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This is the Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for the November 2001 letters of Escutcheon and Keythong. 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 Cnut, Hinach ben Josef, Arnbjorn Karlsson, Julie Stampnitzky, Roberd mac Cormaic, Talan Gwynek, Mikhail of Lubelska, and Ælfreda æt Æthelwealda for their commentary this month.
1) Aislinn ingen Rónáin - New name & device
Argent, a dragon passant wings elevated and addorsed gules, on a chief sable, two eggs Or
<Aislinn> was ruled SCA compatible in 8/00. According to OC&M s.n. Rónán, <Rónán> was a relatively popular name in early medieval Ireland. The client cares most about having an Irish/Gaelic name.
Name commentary
Device commentary
Hinach: I have some visual concern with the eggs. While I could draw something close from the blazon, they appear to be almost circular ovals.
2) Alexander Craythorne - New name & device
Per fess sable and Or, a sun and a glove aversant counterchanged
<Alexander> is found in Withycombe s.n. Alexander and dated to 1189. <Craythorne> is in Reaney & Wilson s.n. Crathorne and dated to the 13th century. The client cares most about the sound.
Originally submitted as <Phoebus Alexander Craythorne>, the only documentation for the first given name was Weidenham, Male Christian Names, which states it was the name of an Antiochan martyr. Without any evidence that this was used in England in period at any time, we have removed this element, which the submitter allows. However, if evidence for <Phoebus> can be found, he would like to still use it.
Name commentary
Hinach: I am able to find Phoebus as a surname used within the Foix family of France. Merriam-Websteršs Biographical Dictionary, p. 372.
Device commentary
{*) Alexander Craythorne for Brotherhood of Little Egyptians - New household name
RfS III.2.b.iv "Household Names" says "Household names must follow the patterns of period names of organized groups of people. Possible models include Scottish clans (Clan Stewart), ruling dynasties (House of Anjou), professional guilds (Bakers Guild of Augsburg , Worshipful Company of Coopers), military units (The White Company), and inns (House of the White Hart)." No evidence was provided and none could be found for "Brotherhood of Little Egyptians" following any of these models.}
Household name commentary
Julie: Has an ethnic term ever been used for a household name? I don't know if this can be registered, because Gypsies (or "Egyptians") are a real-world group and presumably protected against conflict.
3) Ana ingen Chonchobair - New name change {& new device
Per chevron argent and vert, a greyhound courant contourny sable and an owl argent}
The client wishes to release her registered name Ana of Shelmerdine, reg. 4/00, upon registration of this new name. <Ana> is grandfathered to the client. OC&M s.n. Conchobar date the name to 882. <Chonchobair> is the pre c.1200 lenited, genitive form of the name. The client would like to have the name be authentic for 6th-8th century Ireland. Submitted as <Ana ingen Chonchobhair>, we have used the earlier form of the patronym to comply with her wish for an authentic name.
{As Cnut pointed out, the owl is drawn in trian aspect and is therefore being returned for redrawing. Additionally, the greyhound's head should be redrawn.}
Name commentary
Device commentary
Cnut: Pretty Owl, trian aspect?
[Returning Counter-ermine, a frog statant within a bordure argent.] The frog is not in an identifiable posture. It appears to be somewhere between couchant and sejant. Additionally, it is drawn in trian aspect, which perspective-style drawing is disallowed by RfS VII.1.c.i. [3/94, p.14] Precedents Da'ud 2.1 under posture.
Please ... draw the [per bend sinister] field division properly issuant from the sinister chief corner of the shield and not ... draw the [charge] in trian aspect as it appeared on the emblazon. (LoAR 28 Feb
87, p. 11) Precedents Alisoun under style
... While there is not a CD between an owl close guardant and an owl close affronty ... [Gaston Trévoux, 10/00, A-Atenveldt] Precedents Elsbeth under Bird - Owl
Closest was
Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn
The following device associated with this name was registered in May of 1984 (via the West): Per chevron argent and vert, in base a falcon close argent.
CD for greyhound, CD for falcon vs owl
... The end result of this is that there is still no difference granted for owls displayed vs. eagles displayed, but there now is a difference for type between owls close guardant and eagles/falcons/hawks close. Precedents Elsbeth under Bird - Precedent on Difference
I think that I consulted on this one at Pennsic. (Drawing is done after the armory consultation is done) It looks like this was drawn halfway between two postures which, for this bird, are insignificantly different. If you want to return this for redraw, I would suggest getting in touch with someone from the Herald's Point staff, either Elsbeth (in charge of artists) or Juliana (in charge of submissions).
