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[á Kerry] Since Kerry is the anglicized form of the Irish Ciarraí, we have substituted the English preposition. (Berwyn of Kerry, July, 1992, pg. 3)
I'm told that Spanish/Scots interaction, like Spanish/English, was not inconsiderable in the 16th Century, so [a name combining both] is not beyond the bounds of reason. (Alvira MacDonald, July, 1992, pg. 6)
Evidently, the Irish were often found on the Continent during the first millenium A.D., as clerks, missionaries, and scholars. Alcuin brought Irish scribes to the university at Aachen, sponsored by Charlemagne; and St. Gall, the founder of the model monastery in Switzerland, was himself Irish, a disciple of St. Columba. An Irish/German name is thus not beyond the bounds of reason. (Dallán Ó Fearchaidhe vom Kirschwald, July, 1992, pg. 9)
Withycombe (p.xliii) mentions "very rare, isolated examples" of period names with multiple name elements: they grow more common in the late 16th Century, but don't become abundant until the 17th Century. Of those rare instances that do occur, three elements seem to have been the norm: e.g. John William Whytting, c.1386; Robert Browne Lilly, b.1593; Arthur Rous Russhe, b.1564. English names with four elements are so rare in period that I would consider the usage a "weirdness," costing a submitter the benefit of the doubt; and English names with five elements ...I must consider over the edge of acceptability. (Catherine Elizabeth Holly Winthrop of Lincolnshire, July, 1992, pg. 18)
[Tamás of Midian] The land of Midian is mentioned only in Exodus (Moses married a princess of Midian), and does not seem to have still existed by the time of Christ, when Thomas came into use as a name --- much less by medieval times, when the latter was modified by the Magyars to Tamás. As Lord Green Anchor notes, Rule III.2 requires multi-cultural names to show "regular contact between the cultures." While one might argue some contact (albeit one-way) between, say, Old English and Middle English, that argument cannot hold between the Sinai, c.1200 BC, and Hungary, c.1000 AD. These are as culturally incompatible as Aztec and Viking, and may not be used in this manner. (Tamás of Midian, July, 1992, pg. 23)
Pending a full discussion of Irish patronymics (called for in last month's LoAR cover letter), I am taking the grammatically correct route: female names should use the female patronymic particle. (Briana Nig Uidhir, August, 1992, pg. 3)
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We have no evidence of regular period contact between Russia ...and Cornwall (Fiona Morwenna Seaborne, August, 1992, pg. 4)
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)
According to Lord Palimpsest, [in Irish Gaelic] while the particle Ó prefixes an h to the following vowel, ni does not. (Caitriona Keavy ni Ainle, September, 1992, pg. 4)
[Kara of Kirriemuir] The given name was submitted as Kara, documented as a Russian diminutive of Karina. However, no evidence was presented for the period Russian/Scots interaction such a name would require [the first name was converted to a Latin name with a similar sound]. (Cara of Kirriemuir, September, 1992, pg. 30)
[Arianna Gunnarsdottir] The Italian given name does not seem compatible with the Old Norse patronymic. Per Rule III.2, we need evidence of period Old Norse/Italian interaction before we can register this name. (Arianna Gunnarsdottir, September, 1992, pg. 43)
Stormsinger doesn't appear to be a valid period byname; it smacks too much of fantasy, rather than history. We need some documentation for the name, or at least for similar names. (Dielle Stormsinger, September, 1992, pg. 43)
The use of the Russian given name with the Irish patronymic violates our requirements for cultural contact, as outlined in Rule III.2. We need some evidence of period interaction between Russia and Ireland. (Akilina O'Cinndeargain, October, 1992, pg. 22)
[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)
The use of four elements in an English name is anomalous (a "weirdness"), costing the submitter the benefit of the doubt (LoAR of July 92, p.18); it's permissible only if there are no other problems with the name. (Aric Thomas Percy Raven, October, 1992, pg. 30)
[Susanna Elizabeth Marie Wiegner von Kassel] With five name elements in three languages, we require some documentation that this is acceptable period style. Presumably (because of the locative) the primary language is German, so any resubmission should address period German naming style: are there period examples of German names with five elements? Without such examples, I must rule as I did for English names (LoAR of July 92) and Italian names (Sept 92), and disallow German names of five or more elements. (Susanna Elizabeth Marie Wiegner von Kassel, October, 1992, pg. 32)
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The use of [a] Russian given name with [a] French surname violates our requirements for cultural contact, as outlined in Rule III.2. We need some evidence of period interaction between Russia and France. (Tamara Germain, October, 1992, pg. 32)
A few recent registrations have left some commenters wondering about the exact status of the College's lingua franca rules. Originally, these were simply the acknowledgement of a hard fact: that the grand majority of SCA folk speak modern English, not Russian, Saxon, Latin, Old Norse, or whatever. The principle was first expressed as a Board ruling (after they'd received correspondence written in medieval Latin!), and codified in the 1986 edition of the Rules for Submissions:
"The official language of the Society is and shall be correct modern English ...Simple particles, such as 'of', may be used without necessarily increasing the counted number of languages contained in the name. The formulaThe same allowance for of is found in the current Rules (Rule III.2.a), though not spelled out in such detail., whatever the original languages, is acceptable. This is the usual historian's manner, and therefore Otto of Freising is a familiar form, though he would have been Otto von Freising or some other more Geman or Latin version in most contemporary documents." [NR1]
Less codified, but of long practice, has been the translation of epithets into our lingua franca. Again, this follows a common historian's usage: Harald I of Norway, for instance, is far better known as Harald Fairhair than by the untranslated Harald Haarfagr. Eric the Red, Philip the Good, Charles the Fat, all are translations of the period names, not the period names themselves. SCA names are permitted a similar translation: a simple epithet, documented as a period form, may be translated into English. (We prefer to register the untranslated form, but I concede that such rigor doesn't always serve our clients' best interests.)
