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This is the Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Escutcheon's December 1999 letter. Comments in braces {} were removed from the Letter of Intent sent to Laurel and the College of Arms. Names, devices, or badges in braces have been returned or pended; general comments or replies to commentary are also placed in braces.
Thanks to Master John ap Wynne, Lady Ælfreda aet Æthelwealda, Lord Mikhail of Lubelska, Lady Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Lady Adelais de Saviniaco, and Lord Jibra'il al-Nasrani for their comments this month.
1) Adriano Veneziani--New Name and Device
Azure gouty d'eau, on an eagle displayed Or a cross fleury sable.
The client provided no documentation. However, Adriano appears in De Felice, Nomi, 45 and Veneziani appears in De Felice, Cognomi, 259. {The accents that appear in De Felice are modern additions.} Neither name appears in the various dated lists of Italian names on the Web. The client wants a 13th-15th century Italian name and cares most about language. He will not permit major changes and will not allow the creation of a holding name.
The client blazoned the bird as a phoenix. Although it's not a phoenix, we identified it successfully as an eagle displayed and have sent it on.
{2) Agnes Rose VanKouwenhoven--New Name and Device
Azure, on a cross formy throughout argent a rose slipped and leaved proper.
Agnes was an early saint who lived from 291-304, according to "Catholic Online Saints," (saints.catholic.org/saints/ agnes.html). It also appears in Friedemann, "15th Century Dutch Names" (http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~sfriedeman/ names/dutch15.htm). Rose appears as a header in Bahlow, but it is not clear from the reference whether it is used as a first name, a given name, or both. (The quote is: "domina [lady] Rose and her son, Heinrich Rose.") The client documented VanKouwenhoven to 1652 Dutch from a Web page showing a view of New Amsterdam that includes the "house of Pieter van Kouwenhoven." (conovergeneaology.com/Pages/ my01005.htm). With some work on the last reference, this name might conceivably be registerable. However, the client has said that she wants her name to be authentic for 14th-Century German, and it is not likely that a double given name or a late-period Dutch surname would be found in Germany. Therefore, we're pending the name and contacting the client.
We must return the device for conflict with Adelaide Rose von Erfort, Azure, on a cross argent irradiated Or three roses in fess gules. There is 1 CD for changing the line of division of the cross, but none for the change in the number of roses or the tincture of the irradiation. If the client re-submits, we recommend that she use a standard depiction of rose leaves; what she used might well get returned by Laurel.}
3) Anna ingen uí Reachthain--New Name and Device
Per chevron gules and azure, in chief five crosses flory, two, one, and two, Or.
{This name and device were pended on the 11/99 letter so that we could find out whether the client wanted to use an Irish or English form of her name. She chose the Irish form.} The client wants to have a 14th-century Irish name. She documents Anna from Woulfe, s.n. Anna. Woulfe includes some modern forms, and there was no other evidence that Anna was used as a Gaelic name in period. The byname mac Reachthain is found in Woulfe, 401.
{The device is almost certainly impossible for the 14th century, since depictions of the per chevron field division from this period generally show a very sharp angle on the line that brings the point of the chevron almost to the top of the field. I have some doubts about the arrangement of the crosses, but I'll send the device on with the name.}
4) Anna ingen ui Reachthain--New Badge
(Fieldless) A weeping willow tree purpure.
{Pended in 11/99.}
5) Antonia Perez--New Name and Device
Azure, on a pale wavy between two roundels in bend argent, a hurt.
Antonia and Perez are both dated to 1561 from Martz et al., Toledo y los Toledanos en 1561, no page given. {Paul's right--I forgot to make sure that page numbers were included in the S. Gabriel letter that documents this name.} The client cares most about language and culture and wants an authentic 16th-century Spanish name.
{I would prefer to use Paul's blazon, but the College of Arms has corrected blazons like this that I've sent up in the past, so I'm using the longer, more technically accurate form.}
6) Ashby Turley--New Name {and Device
Per bend sinister clovery purpure and vert, two wolves statant Or.}
Ashby is the client's mundane name (she uses an expired license to document it, but that appears to be acceptable J). She documents Turley with a vague Web page that makes references to Germany, Ireland, and England (http://genweb.net/turleycentral/ projects/surname/surname.html). However, it also quotes Woulfe, s.n. Thoirdhealbhaigh, which describes Turley as a form of this name. MacLysaght, Irish Families, s.n. MacCurley, also gives Turley as a form of Mac Thoirdealbhaigh. While there's no clear evidence that Turley is a period Anglicization of mac Thoirdealbhaigh, the client does permt changes. Therefore, we're sending this on to the College of Arms so that the byname can be evaluated and changed to a period Anglicization of mac Thoirdealbhaigh if necessary.
{We're returning the device for use of the field division clovery. This cannot be registered without some evidence that it was used in period. A second issue is that the field is divided between two colors--this is allowed in some cases, but not with very complex field divisions.}
7) Bran of Lough Derg--New Device
Or, a raven displayed sable maintaining a crescent pendant gules, between the horns a mount of three peaks sable.
