstrate that the name phrase follows a period pattern. We generally require at least three examples to consider something a pattern, as sometimes a single name phrase can create the appearance of a pattern that does not actually exist. The examples should closely match the constructed name phrase. (emphasis added)
We were unable to find the necessary three examples to support Kalborðar. There is only one example of an Old Norse byname in the form food + eater: þorskabítr (cod-biter, cod-eater).
Instead, Scandinavian bynames associating a person with a particular kind of food were simply the names of the foods themselves. Gunnvor Orle provided evidence of Scandinavian men with the bynames kal or kaal, meaning "cabbage." With the submitter's permission, we have changed the name to Lars Kaal_ for registration.
Artist's note: Please draw both the chief and the martlet larger.
Nice 16th century English name!
The submitter's previous name, Aine inghean Tuathail ui Ghallchobhair, is retained as an alternate name.
There is a step from period practice for the use of a schnecke with other charges directly on the field.
Originally submitted as Sigrun bjarnylr, the byname was changed at Kingdom to bjarnyl_, removing terminal r, on the mistaken belief that this change was required because the given name is feminine. However, this the byname is a noun, which need not be changed to match the gender of the given name. Further, as Gunnvor Orle noted in commentary, "The byname <biarnylr> is literally "bear-warmth", for someone supposed to have the body heat of a bear, which is really not a gendered concept, even though the compound is listed as masculine." Accordingly, we have restored the byname to its originally-submitted form for registration.
The submitter's previous device, Quarterly Or and barry wavy argent and azure, a drakkar purpure, is released.
Nice 16th century English name!
(to West acceptances) (to West returns)
- Explicit littera accipiendorum -
None.
(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns)
None.
(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns)
None.
(to Ansteorra acceptances) (to Ansteorra returns)
This device is returned for lack of documentation on the posture. In the previous return, it was noted:
This device is returned for lack of documentation on the posture. The submitted blazon uses "naiant," a posture that is applied exclusively to fish and fish-like creatures (when swimming horizontally) and waterfowl (when close with the feet hidden (i.e. underwater), "swimming" on top of the water). Naiant has not previously been applied to quadrupeds, and no documentation was provided making the case for it.
However, no other known posture can accurately be used to describe this posture. The rear flippers are splayed back, rather than oriented towards the "ground," an orientation we only see in quadrupeds when courant, while the foreflippers push straight down. This arrangement of limbs doesn't match any known heraldic posture and must therefore be returned.
This submission suffers from a similar attempt to place a natural sea-tortoise, which is an SCA heraldic charge with no period equivalent, into a posture it is ill equipped to assume. Of the 40 natural sea-tortoises registered in the SCA, every single one is tergiant. This is unsurprising as tergiant is the default posture for the attested heraldic charge which the natural sea-tortoise resembles, the tortoise.
In this submission, the shortened back flippers are tucked partially beneath the shell, but they aren't long enough to give the appearance expected of legs in a sejant posture (tucked beneath the backside of the creature). This is complicated by the fact that the natural sea-tortoise partially overlaps the cloud, which compromises the viewer's ability to establish a visual plane for the backside to rest upon.
The absence of natural sea-tortoises in SCA heraldry in any posture other than tergiant, and the substantial difference in length between the fore and rear flippers which hinder the ability of a natural sea-tortoise to hold a recognizable quadrupedal posture, lead us to the conclusion that tergiant (and its rotationally oriented variants) is the only recognizable posture for a natural sea-tortoise. Absent documentation of the charge in period heraldry in the submitted posture, submissions of natural sea-tortoises in non-tergiant postures will continue to be returned.
Upon resubmission, the submitter should refrain from overlapping the charges.
This device is returned for redraw. While the submitter addressed half of the reasons for return of the previous submission, namely the style of the wings, they did not address the other half of the reason for return, the lack of documentation for a legless tortoise torso and head.
Upon resubmission, the submitter should either depict the legs of the tortoise or otherwise demonstrate the use of limbless tortoises in period heraldry.
