[Table of Contents |Previous Page (Names - Documentation) |Next Page (Names - Epithets)]
[Vanderman] The byname ...was supposed to mean "wandering man" in Dutch. It does not, nor could anyone document it as a surname. The correct Dutch for the meaning he seems to want ("wanderer, rambler, rover") is zwerver. (Magnus Zwerver, July, 1992, pg. 14)
The v [in van] wasn't capitalized in Dutch names until later, when they were coalesced into a single surname (e.g. Vanderbilt). (David van den Storm, September, 1992, pg. 5)
The byname was submitted as Reidleac, but that form combines English and Scots Gaelic into a single word. Such practice is disallowed per Rule III.2.a. We have substituted a completely English spelling [Reidleck]; he could also have the Gaelic Ruadhleac, if he wishes. (Odinel Reidleck, August, 1992, pg. 7)
[The Blacksword] The examples of weaponry epithets in Jönsjö generally lack the definite article [name registered without "the"]. (Gaufrid Kelson Blacksword, September, 1992, pg. 19)
Several commenters suggested that the use of -bane with inanimate objects was post-period. However, the OED does give instances of the verb bane used with inanimate objects such as bones (in 1568) and voyages (in 1639, within our 50-year "grey zone" for documentation). The construction, I concede, owes more to historical novels than to historical evidence ...but I don't believe the usage is sufficient grounds for returning a name. (Damian Bladesbane, September, 1992, pg. 31)
Although the byname Shieldwrecker is marginally registerable, it doesn't mean what the submitter thinks: it might mean "one who takes revenge on a shield", or "one who casts a shield ashore." Please advise the submitter that there are period epithets for one who damages his shield: Crakesheld (from 1327) or Breakshield would be an improvement. (Haldan Shieldwrecker of Warrior's Gate, September, 1992, pg. 32)
[De la Waterford] While there's ample evidence of the Norman de being used with English placenames, such constructions would not have added a superfluous article; we've therefore deleted it here. (Matilda de Waterford, October, 1992, pg. 11)
[Boris Brighthill] The use of the Russian given name with the English surname violates our requirements for cultural contact, as outlined in Rule III.2. We need some evidence of period interaction between Russia and England. [Such evidence was later presented; see Tatiana Todhunter, March, 1993, pg. 18] (Boris Brighthill, October, 1992, pg. 29)
[Table of Contents |Previous Page (Names - Documentation) |Top of Page |Next Page (Names - Epithets)]
[Anthony Iron Skull] The byname is a translation into our lingua franca of the Old Norse epithet járnhauss. Given analogous epithets in Latin (testifer, "iron head", 1297) and English (brasenhed, "brass head", 1434), this is not unreasonable even in translation. While [Ironskull] would be a more authentic construction, the above form is acceptable. (Anthony Iron Skull, January, 1993, pg. 3)
According to Lord Palimpsest, Withycombe 's entry on Quentin is inaccurate; it was a masculine name in period, not a feminine name. In this case, it goes well with the masculine patronymic Ó Riordáin; but the submitter should probably be told that her name would have been a man's name in period (even with the feminine Siobhan added). (Quentyn Siobhan Ó Riordáin, January, 1993, pg. 20)
The submitter documents period interaction between England and Russia: Ivan the Terrible took some pains to cultivate a friendly relationship with England. He chartered the London-based Muscovy Company in 1555 to set up trading depots throughout Muscovy (Basil Dmytryshny, Medieval Russia: A Source Book, 900-1700), and himself sought to marry one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies (1911 E.Brit., vol.xv, p.90). Henceforth, we will register English-Russian names from that period. [Supercedes precedent of October 1992, pg. 29 (Boris Brighthill)] (Tatiana Todhunter, March, 1993, pg. 18)
Logan seems acceptable as an anglicization of the Irish Locân, Leogán (Logan Hawkwood, May, 1993, pg. 12)
[Table of Contents |Previous Page (Names - Documentation) |Top of Page |Next Page (Names - Epithets)]
[Foxhair] Given the period examples in Jönsjö's Middle English Nicknames of Todheved "fox-head" and Horsher "horse-hair", the submitted byname is quite reasonable. (Joscelin Foxhair, June, 1993, pg. 2)
[Lucius Thayne] A thane (or thegn) was a free retainer in pre-Conquest England, and in Scotland up to the 15th Century; the term denotes a member of territorial nobility corresponding to the Norman baron or knight. The title was one step below the eorl, and might be either earned or inherited. In the SCA, the term is used as the Old English equivalent of "baron", and is therefore reserved. Old English usage puts the title after the name: Ælfred cyning, Leofric eorl, Lyfing arcebisceop. The submitted name is thus exactly in the form that would have been used by a period thane. That fact, along with the Society use of the title, and its hereditary nature in period, outweighs the documented use of Thane, Thaine as a surname later in period. It must therefore be returned as presumptuous. (OED, under the entries for earl, king and thane; '93 E.Brit., vol.11, p.672; Reaney DBS II, pp.112, 345). (Lucius Thayne, July, 1993, pg. 15)
Janie appears to be a valid period diminutive of Jane, as Janny is from Jan (Reaney & Wilson 252) (Janie Fairchild, August, 1993, pg. 9)
John is not the same name as Jonathan, nor its diminutive [therefore they do not conflict with each other]. (Jonathan ap Morgan, September, 1993, pg. 3)
[James o' Gordon] Please make sure the submitter understands that the byname is not a patronymic; it is a toponymic, "of Gordon", the latter being a place. This would be acceptable even without the apostrophe: the OED cites o as a period spelling of "of". (James o' Gordon, October, 1993, pg. 1)
Note that we have in the past allowed the use of Mac with English given names. (Logan Mersc Macjenkyne, October, 1993, pg. 11)
Note that Spanish-English cultural interaction is easily attested via various Tudor marriages; Philip of Spain and Bloody Mary spring to mind. (Maria Adelina Garcia de Macjenkyne, October, 1993, pg. 19)
[Table of Contents |Previous Page (Names - Documentation) |Top of Page |Next Page (Names - Epithets)]