Julie: The greyhound is courant to sinister. The drawing of the greyhound is rather odd- its head looks more like a rat or pig.
Æ&M: The greyhound is contourney.
4) Anne Gyldenesleve - New name & device
Quarterly sable and azure, a arm embowed fesswise Or, gloved argent, maintaining a falcon close Or
<Anne> is dated in Withycombe s.n. Ann to the 14th century. <Gyldenesleve> is found in Reaney and Wilson s.n. Gildersleeve and dated to 1275 and 1524. The client will NOT accept MAJOR changes. Submitted as <Anne Gyldensleve>, we have corrected the spelling of the surname to the documented form.
A possible conflict was called against Huldah von Jal (reg 10/71), "Per chevron sable and gules, a cubit arm argent, vested Or, cuffed sable, belled argent, grasping a thunderbolt Or, winged gules and enflamed proper." There is one CD for the field, but nothing for the tincture of the arm, as the hands on both are argent, and the sleeves on both are Or. From the blazon alone we cannot tell if the thunderbolt is maintained or sustained, and so ask for an emblazon check (and a possible reblazon). If the thunderbolt is maintained, then this is a conflict. Possible conflict was also called against Piedro Vega y Garcia de Barcelona (reg 8/79) "Sable, an infant's dexter arm couped at the shoulder Or, holding an apple proper." There is one CD for the field, but the tincture of the glove in Anne's device may not alone be enough for another CD. Again, the blazon is indeterminate as to whether the apple is maintained or sustained.
{The device does not conflict with Nicole, Wilhelm, or Ursula (see Cnut). In each case, there is one CD for the field, and another for the tincture of the arm (proper, which is argent vs. Or).}
Name commentary
Device commentary
Cnut: Is the submitter aware that this blazon is actually gyldenglove? The term vesting refers to the sleeve. The image of the Arms of Tremayne in the online Parker under arm clearly show this. ( http://www04.u-page.so-net.ne.jp/ta2/saitou/ie401/Jpglossa.htm#016)
Blazon the charge "an arm vested of a maunch"; the sleeve is more commonly empty. (KFW, 16 Jun 76 16], p. 10) Precedents Karina under arm
Does she want Quarterly sable and azure, an arm embowed fesswise vested Or gloved argent maintaining a falcon close Or?
Nicole Sinclair
The following badge associated with this name was registered in November of 1989 (via the Outlands): (Fieldless) An arm embowed proper, vested and maintaining palewise a rose sable, slipped and leaved vert, seeded and barbed of five crosses crosslet fitchy Or. CD for fieldless, CD for tincture vs vested Or , CD for tincture vs vested argent if the vested sable provides at least half of the arm's tincture, otherwise conflict
"[There is] nothing for the difference between Caucasian proper and argent." (LoAR 8/91 p.21). Precedents Da'ud 1.2 under Proper
Huldah von Jal
The following badge associated with this name was registered in October of 1971: Per chevron sable and gules, a cubit arm argent, vested Or, cuffed sable, belled argent, grasping a thunderbolt Or, winged gules and enflamed proper. CD for field, CD for tincture vs the vested argent or vested Or depends on the depiction of the arm. The "cuffed" seems to imply that the Or predominates CD if the thunderbolt is sustained, not maintained.
Wilhelm von Armfelt
Either the name or the following device associated it (or both) were registered in August of 1976: Per chevron vert and gules, a dexter arm embowed erased at the shoulder, fist clenched, armed argent. CD for field, CD for tincture vs the vested Or blazon. Conflict vs the vested argent version
Ursula von Bremen
The following device associated with this name was registered in November of 2000 (via Atlantia): Quarterly gules and pean, an armored arm fesswise embowed maintaining a rose argent slipped and leaved vert. CD for field, CD for tincture vs the vested Or blazon. Conflict vs the vested argent version
Piedro Vega y Garcia de Barcelona
Either the name or the following device associated it (or both) were registered in August of 1979: Sable, an infant's dexter arm couped at the shoulder Or, holding an apple proper. CD for field, CD for tincture vs the vested argent version. CD if the apple is sustained, not maintained. Possible CD for posture of the infant's arm.