(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns)
Unfortunately, this name conflicts with the registered Brigit MacPherson and must be returned.
This device is returned for conflict with Raynor Boleheued, Argent, a bull statant within a bordure embattled sable. There's one DC for the bordure. We grant no difference for bull vs cow, and no difference for guardant vs not. Conflict hinges on the changes to the head of the monster. Unfortunately, we have long held that changes only to the head of a creature are not worth difference -- e.g., no difference for dexter-facing vs guardant vs reguardant -- and specifically, no difference for replacing the head of a creature with that of another creature:
[Or, a chimerical monster with the head of an owl and the body of a bear rampant gardant purpure.] This device is returned for conflict with the device of Matilda Beresford: Erminois, a bear rampant purpure. There is a DC for changing the field tincture. However, the difference between the creature submitted here and a bear is essentially the details of the face and not sufficient to grant a DC and we do not grant a DC for the position of the head. [Alfgeirr skytja, LoAR of Dec 2016]
In this case, the ears of the jester's hood look very much like a bull's horns, increasing the resemblance.
No documentation was provided for the byname of the High Desert. We found no evidence of period Arabic bynames meaning "of the desert" or "of the high desert." Without such evidence, the submitter cannot rely on the lingua Anglica allowance to create a hypothetical byname in English.
In resubmitting, the submitter should be aware that, in addition to being a given name, Malik is also the Arabic word for "king" and a protected title within the Society. The use of Malik plus a place name may be presumptuous under PN4B1, which states that "[g]iven names that are identical to titles and forms of address may be registered in contexts that make it clear that they are given names and not titles." If he resubmits another name using this construction, the submitter should be prepared to argue why the use of Malik with a place name should not be considered presumptuous.
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Diana the Dismal: Per fess argent and sable, two reremice counterchanged, with one DC for changes to the field. The shift in primary charge arrangement from in pale to in fess is forced, and does not count for difference.
This device is returned for use of a modern depiction of charges. As depicted, the charges have no distinguishing features, but are the kind of generic human form seen in modern logos. All the examples we have of humans as charges, dating from the earliest sources (e.g., the Zurich Roll c.1340), show facial features at the very least, and usually quite a bit more. The majority of examples are clothed appropriately to the time and "occupation" of the depicted human - which in every case significantly changed the outline. We have no examples of humans, used as charges, depicted as simple silhouettes, as here.
Pending period examples of humans used as charges but emblazoned without interior details (e.g., facial features, fingers on hands, surface details on exposed portions of body), featureless human forms will be returned. Please note that this is an explicit exception to the ruling made in the August 2001 Cover Letter, and applies only to humans and humanoid creatures.
This device is returned for violation of SENA A2C2, which prohibits blurring the distinction between two orientations. In this submission, the aspen sprigs are oriented so that they are neither palewise nor bendwise, but somewhere between the two.
(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)
None.
(to Atlantia acceptances) (to Atlantia returns)
None.
(to Avacal acceptances) (to Avacal returns)
This device is returned for violating SENA A3D2c, Unity of Posture and Orientation, which states, "The charges within a charge group should be in either identical postures/orientations or an arrangement that includes posture/orientation" The charges here are not in a unified orientation, as one is palewise and the other is in a vaguely fesswise orientation that is seen in documentation provided by Bruce Batonvert. As the charges are comparable in type, being both long inanimate charges, they have comparable orientations, which much be unified for registration.
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns) (to Caid pends)
This device is returned for redraw. Commentary was unanimous both in OSCAR and at the decision meeting that the primary charge is not recognizable as a double-headed eagle. Lack of internal detailing, plus the single neck terminating in what appears to be a crest rather than two distinct heads, neither of which resemble an eagle's head, and a general lack of eagle-ness obscured the identity of the charge enough to render it completely unidentifiable even given the default assumption of displayed birds as eagles.
Upon resubmission, the submitter should consult period depictions of double-headed eagles, provide internal detailing, and ensure that each head has its own neck and recognizable aquiline head features.
