Æthelmearc Letter of Intent Æ81
October 23, 2004 (AS 39)

Unto Shauna Laurel, Margaret Pelican, Evan Wreath, and the commenting members of the College of Arms do Ailis Garnet and Roana Cornelian send greetings once again! It is the desire of the Æthelmearc College of Heralds that the following items be considered for registration. All reasonably standard online name articles (such as those archived at sca.org or panix.com) are fully cited in the bibliography at the end of this letter, in an attempt to keep the name documentation more visually compact.

Per saltire sable and Or, four crosses crosslet counterchanged Or and vert.

Her name was registered in 05/2002.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter requests authenticity for 16th century Scots time period, accepts minor changes only and cares most about the sound.

Originally submitted as Aiden MacLachlan, no evidence was provided by the submitter, and none was found, to support this spelling of the given name. We have changed it to Aidan to match the available documentation.

Aidan is a header form in Black, with one Aidan mac Gabran who died in 608. Aodan is a header form in Woulfe, who references the Latin spelling Aidanus and says that there are 23 saints of this name.

Tangwystyl's article, "The First Thousand Years of British Names", cites Aedan/Aidan as a "Welsh masculine" name in Appendix V - Given names from the Llandav charters.

MacLachlan is a header form in Black; the entry mentions a Gileskel Mclachlan in 1292 and a Gillaspy MacLachlan in 1308.

Furthermore, we have spoken with the submitter and made him aware of the fact that Aidan is not a good name choice for a 16th century Scot. He has said that this doesn't bother him, and while we cannot make his name authentic to 16th century Scots, we believe it to be registerable.

Quarterly sable and ermine, a tyger rampant contourny azure.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the meaning and sound; she writes "I am interested in submitting an 'Alex-type' name."

Alexandra is a header form in Withycombe. The entry notes that the name was found in England in 1205 in this spelling and in 1218 as Alexandria.

Gray is a header form in Reaney & Wilson, with one Sewyn le Gray in 1296. Julian Goodwyn's "English Names from Pre-1600 Brass Inscriptions" gives the surname Gray in 1392.

Per pale Or and sable, three mullets counterchanged.

The submitter requests authenticity for "Irish c. 12-1300s" and accepts any changes. (Her form says "Please correct our grammar as necessary!") Originally submitted as Alis inghean Máelán, we have changed the spelling of the byname from the early Máelán to the later Mhaoláin for temporal compatibility reasons, and in an attempt to meet the submitter's request for authenticity to the 13th century.

Alis is cited in 1267 and 1285 in Gaelic contexts, according to Mari's "Index of Names in Irish Annals."

inghean is the Early Modern Irish spelling of the feminine patronymic marker.

Mhaoláin is proposed as the lenited, genitive form of the masculine given name Maolán. Maolán can be found s.n. Máelán in Ó Corráin & Maguire, where it is the post-12th-century form (first form after the colon in the header). Although Máelán is only dated to the 11th century (1050, the death of Máelán, the Lector of Kells), the entry goes on to say that "From it derives the modern surname, Ó Maoláin" suggesting that the name continued to be in use beyond the 11th century, although we have not found any later citations. Mari's "Index" s.n. Maelán dates the name to 1009 (Maelan), 1017-8 (Maelan and Maolán).

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes.

Originally submitted as Avelina Deldolce, we have restored the spacing and capitalization omitted by the online Catasto.

Avelina can also be found in Withycombe s.n. Evelina, who states that it derives from the Old German Avelina and that the Normans brought the name to England where it was common in the 12th-13th c.; this spelling is dated to 1189, 1200, 1273, and 1430. Additionally, Colm Dubh's "Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris" gives one Aveline fame Raoul le pavéeur.

del Dolce is taken from the list of family names appearing in the "Online Catasto of 1427" where it occurs 4 times. In the listing it is given as DELDOLCE; our commenters concur that this no-spaces, all-caps entry probably represents an actual byname del Dolce, and we have changed it accordingly.

The submitters accept any changes and care most about the sound. There is a petition of support accompanying the submission.

Blackwater is a header form in Ekwall. The entry identifies several places of this name and says that the name is similar in meaning to "Blackburn," a dark colored stream. This spelling is dated to 1576.

Or, a quatrefoil and a chief embattled sable.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts any changes.

Bóvi is a male given name found on p. 8 of Geirr Bassi.

farmaðr is a byname found on p. 21 of Geirr Bassi; it means 'sea-farer.'

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts minor changes and changes to the language of "Donall" and cares most about the sound. The submitter's existing name was registered in 12/92, and if this name passes he would like his old name to be released.