5) Brendoken, Barony of - Branch device resubmission
Per pale vert and sable, an eight-pointed mullet within a laurel wreath Or
Name reg. 05/01
The clients' identical previous submission was returned by Laurel on 5/01 for conflict with the Shire of Champclair, "Per fess azure and vairy Or and azure, in chief a sun within a laurel wreath Or." The clients have received a letter of permission to conflict from Champclair.
Device commentary
Julie: The charge is the emblazon is simply an eight-pointed star, not a compass star.
6) Eiríkr häggvandi Ivarrson - New name {& device
Per fess dovetailed gules and sable, a lambsplitter and a bull's head cabossed counterchanged}
Both <Eiríkr> and <Ívarr> are found in the Landnámabók, according to Geirr Bassi, and <Ívarsson> is the correct patronym, according to same. <Häggvandi>, meaning 'hewer' or 'herdsman' is also found in the Landnámabók, though it is not found in Geirr Bassi. The client cares most about having a Viking name for someone from Orkney Island, and he would like an authentic 7th century Norse name. He will NOT accept MAJOR changes. Submitted as <Eiríkr Ivarrson Häggvandi>, we have corrected the spelling of the patronym, corrected the order of the bynames, and decapitalized the descriptive nickname.
{The device is being returned because it is color on color. Additionally, there is no evidence that lambsplitters are appropriate heraldic charges; they have never been registered before, and hence any first registration of such a charge must be accompanied with documentation for its suitability.
Name commentary
Device commentary
Cnut: Document the name and the shape of the lambsplitter? Re-blazon it as a cleaver? (catalogued under sword in online ordinary)
... as this would be the defining use of the charge, we would like to see evidence that this depiction of a waterwheel is a reasonable one for use in armory. [Conz von Talstadt, 10/99, R-Ealdormere] Precedents Elsbeth under Charge - Miscellaneous
... Most of the cleavers shown in period documents (including Jost Amman's Ständebuch, cited in the LOI) have a massive, square blade. The sole exception was the submitter's source, Workers in the Mendel Housebook by the Nuremburg Masters, c.1436: it showed a cleaver similar (though not identical) to that in this submission. However, the documented cleaver had a proportionately broader blade, with a smaller notch, than the submitted emblazon; and we note that even a misshapen cleaver is more readily identified when shown in a butcher's hand, in the process of hacking meat. We suggest the submitter use a more standard form of cleaver when he resubmits. (Erich Küchengehilfe, May, 1993, pg. 16) Precedents Bruce under cleaver
Not conflict checked due to the color on color and the questions about the lambsplitter.
7) Éva inghean uí Dochartaigh - Device resubmission
Pean, a lion rampant, a bordure embattled Or
Name reg'd 09/01
The client's previous submission, "Pean, a lion rampant Or, a bordure embattled gules," was returned by Rouge Scarpe in 05/01 for contrast problems. This submission fixes those problems.
Device commentary
Arnbjorn: The device is fine, barring comflict. A very good Northshield device. Is the Name registered or in the commenting pipeline? There's no note informing us if the name is registered or was submitted earlier.
Roberd: No conflicts, although there are several with only two CDs; not surprising, considering the proliferation of heraldic lions.
8) Eyja þursasprengir - New name & device
Azure, on a bend nebuly between two foxes passant contourny Or, three roses gules
Both elements are found in Geirr Bassi, <Eyja> as a feminine name, and <þursasprengir> as a byname meaning "giant-destroyer." The client is interested in having an authentic 10th century Icelandic name. She will NOT accept MAJOR changes. Submitted as <Eyja Þursasprengir>, we have corrected the capitalization of the byname.
Name commentary
Device commentary
Cnut: Shouldn't the bumps be opposite the dents in nebuly?
Closest - Nikolai of Everworry
Either the name or the following device associated it (or both) were registered in December of 1975: Azure, on a bend nebuly Or a rose sable, barbed and seeded proper. CD for secondary group, CD tincture and number of tertiary group
9) Halldor Rauthbjorn - New badge
[Fieldless] A castle argent issuing from the back of a bear passant guardant gules
Name reg. 10/91
Badge commentary
10) Húnthjófr froskr - New device
Vert, a battleaxe, on a chief argent, three foxes courant vert
Name reg. 09/00
Device commentary
Æ&M: This name was registered 9/00 as Húnthjófr froskr (rising accents over u and o in first name, lower-case f in second.)