This device is returned for redraw. The arrowhead and fletchings of the tertiary charge were so small that most commenters struggled to identify it as an arrow. Upon resubmission, please drastically increase the size of both the fletchings and the broadhead.
Originally submitted as Per bend azure and gules, a bend Or between three arrows in pale fesswise reversed and a wine flask palewise argent this device was registered in December 2005 as Per bend azure and gules, a bend Or between three arrows in pale fesswise reversed and a mariner's whistle palewise argent. The submitter's intent at the time was to have a wine flask, and mistakenly used the charge of a mariner's whistle. This is not an unsurprising mistake, as post-period heraldic artists had mistakenly identified the charge as a flask, and the submitter followed suit in good faith.
However, we register the emblazon and not the blazon. The charge submitted in 2005 is unmistakably a mariner's whistle. To quote Bruce Batonvert:
The fact that this charge is, in fact, a mariner's whistle has been amply established. I take the liberty of quoting exactly, from "Official Badges" by H. Stanford London, Norfolk Herald Extraordinary:
Yet another Admiralty badge is a boatswain's whistle. This was one of the many badges used by John de Vere, the 13th Earl of Oxford, who died in 1513, and in the inventory of his effects it appears as "a great cheyne of gold wit a maryner's whistell and of viij(xx) and oon Lynkes"; it weighed 146 ounces and was valued at 243 pounds 6s 8p. This whistle was worn by the Admiral baldrick-wise... [snip for brevity]
The whistle, as we have just seen, was actually worn by the Admirals, and it does not appear to have been given as a badge to their servants and retainers. Yet it was embroidered badge-like on altar-hangings and other objects in the inventory of John de Vere's effects. [snip descriptions of effects] Six of these correspond with Tillerson's list [of 1594], but the seventh is like fig.5. This has been read as a wine-bottle, and it has been said that a long necked, silver bottle with a blue lace or cord, was a badge used by the Veres as hereditary Lord Great Chamberlain. [But] it is difficult to see why the Chamberlain should have had such a badge. It would not be inappropriate to the Butler, but none of the Veres held that office.
Moreover, in a collection of Vere badges in the College of Arms MS.L.14 fo.92b a drawing which closely resembles fig.6 [which is the same as in this submission -- B.] is accompanied by the note: "The Whystle and chayne he hathe by the chamberleynship." It seems therefore extremely doubtful whether the Veres ever did use a bottle as a badge, and I suggest that the supposed "bottle" is really the Admiralty's whistle and that it had nothing to do with the Chamberlainship. [Coat of Arms, vol.IV (27), July 1956, pp.96-98]
This is corroborated in a more recent but equally authoritative source, Heraldic Badges in England and Wales by Michael Powell Siddons, Wales Herald Extraordinary. In Vol.II.2 pp.2-3, he writes:
The whistle was drawn in several forms, one of which has been in the past confused with a wine-bottle, which was then said to have been a badge of the de Veres, but as London showed, this was mistaken, and the whistle on the brass at Beeston Regis, Norfolk, to John Deynes, master mariner, 1527, shows him wearing a whistle, baldric-wise, which is almost identical with that carved on Castle Hedingham Church (Cole, 'Official Badges', 273, ill.). [emphasis mine]
So, unfortunately for the client, this emblazon is exactly one of the forms used for the mariner's whistle in period, and that's why it was originally blazoned as such in 2005.
If the client would like a wine-bottle, that too is a period heraldic charge, found in the arms of de Muschiaro, mid-15th C. [Stemmario Trivulziano, plate 223] We know it's a wine-bottle from the cant: in the local Italian dialect, a muscia was a wine measure roughly equal to a pint. It is perfectly period, it will not be mistaken for any other charge, and it fill the client's desire to have an authentic wine flask.
The submitter is encouraged to follow Batonvert's advice and resubmit using either the wine-bottle from Stemmario Trivulziano, or the pilgrim's flask found in the arms of von Herbißhofen in the Scheibler Armorial, plate 177.