Brion is a header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire; it is also the submitter's currently registered given name.

Bardsley s.n. Bryan gives the spellings Bryan, Bryon, Brien and Brian all in 1273. Given the i/y and o/a substitutions all found in the same year, we propose that Brion is also plausible as an Anglicized spelling of this name.

Donall is an undated Anglicized spelling found in Woulfe s.n. Domnall. Black s.n. Donald dates the spelling Donald to 1567, and s.n. MacDonald gives McDonyll in 1521.

Gilbert is a header form in Black, dated in this spelling to 1588. Gilbert is also a header in Bardsley, with one Isolda Gilberti in 1273 and one Johannes Gilberd in 1379.

Gules, on a fess within a bordure argent three mallets gules.

His name was registered in 11/97.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts minor changes only and cares most about the sound.

Originally submitted as Cera inghean Cernaich, Cera and Cernach are both early spellings. We have changed the patronymic marker to the early spelling ingen for temporal compatibility, and lenited Cernaich.

Cera is a pre-1200 header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire. The entry says "Meaning, perhaps, 'red, bright red.' Cera was one of the wives of Nemed, legendary invader of Ireland ... There were also three virgin saints of the name."

ingen is the Middle Irish spelling of the Gaelic feminine patronymic marker.

Chernaich is the lenited spelling of Cernaich, which given as the genitive form of Cernach in Tangwystyl's article, "100 Most Popular Men's Names in Early Medieval Ireland."

Gules, three eagle's jambes erased contourny Or.

His name was registered in 05/94.

Per pale vert and sable, a crux ansata within an orle Or.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts minor changes only and cares most about the sound "black + heart" - he states on the form that we may drop the 'c' but not the 'k' from 'black,' and that we may add 'atte' or 'of' if Blackhart is justifiable only as an inn-sign name.

Constantine is a header form in Withycombe; the Latinized Constantinus is recorded in 1086, 1200, 1205, 1216, and 1379.

Blackhart is a constructed byname intended to mean "black deer." Supporting examples of the type "color + animal" can be found in Reaney & Wilson s.n. II>Whitebuck: John Whitbok in 1313, John Whytebull' in 1379; Ralph Whittecalf in 1346, 1456; John Whitehorse in 1525; s.n. Graygoose: John Gregose in 1524, Thomas Graydere in 1373-5, William Grehound in 1327. In Jonsjo's Middle English Nicknames (I. Compounds) s.n. Blacklambe: Blaklambe in 1348 and Blaclam in 1358. Reaney & Wilson s.n. Hart gives Simon le Hert in 1197 and Richard Hurt in 1221; Bardsley s.n. Hart gives Thomas le Hert or Hart in 1390, John Harte in 1578, and Henrie Hart in 1599.

Per bend sable and bendy argent and sable, a bend sinister counterchanged argent and bendy sable and argent.

His name was forwarded to Laurel on XLoI Æ74 (dated January 30, 2004).

Azure, three open books and a bordure engrailed argent.

Her name was registered in 08/95. In 10/99 a previous device (Azure, three open books within a bordure invected argent) was returned for redrawing; at the time Laurel said "The bordure is too thin, and the invections need to be bigger and bolder." In the meantime the submitter has changed her preference to engrailments; we hope that these engrailments are sufficiently 'big and bold.'

Quarterly azure and argent, a mermaid embowed and a merman embowed inverted in annulo counterchanged.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the meaning "pondering and considerate".

Eldjárn is found on page 9 of Geirr Bassi. The submitter has omitted the accent.

Thoughtful is a header form in the Oxford English Dictionary. In the sense of 'Given to, disposed to, or engaged in thinking" it is dated to c. 1200 'Þohhtfull' and 1552 'thoughtfull.' In the sense of 'prudent, reflective' it is dated to the 1300's 'thoghtful(est)' and 1533 'thoughtfull.'

While we were unable to find a Norse nickname meaning 'pondering' or 'considerate' we found other nicknames with similar or opposite meanings: inn fróði learned, wise; inn spaki wise; víss knowing, wise, learned; orðlokarr word-plane, one who shapes his words carefully; inn friðsamipeaceful; inn óargi virtuous; and the 'opposite meaning' nickname gassimaðr inconsiderate man (all from Geirr Bassi). Lindorm Eriksson's article "The Bynames of the Viking Age Runic Inscriptions" gives bynames hinn málspaka the eloquent; hingóða the good.

Sable, a horse rampant and on a chief argent three crescents azure.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes.