11) Jacinthe Ritchie - New device
Purpure, a saltire argent, overall a lacy knot Or
Name reg. 04/98
Device commentary
Julie: Most of the knot is on the argent saltire. I'm not sure if this has acceptable contrast.
12) Máel Pátraic mac Domnaill - New name
<Máel Pátraic> is a header in OC&M who note such forms as <Gilla Pátraic> and <Máel Pátraic> being used instead of <Pátraic> alone in period, as the name was considered too holy for use by regular people. <Domnall> is found in OC&M s.n. Domnall and dated to 566; <Domnaill> is the appropriate genitive form. The client cares most about having an Irish name and would like the name to be authentic. Submitted as <Máel Pátraic Macdomnall>, we have corrected the grammar and capitalization of the patronym.
Name commentary
Julie: The patronymic should be <mac Domnaill>. See http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/irish100/
{*) Malise of Glencoe - New name
According to Woulfe s.n. Mac Maoilíosa, <Malise> is a Scottish Anglicization of the surname. This name therefore has no given name, and must be returned so that this problem can be remedied. There is, also, no evidence that <Malise> is a period Anglicization.}
Name commentary
Julie: <Malise> is a masculine name.
13) Matthew Smallwood - New name & device
Sable, a fret Or within a bordure Or pellety
<Matthew> is found in Withycombe s.n. Matthew and dated to the 12th-14th centuries. <Smallwood> is intended to mean "dweller by the small wood" and is found in several spellings in Hanks and Hodges, Surnames, p. 415: <Smallwud> 1220, <de Smalwode> 1332, and <Smalwoode> 1401. Reaney & Wilson also have <Smallwood> as a header spelling. The client cares most about meaning.
Name commentary
Device commentary
Cnut:
The pellety doesn't extend to the fret.
Sable, a fret and on a bordure Or a semy of pellets?
Sable, a fret and on a bordure Or pellety?
Clear
Æ&M: The existing blazon implies that the seme is also on the fret. Suggested reblazon: "Sable, a fret Or within a bordure Or seme of pellets."
14) Middle, Kingdom of - New badge
Argent, on a pale gules two axes Or
Name reg. 1974 or before
The badge is intended for the thrown weapons marshallate.
Badge commentary
Cnut: Argent, on a pale gules two axes Or. Palewise is the default for axes. Clear
15) Northshield, Principality of for Irendon Herald - New heraldic title
<Iren> is found in Mills, s.n. Acton, with <Irenacton> dated to 1248. <Don> is found in ibid under Blaydon, dated to 1340. The meaning of <Irendon> is intended to be "iron hills." The clients care most about meaning and English language/culture. The title is intended for use by the central deputy to the Polaris Herald. We are unsure if "iron hills" is an appropriate place name, but if it is, naming a heraldic title after it should not be a problem.
{To Roberd: My best guess for pronunciation would be \EYE-ren-don\. But don't quote me on that.}
Name commentary
Arnbjorn: As someone who enjoys the Iron Range of Northern MN & NW Ontario, I find the name to be fitting and the documentation appears to be in order.
Roberd: I have no resources to research this. I am curious about its proposed pronounciation, however.
{*) Oakengates, Proto-Incipient Shire of - New group name & device
Per pall argent, gules, and sable, two trees argent and in chief a laurel wreath vert
A branch must have at least Incipient status before it can register either a name or armory.
This does not conflict with Wastekeep, with one CD for the field, and one for changing half the type of primary charges; there is a CD between a tree blasted and eradicated and a normal tree, as this one is. In this instance, it is not appropriate to invoke X.3, as this is for simple armory as defined by X.2. Wastekeep's armory is not simple, as there is more than one type of charge in the primary charge group.}
Name commentary
Device commentary
Cnut: This is a single primary charge group, not a primary and in chief a secondary.
Per pall argent, gules and sable, a laurel wreath vert and two trees argent.
Given the field division and tinctures, one and two would be the assumed arrangement.
Wastekeep, Barony of
The following device associated with this name was registered in February of 1981 (via the West): Per pall Or, argent and azure, a laurel wreath vert, a tree blasted and eradicated sable, and a grey granite tower proper.