(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns)
This badge is returned for conflict with the badge of Gillian Jewell, Per pale purpure and vert, a chalice within a bordure rayonny Or. There is one DC for change in type of the secondary charge.
Upon resubmission, all of the charges should be drawn larger to fill the available space.
(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)
This device must be returned for conflict with the badge of the Barony of Eldern Hills for the Order des Cotes Ancienne, Argent, a mountain of three peaks issuant from base gules. While the blazon said that the field was per fess argent and gules with a mountain issuant from the line of division, the visual effect created appeared to be an argent field with a primary mountain issuant from base with a slight indentation on either side at the fess line. Therefore, visually there is only one distinct change for the addition of tertiary weapons between the two pieces of armory.
Additionally, this must be returned for lack of adequate documentation of the kanab{o-}. Per SENA A2B4c, non-European elements may be registered with a step from period practice if they are shown to be either flora or fauna known to Europeans in period, or else a charge from a non-European armorial tradition. While the kanab{o-} was documented as a Japanese weapon, no evidence was provided that the weapon was used in Japanese mon.
There is a step from period practice for the use of non-European artifacts as charges.
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns) (to Ealdormere pends)
This badge is returned for presumption with the Kings of France. When this badge was pended in the January 2018 LoAR, the College of Arms was asked to find examples in period of Azure, [four/five] fleurs-de-lys Or being used to presume a relationship with France. The College, in turn, turned up depictions of some of the ancient Peers of France using Azure, semy-de-lys interchangeably with Azure, four fleurs-de-lys in their armory, most notably the Dukes of Langres, Reims, Laon, and the Count of Châlons. These Peers use the motif of the Royal Arms of France to show their ties to the Crown, in the same way that the Counts of Noyon and Toulouse, the Duke of Burgundy, and a strong majority of the French Peerage do. The interchangeability between semy and four fleurs for those ancient Peers who had a cross or saltire as their primary charge indicates that four fleurs is a recognized as a motif worthy of protection from presumption.
Also included in the discussion was an example in Sammelband Mehrer Wappenbucher of the arms for the "Roy de napels," or King of Naples/Anjou, Azure, five fleurs-de-lys two one and two Or, a label gules. This is a clear variant of the French arms, as the crest of this device and the arms of France (in this Roll of Arms Azure, three fleurs-de-lys Or), are identical. As this is a variant of the French arms that is distinctly and clearly five fleurs-de-lys, five must be included in the number of fleurs-de-lys considered when reviewing armory for presumption.
To recap, the use of three or more fleurs-de-lys on an azure background in armory is considered presumptuous against the arms of France, and will be returned. We will make sure this is updated in the Glossary of Terms.
This device must be returned for violation of SENA A2C1, which requires that charges must be depicted in a period style. In the November 2017 return of the device of Michele dei Medici, it was noted: "The ladle is likewise not drawn in a period form. The ladles we see in period images had the handle parallel to the lip, not at right angles to it. No evidence was provided and none could be found for the depiction of a ladle in the submitted configuration." This depiction matches that used by Michele, and must likewise be returned.
This badge is returned administratively. The submitter is attempting to register a name and badge for an award, as evidenced both by the statement from the submitting herald as quoted in the LoI, as well as the submitter's website which lists several awards which appear in this letter. Corpora III.C.6 make it clear that only "baronies possess a Baron and/or Baroness, ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, and therefore have the ability to create and administer awards, while provinces do not." By extension, with no ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, shires such as the submitter are not entitled to register awards. The submitter asserts that the association, "Keeper of the Chalice," is a generic designator; this is inaccurate, as evidenced by the registration of the substantive element, "Chalice," to the Kingdom of Meridies for their Order of the Chalice. Were the association to be recognized, the phrase would need to be registered. And as "Keeper" is not a known designator, such a theoretical submission would be returned for both conflict and style issues.
This badge is also returned for conflict with the device of Phelim Gervase, Quarterly Or and argent, a cup gules, with a single DC for changes to the field.
The Shire's registered device and other badges are reblazoned elsewhere in this letter.