Elizabeth is a header form in Withycombe, dated in this spelling as early as 1205, continuing through the 15th C.

Stephenson is a header form in Reaney & Wilson with one John Stephenson in 1395.

Purpure, a foxglove slipped and leaved argent and in chief three mullets Or.

Her name was forwarded to Laurel on XLoI Æ74 (dated January 30, 2004).

The submitter accepts any changes and has no preferences about this name.

Emrys is from CA 66, A Welsh Miscellany/Welsh Names and Naming Practices.

Gwynedd is a header form in Morgan & Morgan, with one Hughe Gwynedd in 1614; other spellings of the name are dated as early as 1533.

The Æthelmearc College was unable to reach a consensus as to whether or not this name conflicts with Emrys Cynedd (01/94).

Purpure, a horse passant and on a base argent three triquetras two and one vert.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter requests authenticity for Irish language/culture, accepts any changes and cares most about the language/culture.

Originally submitted as Faílenn ingean Cernaich, we have corrected the spelling of ingen and lenited the byname.

Faílenn is a feminine given name dated to 637/9 in Mari's article, "Dated Names Found in Ó Corráin & Maguire's Irish Names."

ingen is the Middle Irish spelling of the Gaelic feminine patronymic marker.

Chernaich is the lenited spelling of Cernaich, which given as the genitive form of Cernach in Tangwystyl's article, "100 Most Popular Men's Names in Early Medieval Ireland."

Azure, a fret couped argent, a bordure argent semy of oak leaves vert.

His name was registered in 04/2001.

Per pale gules and vert, a cat sejant argent pellety and on a chief raguly argent a chain throughout sable.

Her name was registered in 02/2003.

Per pale gules and sable, three snakes nowed argent.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the sound.

Katla is a feminine given name on p. 12 in Geirr Bassi.

Úlfheðinn appears as a masculine given name on p. 15 of Geirr Bassi. However, the article "Old Norse Men's Names and their Meanings" (www.vikinganswerlady.com/ONNames.htm) says "The Old Norse term úlfheðinn as a common noun is also used to refer to the 'wolf-skins' or berserker warriors."

Geirr Bassi has many examples of unmodified nouns used as nicknames: assa 'eagle'; bestill 'rope'; bjálki 'beam, rafter'; berserkr 'berserker' &c. The submitter wishes to use úlfheðinn as an unmodified noun / nickname in this fashion, but will accept changes to the byname if necessary.

Argent, a hawk close belled azure within a bordure embattled sable.

His name was registered in 07/90.

Barry wavy argent and azure, a bordure sable semy of broadarrows, points to center, Or.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes.

Mairi can be found in Mari's "Index to Names in Irish Annals" s.n. Maire, with this spelling dated to 1419.

Tangwystyl's "Names and Naming Practices in the Red Book of Ormond" s.n. Andrew gives Andreas in both English and Irish contexts. The name practice section says that the pattern <feminine given name> filia <given name> is found in both English and Irish contexts.

Per fess engrailed argent and azure, a natural catfish haurient embowed and a bordure counterchanged.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter requests authenticity for late 16th century Italian time period and language/culture, accepts any changes and cares most about the language/culture.

Matteo can be found in "Florentine Renaissance Resources: Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532" where it is cited over 1100 times.

Pesci is cited five times as a surname in the same article. It can also be found in De Felice's Cognomi s.n. Pesce: Pesci is the first variant spelling listed; the entry says that it is 'based on a medieval surname ... indicating a fisherman, fishmonger, or possibly a sign with a fish on it.'

Per bend sinister vert and azure, a dragon segreant maintaining a rapier and an arrow inverted in saltire, a chief indented Or.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts minor changes only and cares most about the meaning 'Megan the crazy.'

Megan is an SCA compatible name. Its status as such was reaffirmed in the July 2003 Cover Letter, which states "we are continuing the SCA-compatible status of Megan for now." (Megan is also the submitter's mundane name, but she did not provide any documentation of this fact.)

Mad is a header form in Bardsley; the entry says "Nickname 'the mad.' Jordan le Madde, co. Lanc., 20 Edw. I. R."

Per pale vert and gules, a dragon's head couped Or, overall two rapiers crossed in saltire argent.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the Irish language/culture.