Elephants proper are gray, which is treated the same as stone (gray) and natural dolphins (also gray) for purposes of contrast, as a metal. (Ekatarina Iadoroyna Kharlampieva, 7/96 p. 2) Precedents Jaelle under Proper
[oak trees vs trees blasted] Precedent has been mixed, but there was in period a distinction between a tree and tree blasted. Therefore, we are ... granting a CD between a tree and a tree blasted, giving this submission the necessary second CD. (Wolfgang Schwarzwald, 2/98 p. 4) Precedents Jaelle under tree
CD for field tincture, No CD for changing one third of the primary group's tincture. Arguable CD for significantly changing two thirds of primary group's type.
Ignore the existence of the Laurel Wreaths per RfS X.3
Per pall argent, gules and sable, in base two trees argent. Per pall Or, argent and azure, in base a tree blasted and eradicated sable, and a grey granite tower proper.
CD for field tincture, CD for changing half of the primary group's tincture. CD for changing half of primary group's type.
16) Orsina dalla Stava - New name
The name is documented by S. Gabriel report #2366 (http://www.s-gabriel.org/2366). <Orsina> is found in Florence in 1492, according to that report, and <dalla Stava> is found in 14th century Venice. References are Arval Benicoeur's "Feminine Given Names from the Online Catasto of Florence of 1427" ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/catasto), and Arval & Talan's "Fourteenth Century Venetian Personal Names" ( http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/venice14/). The client cares most about the meaning (but does not disclose what the meaning is, except to state that it is "personal" and she would prefer something similar) and would like an authentic 14th-15th century Italian Renaissance name.
Name commentary
17) Otto Helmsmid - New name & device
Gules, an amphisbaena nowed between three anvils Or
<Otto> is from Bahlow, p. 370 German ed, and dated to the 10th century. <Helmsmid> is in ibid s.n. Helmschmied, and dated to 1338. The client cares most about meaning, (being an armorer, Helmsmid [helm smith] seemed appropriate) and would like an authentic 12th-13th century name for a German armorer.
The client's previous device submission, "Argent, a bickern sable surmounted and enfiled with an amphisbaena gules" was returned by Rouge Scarpe on 4/01 for lack of a registered name, redrawing, and conflict with Richard of Black Iron, "Argent, a single-horned anvil reversed sable enflamed proper." The client has opted for a variation on his original theme.
{To Hinach: You'll note that <Helmschmied> is indeed the appropriate modern form of the name. However, German, like all languages, changed over the years and modern spellings are not always appropriate medieval spellings. In this case, since we have an example of <Helmsmid> dated to 1338, I don't see any reason to change the name to the modern form.}
Name commentary
Hinach: Otto is a fairly common name among German nobility; four were Holy Roman Emperors. Merriam-Websteršs Biographical Dictionary, p. 790.
Looking in a German dictionary, I find scmeid rather than smid for a smith. Pocket Oxford-Duden German Dictonary, pp. 681 and 695. Therefore Helmschmeid seems more plausible for the surname.
Device commentary
18) Pypa de Tintagel - New name
<Pypa> is found in Reaney and Wilson s.n. Pipe as a feminine given name and dated to 1260. <Tintagel> is found in The American Guide to Britain, p. 229 and is dated as a place to 1145, although it is not clear if the place had this name at that time. The client cares most about sound and wants an authentic 14th century English name. Submitted as <Pypa of Tintagel>, we have replaced the preposition with a more authentic form.
We request the help of the College in finding better documentation for <Tintagel>.
Name commentary
Julie: For an authentic 14th-century locative name, it would be better to use "de" or else omit the preposition altogether.
19) Quene of Mercia - Device resubmission
Azure, an estoile of eight points and on a chief wavy argent, three roses gules barbed and seeded argent
Name on the 09/01 MK ELoI
The client's previous submission was returned by Rouge Scarpe on 9/01 for conflict with Branwen Ottersby, "Azure, an estoille of eight rays and on a chief argent, three gouttes azure," and for redrawing of the chief. The client redrew the chief and made it wavy instead of plain, giving the necessary second CD and removing the conflict.
Device commentary
Cnut: Branwen Ottersby
The following device associated with this name was registered in December of 1994 (via the Outlands):
Azure, an estoile of eight rays and on a chief argent three gouttes azure. CD for line of chief, CD for type of tertiary
RfS X.4.j.ii.(c): Armory that has an uncharged primary charge group and a peripheral ordinary charged with a group of identical charges is a simple case.