The use of lingua franca translation is extended only to single, simple descriptives. Given names, for instance, may not normally be translated into their putative meaning: e.g. Bear may not be used as a given name, even though it's the lingua franca translation of the given name Björn. Placenames, hereditary surnames, and bynames from different languages (e.g. French and German) likewise don't fall under the lingua franca allowance.
The English translation should be chosen to minimize any intrusive modernity: e.g. the Old Norse byname kunta is better translated as "wench" than as the intrusive "bimbo". (Well, actually, neither of those is exactly right, but there may be children reading.) Period terms are always preferable, but when necessary, we will translate documented period epithets into the Society's common tongue. That seems to be the best compromise between the needs of authenticity and ease of use. (28 March, 1993 Cover Letter (January, 1993 LoAR), pp. 2-3)
In asking commenters to present documentation on Gaelic patronymics (LoAR cover letter of 3 Aug 92), I'd hoped to reach a final synthesis based on research. Results of that research to date have supported our current policy: that, for purely Gaelic patronymics, masculine constructions should not be used in female names. (A handful of examples were offered of female names in masculine constructions --- but they all seem to be anglicized forms, not pure Gaelic forms.) I'd be delighted if counter-evidence were presented --- I all but got down on my knees and begged for such counter-evidence to be presented --- but none has been received to date. As our current policy is based on evidence, so must any change in policy be based on evidence. (Katherine ni Cheallaigh of Skye, January, 1993, pg. 19)
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The use of the Russian given name with the French epithet is in apparent violation of Rule III.2. We need evidence of regular period contact between Russia and France before we can register this name. (Marina la Perdu, January, 1993, pg. 34)
[The name] was submitted as Caer Daibhidh, combining Welsh and Scots Gaelic in a single phrase. This isn't normally permitted, per Rule III.2.a, and has been the reason for the last three returns of their name. The submitters provided evidence (augmented by Lady Harpy) that the element caer- is found in many Scots placenames: e.g. Caerlaverock, Caerlanrig, Caer Ruther. However, in those cases caer- doesn't seem to be from Welsh; the prefix derives either from the Gaelic cathair or from the extinct Cumbric cair, and is only spelled Caer in its modern form, due to the Welsh influence.
It could be argued that, even if Caer were derived from the Gaelic cathair, the submitted name would still seem acceptable, given the cited examples. Most of those examples, though, are anglicized forms; and while an anglicized Caerdavid would be perfectly acceptable, the submitted Gaelic spelling of Daibhidh requires a plausible construction for that language. Not only must Daibhidh be put into the genitive case, but an unanglicized form of Caer must be used. The submission forms do not forbid grammatical corrections, so we've substituted the correct Gaelic spelling; the pronunciation is nearly unchanged from their submitted form. If they prefer the spelling Caer, they may resubmit Caerdavid or the fully Welsh Caer Ddafydd. (College of Cathair Dhaibhaidh, March, 1993, pg. 3)
A couple of our onomasticists have argued for increased standards of temporal compatibility in SCA names: that the English of the 5th and 16th Centuries are as culturally immiscible as Aztec and Viking, and should be as unacceptable, per Rule III.2. The College has mostly been concerned that the parts of a name be compatible geographically (e.g. French and Italian); we've never been strict about the equivalent temporal mismatches. Both Mistress Alisoun and Master Da'ud declined to make temporal compatibility a reason for return. To paraphrase Mistress Alisoun, in a Society where a 10th Century Viking can sit beside an Elizabethan lady at a feast, temporal requirements probably aren't worth the grief. Moreover, some names changed very little over time, in any given country (the modern English John hasn't changed in half a millennium); temporal problems are thus more difficult to demonstrate than geographic problems.