This badge is returned administratively. The submitter is attempting to register a name and badge for an award, as evidenced both by the statement from the submitting herald as quoted in the LoI, as well as the submitter's website which lists several awards which appear in this letter. Corpora III.C.6 make it clear that only "baronies possess a Baron and/or Baroness, ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, and therefore have the ability to create and administer awards, while provinces do not." By extension, with no ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, shires such as the submitter are not entitled to register awards. The submitter asserts that the association, "Keeper of the Silver Blade," is a generic designator; this is inaccurate, as evidenced by the registration of the substantive element, "Silver Blade," to the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann and the Barony of Arquelle, for their Orders of the Queens Silver Blade and the Silver Blade of Aarquelle, respectively. Were the association to be recognized, the phrase would need to be registered. And as "Keeper" is not a known designator, such a theoretical submission would be returned for style issues.
This badge is also returned for conflict with the badge of the Barony of Red Spears, (Fieldless) A rapier bendwise sinister gules, for their Order of l'Épée Rouge, with a single DC for changes to the field.
This badge is returned administratively. The submitter is attempting to register a name and badge for an award, as evidenced both by the statement from the submitting herald as quoted in the LoI, as well as the submitter's website which lists several awards which appear in this letter. Corpora III.C.6 make it clear that only "baronies possess a Baron and/or Baroness, ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, and therefore have the ability to create and administer awards, while provinces do not." By extension, with no ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, shires such as the submitter are not entitled to register awards. The submitter asserts that the association, "Keeper of the Torse," is a generic designator; this is inaccurate, as evidenced by the registration of the substantive element, "Torse," to the Kingdom of Calontir for their Order of the Torse. Were the association to be recognized, the phrase would need to be registered. And as "Keeper" is not a known designator, such a theoretical submission would be returned for both conflict and style issues.
This badge is also returned for conflict with the tinctureless badge of Moira Maureen ua Seamus of the Green Hills, (Tinctureless) A rope looped in annulo, the ends tied in chief in a granny knot, chased. The total changes to tincture -- field and charge -- are worth one DC when compared against a tinctureless badge.
This badge is returned administratively. The submitter is attempting to register a name and badge for an award, as evidenced both by the statement from the submitting herald as quoted in the LoI, as well as the submitter's website which lists several awards which appear in this letter. Corpora III.C.6 make it clear that only "baronies possess a Baron and/or Baroness, ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, and therefore have the ability to create and administer awards, while provinces do not." By extension, with no ceremonial representatives appointed by the Crown, shires such as the submitter are not entitled to register awards. The submitter asserts that the association, "Keeper of the Golden Arrow," is a generic designator; this is inaccurate, as evidenced by the registration of the substantive element, "Golden Arrow," to the Barony of Lochmere for their Order of the Golden Arrow. Were the association to be recognized, the phrase would need to be registered. And as "Keeper" is not a known designator, such a theoretical submission would be returned for both conflict and style issues.
(to East acceptances) (to East returns)
This device must be returned for redraw. As depicted, the voided outline of the cross nowy runs afoul of the long-standing ban on thin-line heraldry. Upon resubmission, please draw the argent portions of the cross nowy thicker.
There is a step from period practice for the use of crosses nowy.
(to Gleann Abhann acceptances) (to Gleann Abhann returns)
None.
(to Laurel acceptances) (to Laurel returns)
This device is returned for redraw. The bear is depicted in a half-crouched erect posture that blurs the distinction between statant erect and sejant erect. The depiction is also a modern stylized polar bear, with the outline of the charge voided to show the field beneath; this voiding gives the appearance of partial dismemberment.
Upon resubmission, the submitter is encouraged to find a more period depiction of a bear in a recognizable posture, and to ensure that the hind legs are either drawn side-by-side (salient/statant erect/sejant erect) or with the dexter paw shifted forward (rampant). The runes could likewise stand to be drawn larger.
This device is returned for violation of SENA A5E3, which limits armory to a complexity count of eight. This submission has a complexity count of nine, with five tinctures (gules, Or, argent, vert, purpure) and four types of charges (triquetra, annulet, chief, thistle).