The estoille is uncharged, the chief is a peripheral ordinary and the roses are identical. Clear.
Julie: This is clear of Branwen Ottersby (Azure, an estoille of eight rays and on a chief argent, three gouttes azure), with one CD for the complex line of the chief and a second for changing the type and color of the tertiaries.
Æ&M: The client has changed the chief to a chief wavy, thus clearing the previous conflict.
20) Rebekah ferch Anna - New name & device
Per pale vert and azure, two horses salient addorsed, and on a chief argent, an ivy vine vert
<Rebekah> is found in Withycombe s.n. Rebecca, who says that is was used by Jews but not used by Christians very much before the Reformation. It is also the client's modern given name. Both <Anna> and <verch> are found in Tangwystyl's "Simple Guide to Constructing 16th Century Welsh Names," which also says that it is "extremely rare, although not unheard-of, for a mother's name to be used."
Name commentary
Julie: A Simple Guide to Constructing 16th Century Welsh Names says that it is "extremely rare, although not unheard-of, for a mother's name to be used." This article gives the spelling "verch" for the word meaning "daughter of."
I don't know if any form of Rebecca would have been used in Wales. In England, "Rebecca" is the most usual spelling. The spelling "Rebecka" is dated to 1600 at http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/Transcriptions/DUR/DSN.html "Rebeccah" is also dated to 1600 at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/chesham/chesham-feminine.html
Device commentary
{*) Rhys ab Idwal - New badge
Per pale azure and sable, a plate.
This conflicts with Edwin Bersark (reg 1/73) "Gules, a roundel so drawn as to represent a round shield battered in long and honourable service, argent," and Erryk Blackwork (reg 1/73), "Per bend sinister sable and gules, a plate." In both cases, there is only one CD for the field.}
Badge commentary
Cnut: Edwin Bersark
Either the name or the following device associated it (or both) were registered in January of 1973:
Gules, a roundel so drawn as to represent a round shield battered in long and honourable service, argent. CD for field. Conflict
Erryk Blackwolf
Either the name or the following badge associated it (or both) were registered in June of 1973: Per bend sinister sable and gules, a plate. CD for field. Conflict
Rhys ab Idwal
The following device associated with this name was registered in February of 2000 (via the Middle): Per pale azure and sable, on a plate a wolf salient sable. CD for tertiary, assumed permission to conflict with himself.
Hinach: I like the simplicity of the badge. While the white circle stands out, can one easily distinguish between the blue and the black background? Probably this would be OK with the Crayola colors, but could have problems with normal limits of coloring.
Æ&M: Badge: Conflict with Erryk Blackwolf (reg. 6/73) "Per bend sinister sable and gules, a plate." There is one CD for changing the field.
FYI: There is no "Rhys ap Idwal" registered. There is a "Rhys ab Idwal" (reg. Feb 2000) with the device "Per pale azure and sable, on a plate a wolf salient sable". We are assuming that this is the client.
21) Roana of Brigeford - New device
Vert, on a chevron between three ferrets sejant erect Or, five pawprints sable
Name reg'd 05/98
Device commentary
22) Rokeclif, Shire of - New group badge
[Fieldless] A cattail slipped and leaved proper
Name reg. 02/97
This is intended to be a general populace badge.
Badge commentary
Arnbjorn: Lord Anders recoginzed the cattail from when he drew the group device. Barring conflict, it should pass.
Roberd: No conflicts found.
23) Roscelin Cameron - New name & device
Azure, on a chevron invected between three sea unicorns argent, five mullets vert
<Roscelin> is found in Bardsley s.n. Rosling and dated to 1273. <Cameron> is dated to 1421 in Reaney & Wilson s.n. Cameran and dated to 1454 in Black, p. 128. The client would like an authentic 14th-15th century Lowland Scottish name. She will NOT accept MAJOR changes.
<Roscelin> is a masculine name, but the client did not specify that she wanted a feminine name, so we are sending this up as is.
Name commentary
Julie: Roscelin is a masculine name. R&W would have said if any of their citations were feminine. It's not included in Talan's article. I can't say for sure that it was never feminine, but it's definitely primarily masculine.
