Æthelmearc Letter of Intent Æ83/84
January 25, 2005 (AS 39)

Unto François Laurel pro tem, Margaret Pelican, Gwenllian Wreath pro tem, and the commenting members of the College of Arms do Ailis Garnet and Roana Cornelian send greetings one last time!

Effective February 1, 2005, we will be stepping down as Æthelmearc Kingdom Submissions Heralds. We will be succeeded by Christopher Harper, Garnet Herald. Correspondence to him should be directed to Chris Komar, ~contact info removed by editor~. Please remove Ailis Linne (Erin Childs) and Roana d’Evreux (Sara Gryger) from your address books, as we will no longer be rostered members of the College of Arms.

And now, with no further ado ... 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.

The submitters accept any changes and have no other preferences concerning the name.

Originally submitted as Angel's Keep, the apostrophe was not used to denote possession in English in the Middle Ages and so we have removed it.

Angel is a header form in Reaney & Wilson, with one Warinus Angelus in 1193 and one Ralph Angel in 1221. Concerning the origin of the name, the entry says "A nickname, from OFr angele, Lat angelus 'messenger, angel.'"

The construction is based on the pattern of <name's structure>. Ekwall includes examples such as Winelecote (Winela's cot, 1310 s.n. Wilcott), Willemscote (Wilhelm's or William's cot, 1232 s.n. Williamscot), Willametorpe (Wilhelm's or William's thorp, 1226 s.n. Williamscot), and Wilinghale Doo (Hahl of Willa's people, 1291 s.n. Willingdale Doe).

Keep has been ruled SCA compatible in the following precedent from November 2001:

"The element crest falls into the same category as keep. In both cases, we do not have evidence of that element used in a formal place name in period, though we have evidence of each as a geographical element. Bardsley (p. 216 s.n. Crest) dates both Rogerus del Crest and Johannes del Crest to 1379. Bardsley (p. 441 s.n. Keep) dates William atte Kep to 18 Edw. I, Roger Kep to I Edw. III, and Richard atte Kippe to I Edw. III. Reaney & Wilson (p. 261 s.n. Keep) dates Thomas ate Kepe to 1327 and Roger de Kepe to 1332.

Keep has long been used as part of SCA branch names. The most recent registration is Crossrode Keep, Shire of (registered November 1999 via Ansteorra). This element is effectively regarded as SCA compatible as an element in an English place name. Given the forms in which it has been registered, spellings of the element Keep are registerable both as a separate element (such as Crossrode Keep), and as the final element in a compound place name (such as Northkeep). Registerable spellings include Keep and any alternate spellings which may be documented to period (including those listed above).

Similarly, there has been enough interest in the element crest, including as recently as 1999, to rule it SCA compatible in an English place name. Unlike keep, crest is not registerable as a separate element. So, Ravencrest is a registerable placename, though Ravenwood Crest, for example, is not."

Sable, a laurel wreath Or within a bordure engrailed argent goutty de poix.

Their name was forwarded to Laurel on Æthelmearc's External Letter of Intent Æ81 (October 23). A petition of support is included with the device.

Argent semy of oak trees vert, on a pale sable three goblets argent.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the sound, specifically, a byname sounding like "Lowry."

Bran is a header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire, which states it was "One of the most popular names in early Ireland and one favoured by the O Byrnes down to the end of the middle ages and later." Mari's article, "Dated Names Found in Ó Corráin & Maguire," cites Bran to 671.

Ó Labhradha is a header form in Woulfe, who states it was "the name of an ancient family in Co. Down." Mari's article, "Dated Names Found in Ó Corráin & Maguire," cites Labraid to 845.

(Fieldless) An eagle displayed head to sinister per pale gules and sable.

His name was registered in 02/99.

Vert crusily of Cleves argent, a hare courant Or.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about the sound. Originally submitted as Byrghitta Ksiazska, we do not believe that the z and s would both have been retained, based on available documentation.

Byrghitta is dated to 1326, 1327, and 1368 s.n. Birgitta in the "Sveriges medeltida personnamn." (Follow the "Ordboken A till Holmger" link on the right-hand side at http://www.dal.lu.se/sofi/smp/smp.htm).