Originally submitted as Muireann Ni Muirchertaig, Ni has been ruled not registerable in Gaelic contexts: "The particle ní was not used in Gaelic in period. The pre-1200 form is ingen uí and the post-1200 form is inghean uí. We have changed the particle to be linguistically consistent (as required by RfS III.1.a) with Líadnáin which is a pre-1200 spelling." [Ceara ingen uí Líadnáin, 10/01, A-Atlantia]

Muireann is the post-12th-century (first after the colon) header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire s.n. Muirenn. The entry says that "This was an extremely popular name in the early period" and mentions an abbess of this name (Muirenn) who died in 831.

Muirchertaig is given as the genitive form of Muirchertach in Tangwystyl's "100 Most Popular Men's Names in Early Medieval Ireland."

Azure, a chief ermine.

Her name was registered in 03/2004. Her previously registered device (Argent, an acorn vert, a bordure wavy sable semy of oak leaves argent) is to be released if this one is registered.

Her name was changed on the March 2004 LoAR to match her request for authenticity. She wishes to have the name reconsidered without the authenticity request. Her previous documentation is summarized below.

Odriana is found in Walraven's article "Dutch Womens' Names before 1100."

vander Brugghe is found in the bynames section of "Flemish Names from Bruges" by Loveday Toddekyn, dated to 1465.

Purpure, a scorpion tergiant within a bordure embattled Or.

The submitter accepts minor changes only and cares most about the meaning "House Gold Scorpion." His primary name was registered in 02/2000.

House is a household designator.

Gold Scorpion is proposed to follow the English inn-sign name pattern of <color> + <animal>. Mari's article, "English Sign Names," gives examples such as Grayhorse, Grayhound, Whytehorse, Whitlambe.

Reaney & Wilson gives Gold as a header form, with one Thomas le Gold in 1327. Under the header Golden, Hilde Golden' in 1279; s.n. Goldfinch Robert Goldfynch in 1277; s.n. Goldhawk Robert Goldhauek in 1219 and Swein Goldhauc in 1235.

Gold is also a header in the Oxford English Dictionary. As a metal it is dated in this spelling to c.725, c.1200, 1382. As a color it is dated to c.1400.

Scorpion is a header form in the Oxford English Dictionary, dated in this spelling as early as 1300.

Ermine, two weasels combattant within a bordure sable.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the meaning 'weasel.'

Pepin is found in Colm Dubh's "Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris."

Fouinon, meaning 'weasel,' is from Arval's article "French Names from Two Thirteenth Century Chronicles."

Per bend purpure and sable, a winged tower wings inverted argent.

The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the sound.

Renata is found in Morlet's Noms de Personne sur le Territoire de l'ancienne Gaule vol. II s.n. Renatus. The entry cites 4 instances of the name Renata, but gives no dates and does not indicate the gender of the name. Dauzat's Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France s.n. René says that the name derives from St. Renatus in the 4th century, and that the Occitan surname Renat is 'rare.'

Rouge is a header form in Morlet's Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille. It is also a header form in Dauzat's Noms de Famille et Prenoms de France; although there are no dates the entry says that the name refers to red hair.

Azure, a falcon striking to sinister and on a chief argent three praying mantises contourny vert.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts minor changes only and cares most about the sound and spelling of "Parion."

Richart is found in Colm Dubh's "Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris."

Parion can be found in Dauzat's Dictionnaire Etymologique des noms et prénoms de France s.n. Parin. The entry gives the Parion as an Occitan (sur)name meaning "peer, equal, companion" in Old French.

Azure, on a chevron between three peacocks in their pride Or three roses proper.

Her name was sent up on XLoI Æ79 (July, 2004).

Vert, a goat rampant within a bordure Or.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter is interested in but does not specifically request authenticity for 1200 Irish Gaelic, accepts any changes and cares most about the meaning "Ruaidri the Goat" and the language/culture.

Ruaidrí is a header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire, dated in this spelling to 1118.

Gabhar is listed on the form as being the word for 'goat' from a Gaelic dictionary (we found the Irish Gaelic dictionary, Gramadach Lexicon, online at http://www.ceantar.org/Dicts/Gram/index.html); it agrees with the form that gabhair is the genitive form.

Concerning animals used as Gaelic bynames: Mari's "Index of Names in Irish Annals," in the masculine descriptive bynames section, gives two animal bynames: Sinnach/Sionnach (fox) and Cu (wolf/hound). Woulfe gives a header form MacAncoiligh, 'son of the cock (rooster)' with some Anglicized spellings dated to the time of Elizabeth I - James I.

Concerning the genitive form of the noun: Mari's article seems to imply that adjective bynames stay in the nominative form, while nouns take the genitive form when used as bynames.

Per chevron vert and argent, two triskelions arrondi argent and an acorn slipped and leaved proper.