Device commentary
24) Sofya Chiusdkaya Smolnyanina - New name & device
Gules, in chevron three trees blasted and eradicated argent and in chevron inverted three bears rampant Or
Paul's Dictionary of Russian Names p. 338 has <Sofia> dated to 1396; <Sofya> is a different way of transliterating the same name and is more compatible with the transliteration used for the other elements. <Chiudskaya> is a descriptive byname meaning "miraculous." The masculine version <Chiudskii> is dated to 1460 in ibid, p. 55. <Smolnyanina> is intended to be a locative byname based on the locative <Smolnianin> dated 1266-1291 in ibid p. 336. The client will NOT permit MAJOR changes. Submitted as <Smolyanina>, we have corrected the typo by adding the required <n>.
{To Julie: The trees are definitely on the border, but I believe they're identifiable. Since none of the other commenters had a problem with them, I'm sending it on.}
Name commentary
Device commentary
Julie: The trees are not identifiable. The arrangement "in chevron... and in chevron inverted..." is odd.
25) Ulrich von Zähringen - New device
Per pale sable and azure, crusily Latin, a lion rampant argent
Name reg. 04/00
Device commentary
{*) Wernher Kailing - New name & device
Azure, a boar passant and on a base wavy argent, two bars sable
Unfortunately, no documentation was provided for <Kailing> being a period surname, and none could be found, nor could anything similar be found. See Talan for an excellent discussion of it and related names.
The device is being returned because the name is being returned; it has no problems.}
Name commentary
Arnbjorn: would like to see copies of the documentation, or at least provide page numbers.
Roberd: As I am the consulting herald, I will add only that the client has requested that a family historian forward him copies of genealogic research linking his family to the <Kailing> family of Waechtersbach, Deutschland. However, I have not received that research as of this writing.
Talan: In Bahlow, there is no entry for <Kailing>, <Keiling>, or <Kail>, and the entry for <Keil> has nothing relevant. The entry for <Gailing> says that the name is from Middle Low German <geilink> 'thrush' and cites instances of <Geyling> from 1293, 1298, ca.1300, 1390, and 1399. All except the last (or possibly the last two) are, as one would expect, in the north.
Brechenmacher doesn't help you either: the only relevant headword is <Gailing>, for which he offers <Albert Geilinch> 1223. (He takes it to be from an old forename.)
(translating the supplied documentation): GEIL: Middle High German <geil>. He then offers a definition. Putting his definition together with others that I've found, I think that the word must have covered a considerable semantic range: 'happy, boisterous, exuberant, mischievous, cocky, arrogant'.
He then appears to say that it's related to French <galant>, which is 'gallant, obliging and attentive to ladies; pleasing; elegant, genteel; flattering' but which in Old French was 'amusing; lively, mettlesome, bold, impudent', and to French <orgueil> 'pride, arrogance; stentation, boasting'. Unfortunately, this seems to be impossible. Both of the French words ultimately derive from borrowings from Germanic -- <galant> is from OFr <galer> 'to rejoice', ultimately from a Frankish <wala> 'good, well', and <orgueil> is from a Frankish cognate of Old High German <urguol> 'renowned' -- but the Gmc. sources appear to be unrelated.
The next line appears to give an old forename, <Gelebert>, from which surnames <Keilpart>, <Gelbart>, and <Gelbert> are derived. (This is my interpretation of what I see, and I'm reasonably sure of it. None the less, one would need to see the introductory matter to be sure.) Brechenmacher says that <Gelbert> and <Gelbart> are Middle and Low German forms of <Gilbert>. (Here 'Middle' refers not to a time period --the period of Middle Low German and Middle High German --but to the dialects lying phonetically and geographically between the Low German dialects in the north and the High German dialects in the south.) If <Keilpart> indeed belongs here, it must be an Upper German (southern) form.
The following line seems to be the same sort of thing, this time with a forename <Keilhart> as starting point for surnames <Keilert>, <Gelhardt>, <Geilert>, <Geilertsdorfer>, and <Kehlert>. So far the only instance that I've found of a forename matching these at all well is <Gehilhardus> (Morlet I:98a), of which <Keilhart> could indeed be an Old High German version. Brechenmacher thinks that <Gelhard> is a variant of <Gelhaar> 'yellow-hair', and he takes <Gehlert> to be from <Gelhard>.
