October 15, 1997

Greetings unto Master Dmitrii Volkovich, Dragon; Lord Emrys Eustace, Rouge Scarpe; and the commenting members of the Midrealm College of Heralds; from Lord Paul Wickenden of Thanet, Escutcheon.

Here are the September 1997 submissions for your consideration and commenting. While this letter is certainly not the monster that last month's was, it is still rather large. The cause of the increased volume is partly the season (we always have more submissions in the fall) but it is also due to large number of folks trying to beat the fee increase. Thus, expect the LoI next month to be even larger. All of which raises the question of how to cope. My best suggestion is that you practice some heraldic triage and focus on the obvious problems. Or you could just choose random items to comment on and cover only what you can, rather than crisping yourself trying to do it all. As usual, all commentary should be sent to the Rouge Scarpe Herald, Lord Emrys Eustace, by December 1, 1997, with copies to Dragon and myself. Unless otherwise stated, all name submissions will accept minor changes to grammar and/or spelling.

Two months ago I asked you to make certain that all address changes came to me. This policy has been changed at the request of Rouge Scarpe. Henceforth, all address changes are to go to Rouge Scarpe. Please do not send them to me or to Dragon Herald.

Finally, I have come into possession of four copies of Geirr Bassi's The Old Norse Name (the SCA's standard Norse book). If you or anyone you know would like a copy, let me know. My interest is in seeing them find a good home in some needy pursuivant's library.

1) Alastair Calum Montgomery. Device Resubmission. Or, surmounting and entwining a passion cross clechy sable a rose proper.

(M) Caer Anterth Mawr. {Name reg. 6/97}

I am uncertain of how to properly blazon the rose. The original submission (Argent, a rose proper slipped and thorned, surmounting and entwined around a passion cross clechy sable, on a bordure azure six mullets Or) was returned by Rouge Scarpe for complexity.

2) Angharad Glas. New Name and Device. Vert, a cauldron Or, on a chief argent, three pennanuler brooches inverted and closed, pins in bend gules.

(F) Tirnewydd.

Angharad is in Complete Anachronist #66 (31) and is undated but all the names come from Bartram and are thus period. Glas is in Ibid (32) and means "blue, green." The submitting herald notes: Rather than the patronymics, she wants a type of byname, as if the color green was a designation as a result of wearing the color a lot. She will change to the Welsh "of the Green" meaning village commons if the former isn't acceptable. The client requests that the grammar and spelling be corrected for the indicated language and meaning.

The blazon is a bit cumbersome. Can someone clean it up?

3) Aylwin Thoraldson. New Name and Device. Per chevron azure and sable, a celtic cross and in base an increscent and a decrescent argent.

(M) Dernehealde.

Aylwin is in Withycombe (39) and dated to the pre-Norman Conquest. Thorald is in Ibid (281) as a probable semi-anglicization of Thorvald. We assume that the client intends to create a patronymic but cannot document whether he is following period practice. The client cares most about sound.

4) Blain Sylvanus. Badge Resubmission. (Fieldless) An acorn inverted Or.

(M) Ardchreag. {Name reg. 2/94}

The client's original submission ([Fieldless] An acorn Or) was returned for conflict. This resubmission addresses the original conflict and was lost in April 1996 in Ealdormere. Thus, this is the client's third attempt at registration.

5) Caitlin Ffrench. New Name and Device. Argent, a cross formy throughout sable, overall a fox mask argent.

(F) Midewinde.

Caitlin is documented as a "common SCA given name." French is in MacLysaght, Irish Names (90) who notes that the spelling "Ffrench" "arose through ignorance of the fact that in sixteenth and seventeenth century calligraphy capital F was written ff." The client wants the spelling and grammar corrected for the indicated language and meaning.

The best I can find for Caitlin is Ó Corráin & Maguire (45) who write: "The Old French forms Caterine and Cateline gave rise to the Irish forms Caitríona and Caitilín (Caitlín)." Hopefully, someone can do better than this? I find the argument for the surname to be very unconvincing as it means that later period (i.e., post-17th century) scribes made the mistake, not period ones. As she allows minor corrections, I would recommend changing it to a simple "French." MacLysaght, Surnames (115) has French. Reaney & Wilson (177) have le Frensch (dated to 1273) and le Frenche (dated to 1278).