Walraven's article "Polish Given Names in Nazwiska Polaków" gives Brygida as a feminine given name found in Poland, and remarks "Gaelic Brighid, perhaps via Scandinavia."

Geirr Bassi gives Brílgiða as a feminine given name.

The name Brygitta is dated to 1465 (s.n. Brygida) in "Polish First Names" by Sophie Hodorowicz Knab. (photocopies included).

Given this evidence of forms of Brighid found in Poland as well as Scandinavia, and as the submitter does not specifically request authenticity, we feel that this name is probably registerable with the Swedish spelling of the name.

Ksiazka is intended to be a (presumably Polish?) locative byname referring to Ksiaz, a fortified stronghold erected in 1292 according to the article "Castles and Palaces of Poland" (http://poland.net/castles/silesia/ksiaz.shtml). Concerning the formation of the locative byname, Academy of St. Gabriel report # 2633 says the following about Polish locative bynames:

"The more common construction for locative bynames (bynames that identify where the bearer is from) is to add <-ski> to the end of the name of the city. We find the following masculine bynames meaning "from Gdansk" recorded in the 15th century: [1] Gedansky 1429; Gdanczki 1438; Gdanzky 1446; Gdanszky 1449. For a feminine name, the final <-i> or <-y> becomes an <-a>, e.g. <Gedanska>, <Gdanzka>."

Based on the Gdansk -> Gdanzky -> Gdanzka progression, we believe that Ksiaz -> Ksiazky -> Ksiazka is a plausible formation.

Per pale vert and sable, a chevron raguly on the upper edge and in base three roundels two and one argent.

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

Dyfan is a header form in Gruffudd's Welsh Names for Children; the entry says "one of the missionaries sent by the Pope to Britain in 171." St. Dyfan is also listed at Catholic Online's Index of Saints; the entry says "St. Dyfan. Feastday: May 26. Missionary to the Britons. He was sent by Pope St. Eleutherius when a local Briton king requested missionaries from the pope. Dyfan is remembered with a church at Merthyr-Dyfan, Britain. He is also called Deruvianus and Damian." (www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3005)

filius is a Latin patronymic marker in use in Wales prior to the 12th century.

Idris is a header form in Gruffudd's Welsh Names for Children; the entry cites one Idris Gawr in 632, a "magician and astronomer, son of Gwyddno Garanhir."

Gyronny of six Or and gules, a dog passant and a chief dovetailed sable.

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

Fiona was ruled SCA compatible in April of 1981 and upheld in the December 1995 cover letter.

inghean is the Early Modern Gaelic patronymic particle.

Mag Léid is a header form in Woulfe; the entry says "perhaps a form of Mac Leoid." Woulfe s.n. Mac Leoid says "some of the clan settled in Ireland in the 16th C."

Purpure, a chevron ermine between five escallops in fess and a dragonfly argent.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter is interested in but does not specifically request authenticity for 16th century Welsh, accepts any changes and cares most about the sound.

Gwenhwyvar is found in Tangwystyl's "Women's Names in the First Half of 16th Century Wales" s.n. Gwenhwyfar. The submitted spelling occurs twice.

verch is Welsh for daughter

Morwyn is found as an unmarked patronymic in a Yorkshire land grant dated to 1546 in Gairdner's "Grants in November, A.D. 1546," Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII, Vol. 21, part 2, with Stephen Morwyn, Hugh Morwyn, and Wm. Morwyn named in the document(page 239, section 85 - photocopies included).

John Foxe's Book of Martyrs (originally published in 1563; we found an online version at www.hrionline.ac.uk/foxe/apparatus/person_glossaryM.html) lists one Robert Morwyn b.1486(?) d.1558. We also found an odd genealogy page (www.whatcoat.com/bj/PS02/PS02_310.htm) citing a Robert Morwyn in 1315, although the spelling may be normalized.

Argent, a peacock in his pride proper and in chief two columbine flowers purpure slipped and leaved stems to center vert.

Her name was registered in 06/03.

Argent, a bend purpure between a raven volant bendwise sinister sable and a flame gules.

Her name was forwarded to Laurel on Æthelmearc's External Letter of Intent Æ79 (July 25).