The abbreviation <Kf.> is probably for <Kurzform> 'short form', though it might also be for <Koseform> 'pet form'. He seems to begin by giving <Gailo> and <Gelo> as old forenames of the monothematic type. Both forms are at Morlet I:98b, along with the OHG <Keilo>, and Socin has <Geratrudis sibi Gaila> 717, where <sibi> is an error for <sive> 'or'. He then seems to assign to them the surnames <Gail>, <Gaile>, <Gailemann>, <Gailmann>, <Geil>, <Geile>, <Geiling>, <Geilen>, <Kail>, <Keil>, <Keiling>, <Keilig>, <Keilmann>, <Gehl>, <Gehle>, <Gehler>, <Gehlken>, <Gehlsen>, <Jehle>, and <Jähler>. The <s.d.> after <Jehle> is for <siehe das> 'see that', the German equivalent of <q.v.>.
I'm not sure how he's using the <x> in the parenthetical notes; either it's a cross-reference (though in that case why use <s.d.> as well?!), or it's indicating an alternative source of the immediately preceding surname. The first one, for instance, may be a cross-reference to <Gertrud>, or it may indicate a belief on his part that <Geile> can derive from <Gertrud> -- perhaps on account of the 717 Socin example, though I suspect that in that case <Gaila> began as a descriptive byname and was not derived from <Geratrudis>.
The next one mentions Middle Low German <geilinc> 'thrush', presumably as a source of <Geiling>; It also mentions Prussian names <Geil> and <Gailemann>, but I'm not sure exactly why they're mentioned here. The third one mentions the place-name (<Ortsnamen>) <Koblenz>, but I've no idea why. The last mentions the common noun <Keil> 'wedge', which is presumably the source of some instances of the surname <Keil>. Brechenmacher agrees, taking it to be for a strong, tough, or possibly coarse man. He offers different etymologies for <Keilig> and <Jehle>, however.
The last bit is the German equivalent of <Cf. Michael> 'compare Michael', from the verb <vergleichen> 'to compare'. I suppose the idea is that some <Kail>-like forms might derive from a shortened form of <Michael>.
Note that <Kailing> isn't actually listed, though <Keiling> is. I don't think that this extract offers adequate justification for either, however, and I haven't been able to come up with any.
Device commentary
Arnbjorn: Barring conflict, it should pass
Roberd: As for his device, I could find no conflicts. As a point of interest, it is derived from the civic arms of Waechterbach (http://www.waechtersbach.de). Attempts to reach city officials there to request a history of their arms went unanswered.
26) Wolfram der Trüwe - New name
<Wolfram> was the given name of Wolfram von Eschenbach, who lived from 1170-1217, and was a German poet who is known for writing Parzival. He is mentioned in The Middle Ages - An Encyclopedia for Students, by William Chester Gordon. <Wolfram> is also found in Bahlow s.n. Wolfgang, which says that <Wolfram> was a popular version. <Trüwe> is found in Bahlow s.n. Treu, with <Chunrad der Trüwe> dated to 1358.
{To Roberd: In looking at the arms from the website you mentioned, I would blazon this as "Gules, two battle-axes argent." In many period depictions of arms, argent is often nowadays hard to distinguish from sable because the argent pigment has tarnished. If you look at the non-uniform distribution of the shading on the axes, you'll see it looks more like tarnished silver, than uniformly colored sable.}
Name commentary
Arnbjorn: Documentation appears to be in order. Barring conflict, it should pass.
Roberd: I can attest to the name Wolfram, having had the chance to visit Wolfram von Eschenbach's home village in Germany which now bears his name. The steeple, which in German fashon is painted with the devices of prominent citizens, bears his device large enough to see from several kilometers away. I cannot comment on <der Truwe>.
A point of interest on Wolfram von Eschenbach: his arms are considered important enough in the SCA to have been registered back in '94. However, the blazon which is registered is "Gules, two battle-axes addorsed agent hafted proper." All references I've seen to his arms (and I did some some in Germany that were purported to be contemporary depictions) show that the blazon should be "Gules, two battle-axes sable". From our perspective, that's a tincture problem, but... here it is: http://www.gutenberg.aol.de/autoren/eschenba.htm
Done by my hand this 2nd day of January,
Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Rouge Scarpe
Sara L. Friedemann
150 Langdon #B2
Madison, WI 53703
sfriedemann@students.wisc.edu