6) Catlin of Penrose. New Device. Per pale purpure and sable, three sunflowers proper.

(F) Rokeclif. {Name reg. 6/96}

7) Cinniu ingen Chuthbad. Change of Registered Name and Device. Argent, on a fess vert between three wolf prints sable, a wolf statant guardant argent.

(F) Nordskogen.

Extensive documentation is attached. To summarize: Cinniu is found in O'Grady, Silva Gadelica (502) dated to the time of St Patrick and in Ibid (512) dated to 478. ingen means "daughter of" and takes the genitive case. Chuthbad is attested to be the genitive case form of Cuthbad and detailed explanation of the genitive case is included. The name Cuthbad itself is undocumented but attested to be "common enough throughout Society periods." She will NOT permit changes to grammar or spelling.

I could find no documentation for Cuthbad in Ó Corráin & Maguire, Woulfe, or MacLysaght. Obviously, it is not so common as the client thinks and we need some documentation for this element.

Her currently registered name is Kendra Legh (reg'd 1/92). If this name and device are registered, she wishes to have her current device (Checky argent and azure, in pale two otters statant contourny and statant sable) released.

8) Dun Traigh, Canton of. Group Name and Device Resubmission. Per bend wavy Or and azure, a tower sable issuing a flame gules, a laurel wreath Or.

(Manistee/Mason/Oceana/Mushegon/northern Ottawa Counties, MI)

Citing from Matthews, Place Names of the English-Speaking World (143-7, 341) the clients argue that Dun is an old Celtic word meaning "fortified place" which is still widely used. "Traigh" is a Gaelic word meaning "shore, sands." They care most about meaning and want the grammar and spelling corrected for the indicated language and meaning. A petition of support for the name is enclosed.

The original submission was lost three years ago and this submission is an attempted reconstruction of that original.

9) Eleanor de Warren. New Name and Device. Checky vert and Or, a cat affronty argent.

(F) Inner Sea.

Eleanor is in Withycombe (96-7) and dated to 1122. de Warren is documented from Reaney & Wilson (477) who give de Warene and de Warenne dated to 1086 and several other spelling variants but not the client's requested form. Still, this spelling should not be problematic. The client will NOT permit changes to spelling or grammar.

10) Elena de Vexin. Badge Resubmission. (Fieldless) On a mullet of eight points per pale purpure and Or, a fleur-de-lys counterchanged.

(F) Wood River, IL. {Name reg. 2/89}

This device has been returned several times. The most recent instance ([Fieldless] On a mullet of eight points Or a fleur-de-lys purpure) was returned on the 8/97 LoAR for conflict.

11) Elisabeth de Gerdeston. New Name and Device. Argent, a saltire invected sable between four roses proper.

(F) Winged Hills.

Elisabeth is undocumented. de Gerdeston is in Reaney & Wilson (185) in this spelling dated to 1204. The client requests that the grammar and spelling be corrected for the indicated language (English?).

Elisabeth is found in Withycombe (100) and dated to 1483, under "Elizabeth."

12) Evan Little. Device Resubmission. Vert, in sinister chief a sexfoil, a bordure argent.

(M) Caldrithig. {Name reg. 1/94}

The client has apparently been fighting various levels of our bureaucracy on this one for some time and begs us not to lose it again. The device was originally returned in 10/93 by Laurel for conflict. It was subsequently submitted in 9/94 (and lost) and again in 12/95 (and lost).

13) Felicia de Montcada. New Name.

(F) Inner Sea.

Felicia was the wife of King Sancho of Aragon in the late 11th century, according to Chronicle of San Juan de la Peña (19). The Montcadas were a noble Catalan family who were existent in the 11th century, according to a family tree from Shideler, A Medieval Catalan Noble Family. The client will NOT permit changes to spelling or grammar.

14) Gunther de Bohun. New Name and Device. Sable, a chevron Or between two cross crosslets fitchy and a sinister gauntlet clenched argent.

(M) Midewinde.

Gunther is dated to 1487 in the Encyclopedia Americana (XIII:547). de Bohun is in Ibid (IV:164) and dated to 1187. The client cares most about sound and wants the spelling and grammar corrected for the indicated (?) language and meaning.

Gunther (and Günther) is found in Bahlow, Dictionary of German Names (196) and dated to 1200.

15) Hawkes Keye, Marche of. New Group Name.