{This doesn't bear much resemblance to any medieval heraldry I've seen, but it is registerable.}
8) Darius Methodius--New Name and Device
Per chevron inverted Or and azure, three elephants one and two counterchanged.
{This item was pended on the 11/99 LoAR.} Darius is not documented in the submission, but it appears in Morlet, II:39. Methodius is the name of three saints listed in Attwater. The earliest was martyred in 311; he is presumably the namesake for the other two, who lived in Byzantium in the 9th century.
This name doesn't appear to be authentic for Byzantium. The one existing article on Byzantine names that covers this period (http://www.sca.org/ heraldry/laurel/names/byzantine/introduction.html) says that most family names from this period either come from places or professions, and it does not list a single patronymic in its collection of documented names. Also, most of the given names come from saints or famous Greeks--there is no reason to think that the name Darius, probably taken from a Persian emperor who nearly conquered Athens in the 5th century BC, would be used in Byzantium. However, Darius is found in France and Methodius could conceivably be an unmarked patronymic surname for a man whose father was named after the 4th-century saint Methodius. This isn't the most likely name, but it seems to be within the bounds of registerability.
9) Giles fitz Alan--New Name {and Device
Per pale sable and gules, a wyvern counterchanged, on a chief embattled azure, two mullets of six points Or.}
Giles is a header in Withycombe. FitzAlan is dated to 1160 in "Information on FitzAlan, William" (http://www.dcs.hull.ac.uk/ cgi-bin/gedlkup/n=royal?royal30685).
{The device is color-on-color, and must be returned.}
{10) James Cam-sron--New Name and Device
Quarterly azure and sable, an arrow and a sword in saltire, surmounted by a battle-axe argent.
Unfortunately, any form of this name is going to conflict with the registered SCA name James Cameron, and so we'll have to return this for conflict. However, there are other issues with the name.
The client says that he wants the 11th-century equivalent of James Cameron, his mundane name. However, we found no evidence that James was used in Scotland in the 11th century--Withycombe says that it was not used in England until the 13th century. A S. Gabriel report (http://www.panix.com/~gabriel /public-bin/showfinal.cgi?111+0;) says that the name doesn't appear in Scotland until the 14th century, although it doesn't give the reference. However, it seems fairly clear tha James was not used in 11th-century Scotland.
The client documents Cam-sron from Scarlett, Tartans of Scotland, which says that the name Cameron is derived from the Gaelic Cam-sron, meaning "crooked nose." This source is questionable at best. However, Black includes many period variants of the name, including Cambrun, 1219 and Cambron, 1233. Later forms include Camproun, 1546 and Camrun, 1598.
If he wants a later persona, James Cambrun with an added byname would be great for the 15th century
Despite the blazon, this device is slot-machine--it includes three items in a single group of charges. Therefore, we must return it.}
11) John of Sternfeld--New Name Change
The client's current name, Ion Merefara of Wanname, was registered in 8/79. John is the client's mundane name. Sternfeld is an SCA branch, name registered 7/83.
{12) Julio Galván--Change of Registered Name
The client's current name, Giacomo di Firenze, was registed in 3/94. Julio is dated to 1567 in Coleman, "Database of Baptismal Records from the Parish of San Cecilio, Grenada." Galván is dated to 1535 in Bermudez Plata, Catálogo de Pasajero a Indias, item 1535:349.
There is, however, a problem with the documentation. I received a letter from Jibra'il al-Nasrani, a herald now living in Calontir, which describes a problem with the source for the given name:
"I am the owner of that database…of baptismal records collated by David Coleman, Ph.D. (History)…. He compiled whole years ranging from 1520 to 1600 from several parishes in Grenada: Santa Ana, San Cecilio, San Jose, San Nicolas, and San Ildefonso. There are about 2000 records total in this database. Each record contains the date, child's name, parents' names, and godparents' names, for a total of roughly 10,000 names… I am licensed to use this database, but I am not permitted to distribute it in its current form. So…the database is only good to those who know I have this resource and can ask me for help. The client's herald asked me if I could find Julio for him, after having told me that he could not find the name in any source. Below is a listing of what I found and the conclusions I draw from the facts….
1) I found one record out of 2500 with the name Julio in it. It was the name of a child's father. The name was Julio Cesar.
2) I did not find any other record with that surname in this database, and could not recall seeing it elsewhere in any book on Spanish naming practices.
3) There are quite a few foreign names in this database.
Given these facts…I do not believe that this database is a good source to prove the existence of the name Julio in period Spain. I feel that used alone, in this case, it has no probative value. It is my belief that this name is foreign, and possibly Italian.
Therefore, I recommend that unless some member of the College of Heralds can come up with another source showing that the name Julio existed in period Spain, that this name be returned for insufficient documentation."