This device is returned for violating SENA A3D2c, Unity of Posture and Orientation, which states, "The charges within a charge group should be in either identical postures/orientations or an arrangement that includes posture/orientation" The three sets of bezants are not in a unified arrangement, but are instead three separate arrangements of charges.
Upon resubmission, the submitter might consider making the azure portions of the field estencely Or.
(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns)
This device is returned for conflict with the device of Eric of Kethkart, Per bend sinister vert and gules, a bend sinister cotised Or. There is only one DC, for the addition of a secondary charge group.
(to Meridies acceptances) (to Meridies returns) (to Meridies pends)
This device is returned for having a "barely overall" charge. SENA Appendix I, Charge Group Theory, in defining overall charges states, "An overall charge must have a significant portion on the field; a design with a charge that has only a little bit sticking over the edges of an underlying charge is known as "barely overall" and is not registerable." Here, more of the owl is on the cross than on the field.
This device is also returned for use of multiple overall charge groups. In the May 2013 return of Taran MacTaral's device, Vert, a tree blasted Or within and conjoined to a decrescent, overall five lozenges ployé in bend sinister argent, it was ruled: "This device is returned for not being reliably blazonable, a violation of SENA A1C and A3F5, both of which require an emblazon to be describable in heraldic terms. As we have no evidence of multiple overall charges in period armory, this design is difficult to describe. Three of the lozenges are entirely on the field, one partially overlaps the tree, and one partially overlaps the crescent. This is non-period style in general." As the branch is maintained by the owl, the charges must by definition be in two different charge groups.
(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns) (to Middle pends)
The Letter of Intent proposed Úlfkarl as a constructed descriptive byname using the Old Norse elements ulf- and -karl. PN1B2b states:
Name phrases may be constructed from attested period name elements. To do this, documentation must be provided to demonstrate that the name phrase follows a period pattern. We generally require at least three examples to consider something a pattern, as sometimes a single name phrase can create the appearance of a pattern that does not actually exist. The examples should closely match the constructed name phrase.
In this case, only two examples of animal name + -karl could be found: biørnakarl, a 15th century Norwegian occupational name meaning "bear hunter," and laxakarl, an Icelandic byname meaning "salmon-man" probably referring to a fisherman. These two examples do not establish a pattern.
However, we do have "several 12th-15th century examples of occupation + descriptive byname... from Norway and Iceland in Lind Personbinamn." [Egil Drake howd, 6/2015 LoAR A-Drachenwald] Based on that evidence, the submitter could register the double byname Karl Úlfr. Alternatively, Úlfkarl is an attested Old Norse given name. Therefore, the submitter could register the patronymic byname Úlfkarlsson. Although the submitter permits all changes, he provided no guidance on which of these options he might prefer. We are returning the name to allow him to consider his choices.
This device is returned for lack of documentation of what has previously been blazoned as a t'ai-chi.
Submitted on the Northshield LoI of October 31, 2017, this device was pended on the January 2018 Cover Letter for discussion and research on period European armorial uses of the motif. It was found in that pend that "No evidence was presented and none could be found that a t'ai-chi was used in period Asian armory. As a non-European artistic motif, a t'ai-chi is unregisterable under SENA, which means that we must consider it under European armorial standards." Commenters were asked for "examples of the full motif in period European armorial contexts, evidence of embowed counter-embowed as a period complex field division, and discussion on roundels as armorial display."
Only one example of the motif was found, an entry from a 5th century Roman manuscript Notitia Dignitatum of over 400 pages, which had copies made in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the section that depicts some 120 unit insignia, one example is found of a shield divided per pale embowed counter-embowed Or (or vert) and azure, charged with two roundels in pale gules). This single pre-heraldic unit insignia is not sufficient to consider the entire motif as a charge, nor the use of embowed counter-embowed as an appropriate line of division for core heraldry purposes. Barring further documentation, the use of either will be grounds for return.