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

Katherine can be found in Talan's article, "A List of Feminine Personal Names Found in Scottish Records," where it is dated to 1512, 1542, 1564.

Black s.n. Rose cites one William Rose c.1360, Andrew de Rose in 1440.Reaney & Wilson s.n. Rose cite Robert, Peter Rose in 13092, 1327, and one Richard Royse, Rose in 1604.

Bannockburn is a header form in Johnston's "Place-Names of Scotland," dated in this spelling to 1314.

Purpure, an elephant statant argent.

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

Withycombe s.n. Lil(l)ian says "Lillian is found as a Christian name in England in the 16th C."

Hartstone is an SCA branch name registered in 06/01.

We are uncertain as to whether or not this armory is clear of conflict.

Consider Andrew Castlebuilder, "Per chevron purpure and Or, overall an elephant [Elephas sp.] trumpeting passant proper, on its back a carpet purpure, fimbriated Or, supporting a tower argent, masoned sable." There is a CD for changes to the field, but passant conflicts with statant, and we doubt that the position of the trunk (i.e. 'trumpeting') is enough of a change to warrant a CD. It is also unclear from the blazon whether the tower is a sustained or a maintained charge. (We request a reblazon of Andrew Castlebuilder's arms.)

Also consider Beth McDonald, "Purpure, an elephant argent with a pyramid atop its back Or, a bordure embattled argent." There is a CD for adding the bordure, but it is unclear from the blazon whether the pyramid is a sustained or a maintained charge. (We request a reblazon of Beth McDonald's arms.)

Per fess embattled gules and azure, a demi-horse issuant from the line of division argent.

This name is intended to be masculine. The submitter accepts minor changes only and cares most about German language/culture.

Maximilian is found in Bahlow s.n. Max; the entry says "early Christian martyr, apostle of Carinthia, cult center was Passau; Emperor Maximilian was named after him in 1459."

Academy of S. Gabriel Report #1875 (www.s-gabriel.org/1875) says "The earliest medieval reference to <Maximilian> that we found was the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I. Some sources say that his name was invented by his father, who combined the ancient Roman names <Maximus> and <Aemilianus>. (2) However, other sources say that Maximilian was named after S. Maximilianus of Noricum, a Roman martyr. (3) Although we don't have any other records of people named <Maximilian> after this saint, it is possible that the name was occassionally used. However, we would expect to find it mostly in Germany, where the relics of S. Maximilian were located."

Petsch is a header form in Bahlow; it is also found in Bahlow s.n. Peter. Talan's article "Medieval German Given Names from Silesia" lists Petsch as a form of "Peter" and dates it to 1348-68.

Vert, a doe couchant between three oak trees eradicated argent.

Her name was forwarded to Laurel on Æthelmearc's External Letter of Intent Æ81 (October 23, 2004).

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

Originally submitted as Niamh ban Bran Ó Labhradha, the submitter mistakenly stated that ban was a Gaelic word for wife. The marker for 'wife' is ben (early) or bean (late), and we have changed it accordingly. After bean, her husband's name needs to be lenited and put into the genitive case, and we have done this as well.

Niamh is the name of a female character in numerous Irish stories, according to Ó Corráin & Maguire, s.n. Niam, Niamh. At least some of these women do not seem to have had any extraordinary powers. A previous registration of the name Niamh in Jul. 2000 says "While there is no evidence that Niamh was actually used in period, it appears in period sagas, in some cases as the name of a human being."

bean - late spelling of the Gaelic word for wife

Bran is a header form in Ó Corráin & Maguire, which states it was "One of the most popular names in early Ireland and one favoured by the O Byrnes down to the end of the middle ages and later."

Ó Labhradha is a header form in Woulfe, who states it was "the name of an ancient family in Co. Down."