Despite this, I am not returning the name outright. The documentation gives the given names of the child and his parents--the mother is Damiana and the father is Julio Cesar. Thus the documentation does show that Julio Cesar was a given name in period Spain. Even if it was highly unusual, a dated example of a name is sufficient for the purposes of the SCA. Thus, although I can't send Julio Galván to Laurel from this documentation, I could send Julio Cesar Galván. Of course, because this is a significant change, I am going to pend the name while we contact the client. However, if we don't hear from him we will send this name on in a couple months.}
13) Lisete de l'abbe Saint Trond--New Name and Device
Per pale sable and azure, two wolves' heads erased respectant ululant argent and Or within a bordure per pale argent and Or.
{These items were pended on the 11/99 LoAR.} Although this name is listed as a Pennsic submission, there is no Pennsic worksheet for the name or the device.
No documentation at all is provided for the given name. The byname is documented with a note that references Pirenne, Des Origines Au Commencement du XIV Siecle, which is the first volume in a multi-volume work called L'Histoire de Belgique. According to the note, this book mentions that the abbey of Saint-Trond was already well-known in the 7th century. The client explains that her source is a 19th-century history that cannot be photocopied because of its age, and she says that it uses abbe as a word for "abbey." She also says that the French used in the book is not standard modern French, which explains why the variant word is used. I spoke with the client and she understands that this source may not be acceptable without photocopies, but I have sent the name on for comment.
We can document Lisette to 1528 from Scott, "Late Period Feminine Names from the South of France," (http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names /talan/latefrenchfem).
The client's device is registerable, although we wouldn't recommend it. We modified the blazon to reflect the fact that two wolves' heads argent and Or are not the same tincture as a bordure per pale argent and Or. The first describes two charges with different tinctures; the second describes a single charge that is parti-colored.}
{14) Leolin Gofar--New Badge
Per pale azure and vert, a lion's paw print Or.
The client's name was registered in 8/99. Unfortunately, we must return this badge for conflict with Luciano Giovanni di Churburg, Purpure, chape ploye Or, ermined purple, a bear's paw print Or. There is only 1 CD for the changes to the field, and no CD for the type of paw print. There is not a conflict with Barak Elandris Bear the Wallsbane, Per chevron inverted grady sable and Or, masons sable, in chief a bear's pawprint Or. There is 1 CD for the field, and 1 CD for moving the paw print from chief to the center of the field. (Note that if Leolin's badge had been registered first, Barak's would conflict with it.)}
15) Lyneya Fayrebowe of Busshopestrowe--New Name
The client documents Lyneya from Carroll-Clark, "A Statistical Survey of Given Names in Essex Co., 1182-1272" (http://members.xoom.com/nicolaa/ names.html). Fayrebowe and Busshopestrowe are dated to 1444 from Harvey, English Medieval Architects, 105. The client would like her name to be authentic for 13th-14th century England. She will not accept major changes.
16) Marguerite d'Avignon--New Name and Device
Argent, a phoenix azure rising from flames proper and on a chief wavy azure four fleurs-de-lys argent.
Submitted as Marguerit du Avignon. The client dates Marguerite to 1292 from the Paris census. She dates Avignon to 1309 from Encyclopedia Americana, "Avignon." The client cares most about sound and wants an authentic 15th-century French name. The documentation (including the client's own summary) spells Marguerite with a final e, so we have changed that spelling. We have also changed du to the standard French de, which is abbreviated in modern French to d'. If any commenters are aware of the correct 15th-century form, we would appreciate the help.
{17) Merewyn of the Ruin--Name and Device Resubmission
Azure, four sunbursts in cross proper.
The client submitted no documentation for this name, and so we must return it.}
18) Njáll the Wanderer--Name and Device Resubmission
Sable, a lozenge fesswise per pale gules and purpure, fimbriated argent.
{The client's previous submission, Njall the Wanderer of Bork, was returned by Rouge Scarpe in 9/99 for lack of documentation of Bork. The client dropped that element.} The client claims that Njall is in Ó Corrain & Maguire, 145. Actually, this documents the Irish Niall. However, Njáll (with an accent) appears in Geirr-Bassi. Since the client cares most about sound, we have added the accent to his name. There is no documentation for Wanderer, but it can be registered as a typical SCA byname.
19) Ysenda Macbeth of Islay--New Name and Device
Sable, on a bend between two lions salient argent three roses azure.
Ysenda is dated to c. 1208 in Scott, "A List of Feminine Personal Names Found in Scottish Records" (http://www.panix.com/~mittle/ names/talan.scottishfem). The other elements are undocumented. The client cares most about sound and about having a Scottish name. She would like to have an authentic name for an unspecified culture. She will not accept major changes.
According to Black, s.n. MacBeath, Macbeth was originally a male given name. Thus, it is possible that Macbeth could be used as an unmarked patronymic in a Scots name. According to Keay & Keay, Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland, "Islay," Islay is one of the Hebrides Islands and was settled by Vikings around 800. We do not know if Islay is a period form of the name. This is not a likely name, but both the elements and the structure of given name+ patroynmic+locative are found in Scotland, and so we are sending the name on for further comment.
Done by my hand on the xx day of February, anno societatis xxxv, being the feast of saint Wulfric.
Alan Fairfax, Rouge Scarpe
Alan Terlep
92 Ridgemont
Pontiac, MI 48340