(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)
This device must be returned for a redraw. The erasures at the necks of the wolf's heads do not meet our requirements as outlined in the November 2001 Cover Letter:
Therefore, for purposes of recreating period armorial style for erasing, the erasing should (1) have between three and eight jags; (2) have jags that are approximately one-sixth to one-third the total height of the charge being erased; and (3) have jags that are not straight but rather are wavy or curved. ~snip~ Submissions which contain couped or erased charges that diverge significantly from the guidelines above risk being returned for unidentifiability or non-period style unless they are accompanied by documentation.
Other armory has been registered since that skirt the limit of the 1/6 length requirement for jags. However, commenters were unanimous that these jags were too small for period erasures.
Upon resubmission, please depict the jags in keeping with our current guidelines.
(to Outlands acceptances) (to Outlands returns)
This badge is returned for violation of SENA A7B4, which states that "Armorial designs associated with political movements or events that may be offensive to a particular race, religion, or ethnic group will not be registered. Designs identical to those used by or suggestive of groups like the Nazis, the SS, the Ku-Klux Klan, or similar organizations may not be used."
A cross gurgity is a theoretical charge that has no attestation in period use. It was last discussed in the April 2011 LoAR in the device of Alfarr Utherson. Commentary was mixed, with several heralds expressing discomfort with the design as being visually similar to a fylfot. Ultimately, it was registered as a step from period practice.
The submitter, intending to create a test case whereby the charge is ruled as offensive, provided documentation of the use by the Nazi Party and modern white supremacists of curved fylfots similar to crosses gurgity. Informal polls of SCA members have shown that the concerns expressed by commenters in 2011 have not faded with time, and in fact have increased with the recent rise in white supremacist activity worldwide. Given all these factors, we feel confident that continued registration of this charge would be a detriment to the organization.
We therefore rule a cross gurgity a variant of a fylfot, and thus unregisterable in all forms due to offense.
The submitter attempted to complete an individually attested pattern for German heraldry. For practices outside of core heraldry, SENA requires that three examples that closely match the pattern be provided, or six examples that bracket the practice. In this submission, the pattern that needed to be documented was a complex sable primary charge with an Or complex secondary charge in base, all on a gules field.
The IAP documented one use of a sable primary charge with a complex outline and an Or secondary charge in base: the arms of Kvefsteiner, Gules, a man sable crowned and maintaining a dagger atop a trimount Or. Three other examples were provided to document sable charges on gules fields, but were not close matches; one was a sable attire on a gules field that was co-primary with a high-contrast charge, another was a pair of human arms that were effectively neutral (sable and argent on a gules field) with no secondary charge, and the third was an argent demi-creature issuant from a sable trimount on a gules field. These were insufficient to document the pattern of a complex sable primary charge with an Or complex secondary charge located in base, all on a gules field.
Apart from the practices outside core heraldry, every element of the design must also be documented, including but not limited to tincture, type, posture, orientation, and arrangement of the charges. For this device, documentation was required for a wolf, a sun, rampant, the arrangement of an animate primary charge with a stand-alone secondary charge arranged in base, and the tinctures gules, sable, and Or.
The first four examples previously mentioned documented the three tinctures, but not the charges or arrangement; as the trimount is a common charge in German heraldry that is usually attached to the primary charge, its use doesn't justify the submitted arrangement. Four other examples were provided, which included a hound, a lion, a mullet of eight points, and a mullet of six points.
Commenters were able to provide examples of wolves and suns from the same German roll of arms that the submitter used, as well as examples of complex-outline sable primary charges on gules fields. However, only one other example was provided of a complex outline sable primary charge with a high-contrast charge in base (also a trimount) on a gules field. No examples were provided demonstrating the arrangement of a single stand-alone secondary charge in base below an animate (or other complex-outline) primary charge. This is not particularly surprising, as such an arrangement is vanishingly rare in period heraldry.
Absent sufficient documentation for the pattern of a sable complex-line primary charge with a stand-alone Or complex-line secondary charge in base, this device must be returned.