(Cincinnati, OH)

Hawkes Keye is based on examples of surnames found in Reaney & Wilson (221-2): Haukejirst, Hauckelegh, Havekeseye, Havekeslowe, and Haukeswell. Hawke is in the OED (VII: 24) in this spelling as a verb (to hunt for) and dated to 1548. My guess, however, is that they intend for the meaning of a bird, but it is not spelled this way prior to 1600. Keye is in Ibid (VIII: 407) as a noun (wharf, quay). The group's previous submission (Riverhawks Rest) was returned some time ago. A petition of support for the current submission is enclosed.

16) Heather inghean Moffat of the Clan Campbell of Breadalbane. New Name and Device. Per chevron vert and gyronny Or and sable, in chief a thistle between two hedgehogs couchant respectant argent.

(F) Rockhaven.

Moffat is a clan name that is dated to the 16th century or before in an unidentified source. No other documentation is enclosed. The client cares most about language and wants the grammar and spelling corrected for the indicated language and meaning.

Heather, according to Withycombe (147) is probably a late-19th century innovation and thus not registerable. The Campbells are period, as attested to by Black (129) and dated to 1447. Breadalbane is found in Darton (50). According to Bain, Clans and Tartans of Scotland (60) the Campbells of Breadalbane trace themselves back to 1440, but the Earldom of Breadalbane was not created until 1681 (and thus it is unlikely that they were known as Clan Campbell of Breadalbane prior to then).

17) Katla Rindill Asvardsdóttir. New Name.

(F) Flame.

Katla is in Geirr Bassi (12). Rindill is in Ibid (26). Asvardsdóttir is constructed on the basis of information from Ibid (8 & 17). The client cares most about language and wants the grammar and spelling corrected for the indicated language.

The client has apparently confused the letter D/d with Ð/ð. The given name is Asvarðr and thus the patronymic should be Asvarðsdottir. We do not know if this would be considered a minor change or not.

18) Kou no Ryuukyuuro Toshikage. Name Resubmission (or Appeal?).

(M) Mistig Waetru.

K is given in Papinot, Historical and Geographical Dictionary of Japan (291) as a family of warriors in the 14th century. No indication is given that it can be spelled as "Kou" (although this may just be a transliteration issue) or that it was used as a surname. no means "of" and is documented as part of a period Japanese name. Ryuukyuuro is the zokumy and based on two themes Ryz ("dragon three") and Kyr ("nine man"). There is no indication that the elements have been combined correctly (and I suspect that the proper transliteration should be Ryuukyuurou -- that is, if =ou -- but I am nowhere near an expert on Japanese names). The nanori (adult name) is constructed from two elements Toshi- and -kage, both of which are found in Complete Anarchronist #65 (15). Toshikage was also a vassal of the Shiba family and is dated to 1475 in Papinot, op cit (24). The client cares most about language and meaning and wants the grammar and spelling corrected for the indicated meaning and language.

While this is identified as a resubmission, the client is apparently resubmitting the same name, so we must assume that this is actually an appeal.

19) Kudrun þe Pilgrim. New Name and Device. Azure, a peregrine falcon argent, beaked and legged Or, maintaining in its dexter talon an open book argent.

(F) Rokeclif.

There is extensive documentation for the name attached. To summarize: Kudrun is a Middle High German form of a very common northern European name, Gudrun. There are numerous Gudruns in the sagas but the only Kudrun is found in the Kudrunliede. It is dated to the 13th century. The other element is documented in Bahlow, Dictionary of German Names (404) and dated to 1317. It is also documented in Reaney & Wilson (351) and dated to 1185. The client documents extensive 13th century trade between England and Germany. The client cares most about sound and wants the grammar and spelling corrected for althochdeutsch/middle English.

20) Magnus mac Colyne of the Clan Campbell of Breadalbane. New Name and Device. Per chevron azure and gyronny Or and sable, in chief two mooseheads respectant argent.

(M) Rockhaven.

Magnus is dated to 1093 as king of Norway in an unidentified source. The other elements are not directly documented but a rather complex argument that the name is not presumptuous is attached. To summarize: The chiefs of Clan Campbell were known as MacCailean Mor (son of Colin the Great), but apparently there were a lot of chiefs and thus the name is not presumptuous in this context. Also, the client notes that Campbells display a gyronny of eight in some form or another. While the client will accept changes, I should note that I made the mistake of shortening his name to Magnus mac Colyne on my web page for bookkeeping purposes and the client contacted me in near cardiac arrest that the name was NOT to be shortened under any circumstances. The forms state that the client cares most about language and wants the grammar and spelling corrected for the indicated language and meaning.