I've no intention of completely overturning the policy of my predecessors. However, in a number of my recent rulings, I've ruled that excessive temporal mismatching can be considered a "weirdness", costing the submitter the benefit of the doubt. With this LoAR, I hereby make the new policy official: If the elements of a submitted name are dated too far apart, then any other anomaly in the name may combine to force it to be returned. The greater the temporal divide, the greater the anomaly: a given name and byname whose spellings are documented within, say, a century of each other will probably be all right, but a three-century divide is pushing it.
By itself, temporal incompatibility is still not sufficient reason for return. I haven't yet been faced with a case so extreme (a couple of millennia, say) to require a return; our worst instance of temporal mismatch (Tamas of Midian) also involved geographic mismatch as well. But henceforth, excessive temporal mismatch may contribute to a name's unacceptability; another problem with the name may cause it to be returned. (8 May, 1993 Cover Letter (March, 1993 LoAR), pg. 4)
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[Catherine of Deva] The city now called Chester ceased to be called Deva around the time of the birth of Christ; the use of the latter with the name of a 3rd Century martyr is, in Lady Harpy's words, "screamingly improbable." It is, however, the only "weirdness" in the name, and we're generally forgiving of such anachronisms. (Catherine of Deva, March, 1993, pg. 9)
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. 20 (Boris Brighthill)] (Tatiana Todhunter, March, 1993, pg. 18)
We accept German/Spanish interaction, thanks to the Hapsburgs, but German/Argentinian interaction in period remains to be demonstrated (Magda Azul, May, 1993, pg. 1)
[Diego Florez Mendez] The use of the double surname is documented to the late 13th Century: e.g. Pedro Fernandez Vermudiz, 1244. It's acceptable here, since both Florez and Mendez are patronymic forms; the submitted name means "Diego, son of Floro, son of Menendo." (Diego Florez Mendez, May, 1993, pg. 6)
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The submitter has documented a pattern of use involving Gaelic names with the Welsh patronymic particle ap. It's reasonable to extend this exception to Rule III.2.a to the feminine equivalent ferch. (Mwynwenn ferch Maelsnectain, July, 1993, pg. 10)
Yiddish, from Eastern Europe, has not been shown to have enough period interaction with Irish to justify combining them in a name. (Deborah Fey O'Mora, August, 1993, pg. 9)
While we have evidence of Arabic/Italian interaction in period, Persian/Italian interaction has yet to be demonstrated. (Beatrice Carmela Mercante, September, 1993, pg. 6)
Lady Harpy has provided documentation from Socin of the use of zu in its older form ze in locatives with the names of towns and villages: ze Froberg, ze Bernowe (p. 272) and ze Tattenriet (p. 277). (Anna zu Euskirchen, September, 1993, pg. 9)
[Magnus Bjornsson Fairhair] The current construction describes the submitter's father Bjorn as "fairhair" and not himself. If the submitter wishes to be the blond, he should resubmit as Magnus Fairhair Bjornsson. (Magnus Bjornsson Fairhair, September, 1993, pg. 13)
[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)
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[Borhe Olafs] Lacking any direct evidence to the contrary, we will assume that the genitive form of the father's name [Olafr], with no suffixes or particles, is as acceptable here as it would be in English (e.g. Stevens). (Borhe Olafs, October, 1993, pg. 6)
Swedish-Italian interaction is documented in the Saga of Harald the Ruthless, the story of a Viking's expedition to Sicily: "Actually, King Harald the Ruthless didn't do so well in southern Italy because he met up with compatriots, tribal brothers. Normans from Normandy had moved down there ...even threatening Byzantine properties." ( The Norsemen by Count Eric Oxenstierna, p. 279). Swedes, of course, formed the original Verangian guard in Byzantium, and from there they sailed the Mediterranean. The Italian historian Liudprand (ca. 922-972) wrote in Byzantium, "There is a race living in the north whom the Greeks, because of a peculiarity [he is referring to their red-blond coloring] call Rusii, whereas we call them Normans, according to the location of their homeland. " (quotes in original text, ibid., p. 107). An Italian-Scandinavian name would therefore be acceptable. (Sylvia Stjarnstirrare, October, 1993, pg. 10)
Note that we have in the past allowed the use of Mac with English given names. (Logan Mersc Macjenkyne, October, 1993, pg. 11)
There was some question of Gaelic-Italian interaction in period, but note that St. Columbanus of Ireland (b. Leinster, 543 AD) founded his last monastery in Bobbio, in the foothills of the Apennine mountains of Italy, bringing Christianity to the heathens living there. (Gabriella Allegra Palumbo O'Loingsigh, October, 1993, pg. 19)
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)
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