ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1711 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1711 ************************************ 30 Jul 1999 Greeting from the Academy of Saint Gabriel. You asked whether the name and arms, blazoned "Vert, a hunting horn proper, on a chief argent three talbots heads couped sable," were appropriate for an Englishman between 1000 and 1400. You indicated that you were particularly interested in the years when Edward I reigned. Here's what we found. is a perfect given name for your chosen period. We found the name with that spelling from 1066 to well past the end of your period of interest. [1, 2] We found your surname spelled in 1347, but this is a rare form of the name. We found other forms, including 1272, 1302, 1341, 1235, and 1327. During you period, the name Hunter had the same meaning as Huntsman, and we found 1220, and 1312. [2, 3] Either or would be an appropriate name for an Englishman during the reign of Edward I. The French was used in records of this period rather than the English ; but may have been used in spoken English. or would also be appropriate forms for later in your period. is possible but unlikely late in your period; is an extremely rare construction until the 16th century. The arms you proposed "Vert, a hunting horn proper, on a chief argent three talbots heads couped sable" are a good basic style for later in your period. However, as you note, the style would be better with fewer colors; we recommend no more than three tinctures with this basic design. We were unsure what color you intended for "a horn proper", but since most hunting horns are made of horn, white/argent seems an appropriate tincture. The iconography in your arms is also good given your name. We found these arms from the 16th century, belonging to a man named Hunter: "Argent a hunting horn sable stringed gules and on a chief vert a greyhound courant argent." [4] Note that the string is considered an artistic detail, and so its color is not included in a formal color count. The arms described below follow the basic pattern of your arms, and all should be registerable with the SCA College of Arms: Vert, a hunting horn, on a chief argent, three talbots heads couped sable. (Note that vert is a rare color in period English heraldry) Gules, a hunting horn, on a chief argent, three talbots heads couped sable. Sable, a hunting horn, on a chief argent, three talbots heads couped gules. We hope this letter has been useful to you, and that you will not hesitate to write again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Rouland Carre, Arval d'Espas Nord, Talan Gwynek, Zenobia Naphtali, and Walraven van Nijmegen. In Service, Margaret Makafee July 30, 1999 ------------------- References: [1] Withycombe, E.G., _The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names_, 3rd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988). s.n. Robert [2] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995). ss.n. Hunt, Hunter, Huntman [3] Thuresson, Bertil. Middle English Occupational Terms. Lund Studies in English XIX (Lund: C.W.K. Gleerup, 1950; Nendeln, Liechtenstein: Kraus Reprint, 1968). [4] Stodart, R. R., _Scottish Arms_, 1370-1678, 2 vols (Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1881).