Concerning the construction, Academy of St. Gabriel report # 2817 states:

"Examples of such constructions that we have found include: [5,1]
Maire inghean Chuinn I Neill, bean t-Somhairle Buidhe Mec Domhnaill
Mór ingh{e-}n Aodha mic Pilib na Tuaighe Még Uidhir b{e-}n Airt mic Eoghain Uíl Néill
Mor inghean I Briain (.i. Toirrdhealbhach mac Taidhcc) bean Donnchaidh mic Mathghamhna I Briain
Mór ingh{e-}n Donnchaidh, mic S{e-}ain, mic Maol Ruanaidh na Fésóicce mic Taidhcc Uí C{e-}rbhaill, ben Mheic Uí Bhriain Ara
Sadhbh, ingen Mhic Gaffraigh, .i. ben Cathail Moir Mic Magnusa
Sadb ingen Ui Duibgendain, ben Ghillacoluim mic Maol Muire mic Briain Óig
Grainne ingh{e-}n Még Uidhir (.i. Emann) b{e-}n Pilip mic T Toirrdhealbhaigh
Ingen Mhég Uidhir, .i. Gráine, ingen Emhuinn Mhég Uidhir, ben Pilib, mic Toirrdelbaigh Mhég Uidhir
Graine Og, ingin Ui Uiginn, .i. ben Fedhlím Ui Doibhilen
Grainne ingh{e-}n Maghnusa, mic Aodha, mic Aodha Ruaidh b{e-}n Uí Ruairc Brian mac Eocchain
Finnghuala inghen Ruaidri Oicc meic Ruaidri Caoich ben hSeain meic Taidc meic Briain Meic Donnchada
Gormlaidh ingh{e-}n Uí Dhomhnaill (Aodh Ruadh) b{e-}n Aodha mic Neill mic Cuinn I Néill
Lasairfhina, ingen Tomais Moir, Mic Briain Mic Maghnusa, ben Domnaill h-Ui Ceothain"

Following bean, the husband's name needs to be lenited and put into the genitive case. Aryanhwy suggests that in this case the appropriate form is Bhrain uí Labhradha.

This woman is the husband of Bran Ó Labhradha, and has a letter of permission to conflict/claim kinship.

Per pale Or and sable, three Maltese crosses in pale counter-changed.

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

Niccola is occurs once in Arval's "Feminine Given Names from the Online Catasto of Florence of 1427" and eight times in Ferrante's "Italian Names from Florance, 1427."

di is the period patronymic marker for Italian names.

Cristiano occurs twice in Ferrante's "Italian Names from Florance, 1427" and eleven times in Aryanhwy's "Italian Given Names from the Online Tratte of Office Holders 1282-1532."

Or, a wolf rampant sable within a bordure sable estoily Or.

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

Rafe is found in Black, s.n. Ralph, with Rafe Pott in Kelso, dated to 1567.

Woulson is found in Black, s.n. Wilson, with Thomas Woulson dated to 1563.

Argent, on a bend azure between two ravens close sable, three oak trees argent.

This name is intended to be feminine. The submitter accepts any changes and cares most about a Viking name meaning "Raven's daughter."

Rakel is a feminine given name of Christian origin found in Geirr Bassi on page 14.

Hrafn is a masculine given name found in Geirr Bassi on page 11.

The patronymic was formed using the rules listed on page 17.

Argent gouty de sang, a unicorn rampant contourny sable and a base embattled vert.

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

Vivienne is the submitter's legal name; she has included a photocopy of her driver's license.

Viviene is listed, undated but described as an "Old French Name," in Dauzat's Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille et Prénoms de France.

Vivien is a secondary header form s.n. Vivian in Reaney & Wilson, with dated forms from 1175. The entry goes on to say "Fr. Vivian, Vivien (m) ... the name of a 5th century martyr not uncommon in England from the 12th century."

Aryanhwy was consulted by the submitter and said "It's quite common in French to feminize masculine names by doubling the last consonant and adding <y-e>. In [Aryanhwy's article, "French Names from Paris, 1421, 1423, & 1438"] the document where you found Vivien, you can see these masculine/feminine pairs: Colet/Collette, Denisot/Denisette, Gillet/Gillette, Guillemot/Guillemette, Guiot/Guiotte, Jaquet/Jaquette, Jehan/Jehanne, Perrot/Perrette, Symon/Symonne, and Thomas/Thomasse." Based on these examples, Vivienne seems plausible.

Yardley is a header form in Reaney & Wilson with dated forms including Richard de Gerdelai in 1199, Robert Yerdeleye in 1372, John Yardeley in 1499.

Standard Bibliography of Sources