Her name was registered in 11/2002.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the sound.

Séamus is a header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire; although the name is undated the entry says that "This name was common among the Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland and was adopted by the native Irish."

Macpherson is a header form in Black; the entry says "...another Donald Macpherson, evidently of the same family, was rector of St. Columbia, Glassrie, 1420 ..."

We believe this name to be clear of James Macpherson (1736 - 1796), a Scottish poet of dubious distinction. (Yes, he has his own entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica.) Not only do we believe that James Macpherson is not important enough to protect, we believe that James and Séamus should be clear of one another based on the changes in appearance, sound, and number of syllables.

Per fess argent and paly bendy argent and azure, on a demi-eagle issuant from the line of division sable a mullet Or.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter requests a form of the byname authentic for 15th C. German if a period form can be found, accepts minor changes only and cares most about the meaning 'from Bavaria.'

Sebastian is a header form in Bahlow, dated in this spelling to 1457.

Wolfgang is found in Bahlow s.n. Wolf(f)gang, dated in this spelling to 1491.

von Bayern is a locative byname meaning 'from Bavaria.' Bahlow's Deutschlands Geographische Namenwelt s.n. Baien seem to give Bayern as an alternate form. A German-English dictionary gives Bayer(in) as a header form meaning Bavarian, and Bayern as Bavaria (photocopies included).

(Fieldless) A gorilla passant contourny argent charged on the shoulder with a beehive gules and maintaining a staff topped with a lantern Or.

His name was registered in 08/2002.

Gules, a scorpion tergiant bendwise sinister argent.

Her name was registered in 02/2003.

Her most recent device (Sable, a bend sinister gules fimbriated Or between two scorpions argent) was returned by Laurel in 03/2004 for conflict. This is a complete redesign.

Azure, two natural dolphins in annulo argent and on a chief ermine a brown stag at gaze proper.

Her name was registered in 03/2004.

Per pale gules and sable, two wolves addorsed, that to dexter rampant and maintaining an axe, that to sinister salient and maintaining a sword, on a chief argent an eagle per pale sable and gules.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts only a change to Norse forms if the Anglicized form is deemed unregisterable and cares most about the language (i.e. Anglicized Norse).

Thorgrim is proposed as an Anglicization of the Norse masculine given name Þorgrimr, found on p. 16 of Geirr Bassi.

Lind's Norsk-Isländska Dopnamn ock Fingerade Namn från Medeltiden s.n. Þorgrímr (column 862) cites the spelling Thorgrim in 1457, 1458, 1463.

Skullsplitter is proposed as an English-language version of the Norse byname 'hausakljúfr' meaning 'skull cleaver,' found on p. 22 of Geirr Bassi.

Per saltire azure and argent, four crosses clechy counterchanged.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter requests authenticity for 10th-12th century time period, accepts any changes and cares most about the sound.

Originally submitted as Thyri the Herbalist, we wrote to the submitter informing her that herbalist, a late 16th century word, is a poor choice for a 10th-12th century persona. Given a list of other better options, she chose to change her byname to erbewyf.

Thyri is proposed as an Anglicization of the Norse given name Þyri, found on p. 17 of Geirr Bassi.

The April 1996 LoAR states "Though period, the term herbalist seems to have come into use long after names of this construction had ceased to be at all common. Both erbewyf 'herbwife' and erbewimman herb-woman would be more in keeping with attested medieval bynames."

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter is interested in a pre-11th-century name and accepts any changes. Originally submitted as Tuathflaith ingen uí Cellaich, we have changed the spelling of the byname for purposes of lenition.

Tuathflaith is a header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire; the entry cites a queen of Leinster who died in 754.

ingen uí Chellaich (female descendant of Cellach): Ó Corráin & Maguire s.n. Cellach cites a daughter of the king of Uí Liatháin who died in 732, a number of saints, and Cellach Ua Máel Corgais, principal poet of Connacht who died in 1000.

Quarterly argent and azure, two ravens azure.

Her name was forwarded to Laurel on XLoI Æ75 (March 27, 2004).

Azure, a lambda and on a chief argent a carrot azure.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter requests authenticity for 10th C. Hungarian, accepts minor changes only and cares most about the language/culture.

Zomyw can be found in Miklós s.n. Szomjú, with one Georgius Zomyw in 1421.

Chenad can be found in Fehértói K. s.n. Sunad, Chenad, Chunad. The entry says "1213/1550 ... impetierunt Geruasium de genre Chenad..." (No photocopies of this source were provided. We will try to obtain them.)