Magnus is noted by Withycombe (203) as the name of the Norwegian king (d 1047) from whence it was introduced to the British Isles. The Campbells are period, as attested to by Black (129) and dated to 1447. Breadalbane is found in Darton (50). According to Bain, Clans and Tartans of Scotland (60) the Campbells of Breadalbane trace themselves back to 1440, but the Earldom of Breadalbane was not created until 1681 (and thus it is unlikely that they were known as Clan Campbell of Breadalbane prior to then). The name may not be presumptuous, but it still appears to claim rank (as a Clan Chief) and thus violates RfS VI.1.

21) Marguérite Gisela du Chat. New Name and Device. Argent, a natural panther couchant sable, on a chief azure, a decrescent between two mullets Or.

(F) Shadowed Stars.

The name on the name form is Marguérite and the name on the device form is Marcharit. I assume that the client wants Marguérite but if I am mistaken, could Lord Dominic please correct this? Margaret is in Withycombe (206). The client's spelling is a French undated variant of this. Gisela is in Ibid (134) and is the English spelling of the French name Gisèle who was the wife of the first Duke of Normandy. du Chat is documented as common French meaning "of the cat." No evidence is provided that this type of byname is found in period. The client cares most about meaning and sound and asks that the grammar and spelling be corrected for the indicated language and meaning.

Assuming that the client really wants a French name, they would be better served with Marguérite Gisèle de Chat. Marguerite (without the accent) is found in Dauzat, Noms et Prénoms (416), as a saint's name. Gisèle is in Ibid (294) and undated. Dauzat, Rivières et Montagnes (129) tells us that there is a "Mont du Chat" in Picardy. I would presume that a person from this mountain region could be known as "X du Chat." While this would not preserve the client's intended meaning, it would at least get the client the same sound (and spelling) while addressing her request for a period name.

22) Marian of Heatherdale. Badge Resubmission. (Fieldless) Three annulets conjoined in fess argent, purpure, and argent.

(F) Ardchreag. {Name reg. 6/94}

The submission was originally lost in April 1996 in Ealdormere.

23) Martin of Doncaster. New Name and Device. Argent, a cross formy gules between two swords inverted sable, a base wavy azure.

(M) Nordskogen.

Martin Lenfant was a Norman archer who lived in the 15th century, according to Hardy, Longbow (121). Doncaster is found on a National Geographic map of Medieval England and is undated.

Martin is dated to 1258 in Withycombe (210) and Doncaster is found in Mills (107) and dated to 1002 as "Doneceastre" and to 1086 as Donecastre. The modern spelling is not dated.

24) Merideth ni Sionnach. New Name and Device. Per pale azure and argent, a fox mask counterchanged.

(F) Midewinde.

Merideth is the client's mundane name (copy of birth certificate enclosed). Sionnach is in MacLysaght (90), under "Fox." The client cares most about language and wants to name corrected for the indicated language.

25) Mizumori Omitsu. New Name.

(F) Rokeclif.

Mizu is a deuterotheme in surnames of the 16th century and is found in Throndardottir, Name Construction in Medieval Japan (146). Mori is also a deuterotheme found in Ibid. The combining of themes is a documented period practice found in names like Mizutani in Ibid (320). It is unclear, however, if two deuterothemes can be combined. Monitsu follows a regular formation pattern for feminine given names which was relatively new in the 16th century. The name consists of an honorific prototheme (O-) followed by a deuterotheme (-mitsu) which may simply give her birth order as the third child or third daughter. The client cares most about language and meaning and wants the spelling and grammar corrected for the indicated language and meaning.

26) Northshield, Principality of for Athena's Ring, Award of. New Order Name and Badge. (Fieldless) An owl displayed argent clutching in its talons an annulet Or.

{Name reg. 10/94}

Athena is documented as a Greek goddess and the daughter of the god Zeus. Ring is undocumented and probably considered "common English." The clients care most about meaning and want the grammar and spelling corrected for the indicated language and meaning.