ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2159 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2159 ************************************ 8 Nov 2000 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked whether is an appropriate name for an Italian woman born in Verona in 1550 who moved to Venice as a child. You also asked our opinion of your design for your arms. Here is what we've found. Our sources for period Italian names are spotty, but we believe you've chosen a fine name. We have examples of and from 14th-15th century Florence, and examples of from 14th century Venice [1, 2, 3]. This isn't the best support for using the names in 16th century Verona and Venice, but we're comfortable making that extrapolation. While most people had only a single given name, double given names were used in late-period northern Italy. We don't have a clear picture of how common they were, but we think that is a reasonable choice. By the 16th century, we believe that most northern Italians had inherited family names. The byname appears in 14th century Venetian records [3]; at that time it was probably used literally by a man who came to Venice from Verona. It is certainly possible that his descendents in Venice could have continued to use as a family name, but we think it is unlikely that a family moving from Verona to Venice in the 16th century would have changed their surname to . They might have appended to their surname, and so their daughter might perhaps have been called ; but we think it's more likely they'd simply have retained their original family name and thus their daughter would be . is a fine 16th century Venetian name, but we think it is likely to have been used only by a member of a family which had lived in Venice for several generations. If you want a name consistent with the family history you described in your letter, we recommend that you research the history of 15th and 16th century Verona and choose a family name that was used then, ideally not the surname of one of the major noble families. You could also construct a family name from any masculine given name used in late-period Verona, e.g. from . The arms you described could be blazoned "Per pale gules crusilly or and or crusilly gules, on an inescutcheon sable a phoenix or langued and plumed gules rising from flames proper." You wrote that you used the computer program Blazon to design your arms. Unfortunately, that program is not designed to produce pre-1600-style heraldry. The phoenix was introduced into armory quite late in our period and was always rare. We know no example of it in period Italian arms [4]. An escutcheon of pretence had a specific meaning in heraldry. When a man married a woman whose dowry included an estate, he would sometimes display her arms in an escutcheon placed on top of his own arms. His children would display their parents' arms quartered. It is therefore particularly unlikely that a woman would have borne the arms you've designed. These problems are sufficiently significant that we're not sure how you'll want to proceed. If you'd like, we can suggest some designs using some elements of your design that we think fit the heraldic style of late-period Italy. Or you may find it helpful to read a couple articles on the web. The first is a good overview of medieval Italian heraldry: Distinguishing Characteristics of Medieval Italian Heraldry http://caltrap.bbsnet.com/distingu.htm The second is a collection of photos of Italian arms, some of which are from our period. A Heraldic Tour of Italy http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/italy/touring0.htm You can also find examples of late-period Italian heraldry by looking at a book on Italian Renaissance painting, especially portraits. Portraits often included the arms of the subject. We hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if you have any questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Adelaide de Beaumont, Talan Gwynek, Zenobia Naphtali, Antonio Miguel Santos de Borja, Julie Stampnitzky, Maridonna Benevenuti, and Juliana de Luna. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 8 Nov 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Rhian Lyth, "Italian Renaissance Women's Names" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1996). http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/italian.html [2] Arval Benicoeur, "Feminine Given Names from the Online Catasto of Florence of 1427" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1998). http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/arval/catasto [3] Arval Benicoeur and Talan Gwynek, "Fourteenth Century Venetian Personal Names" (WWW: J. Mittleman, 1999). http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/arval/venice14/ [4] The phoenix is rare in English and Continental heraldry. The first known English example of a phoenix is a badge of Henry VII. A grant to the Painters' Company of London, 1486, includes phoenix's heads in their arms and a full phoenix in their crest. Jane Seymour was granted a phoenix in a badge in 1536, and both Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots used phoenices as badges. Ralph Verney used one as a badge in the early 16th century. Rodney Dennys, _The Heraldic Imagination_ (New York: Clarkson and Potter Inc., 1975), p.181. James Parker, _A Glossary of Terms used in Heraldry_ (Charles E. Tuttle, 1982), s.v. Castle. J.P. Brooke-Little, _An Heraldic Alphabet_ (New York: Arco Publishing Company, Inc., 1973).