Upon resubmission, the submitter and consulting herald should familiarize themselves with SENA A4, and ensure that every aspect of the submission is documented, and to consider variant designs that pull the stand-alone secondary charge out from its current position in base.
This device is returned for redraw. Commenters struggled to identify the tertiary charges as needles, with most guessing that the charges in saltire were simply saltires couped.
Upon resubmission, the submitter should take steps to ensure that the tertiary charges have sufficient space to be identified, perhaps increasing the width of the bordure to assist in this effort.
This badge is returned for lack of documentation of the number and arrangement of the charge groups. SENA A3E1 requires that armory with three or more charge groups on the field must either have the arrangements appear in Appendix J, or otherwise provide documentation for that arrangement of charges. This badge has four charge groups directly on the field: The primary charge is the sword, which is flanked by one secondary charge group, the lions, which are in turn surrounded by a second secondary charge group, the roses, all of which are within the third secondary charge group, the bordure. The closest pattern in Appendix J is "A primary charge group, a secondary charge group around the primary charge group (semy, in orle, or numbered charges), and a peripheral ordinary." This only includes one secondary charge group around the primary charge, not two, and so must be individually documented.
(to West acceptances) (to West returns)
- Explicit littera renuntiationum -
This item is pended until the July 2018 LoAR, as the registerability of equal-armed Celtic crosses and Norse sun crosses are subject to the decision on the joint badge of Sárán mac Sáráin and Sigveig Snæbjarnardóttir which will be made on that letter.
This was item 6 on the Caid letter of March 29, 2018.
(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns) (to Caid pends)
The Letter of Intent argued that this name follows the pattern of names of Japanese free military units, based on examples of peasant uprisings and other unspecified military units. We are pending this name for additional research into the history of "Japanese free military units" and how they were named.
This was item 5 on the Ealdormere letter of March 24, 2018.
(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns) (to Ealdormere pends)
The Letter of Intent argued that a Mission is a plausible household designator because it is a word for a group of persons sent to carry out an activity. Evidence was provided from the OED showing the use of this term in period to describe a group of people sent to a foreign country for either commercial or religious purposes. The use of the word mission to describe a place or a building, however, is post-period. Therefore, in the abstract, mission appears to be a plausible designator.
It is unclear, however, whether and how a mission was named in period. The examples provided in the Letter of Intent show only three examples of a named mission, all of which fall into the gray period: mission to the Colledge of Siville (1606); the English Mission (1629); and the mission for Valladolid (1644). All three examples appear to refer to the place where the mission is from or the place it is going to.
We are pending this name for additional research on the naming patterns for the groups of people that were referred to as missions and whether this name fits any of those patterns. In addition, we also request discussion of whether any of the many places and institutions named after Saint Ignatius are important enough to protect from presumption.
This was item 5 on the Meridies letter of March 31, 2018.
(to Meridies acceptances) (to Meridies returns) (to Meridies pends)
This device is pended for discussion on whether to determine difference in orientation between schneckes issuant from the same location on the shield. In the past, difference for orientation has been granted based exclusively on the point of issuance of the schnecke. The current submission has a potential conflict with Almaith ingen Chormaic, Azure, a schnecke issuant from dexter base argent. There is one DC for the tincture of the field. Review of Almaith's device shows that the schnecke issues somewhere between base and dexter base, to the point that difference for orientation based on this alone is insufficient to grant a second DC.
However, commenters noted that Almaith's schnecke twists in the direction opposite the current submission, with the line art flipped along the vertical axis. Visually, this is a more striking difference than the slight clockwise rotation of the point of origin. However, current precedent grants no difference for the direction of spin for schneckes, gurges, charges in annulo, serpents involved, triskelions, or similar charges.
Commenters are asked to provide commentary on the most appropriate way, if any, to determine a difference for orientation between schneckes, including point of origin and direction of rotation.
This was item 12 on the Middle letter of March 28, 2018.
(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns) (to Middle pends)
- Explicit -
Created at 2018-08-22T20:08:08