ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2773 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2773 ************************************ 8 Oct 2003 From: Aryanhwy merch Catmael Greetings from the Academy of S. Gabriel! You wanted to know if would be an appropriate name for a 14th century German archer from Gorlitz. You also asked about the arms "Azure, three pheons argent." Here is the information we have found. Your name, with minor changes, is perfect. We find in Silesia in 1393, making it a fine choice for your given name. [1] We also find recorded in 1254, brothers and in 1360, and in 1419. [2] Thus, it appears that the spellings ending in <-cz> are more appropriate for your period than the modern <-tz>. is a fine name. It would have been pronounced \VOHL-f@-rahm fohn GOR-lits\, where \@\ is the sound of in or , and \OH\ is the sound of in . Your design for your arms is also good; we have but one recommendation. German arrowheads tended to be broad arrowheads, not pheons. [3] The only difference is that pheons are engrailed on the inner edge of the barbs, as shown in the image at http://heraldica.org/topics/glossary/pics/430.jpg while broad arrowheads have smooth inner edges. "Azure, three arrowheads argent" is a fine choice; we believe that you can register this design with the SCA College of Arms. We hope that this letter has been useful to you and that you won't hesitate to write us again if any part was unclear or if you have further questions. Research and commentary on this letter was provided by Talan Gwynek, Julie Stampnitzky, Arval Benicoeur, Juliana de Luna, Falk vom Weserbogen, and Adelaide de Beaumont. For the Academy, -Aryanhwy merch Catmael -- References: [1] Talan Gwynek, "Medieval German Given Names from Silesia", revised edition (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1999). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/bahlow/ [2] Bahlow, Hans, _Dictionary of German Names_, tr. Edda Gentry (German-American Cultural Society, 1994 ISBN: 0924119357). s.n. Go"rlitz [3] Bigalski, Gerrit, ed., "The Zurich Roll of Arms" (WWW: C. Boselli, 1996). http://ladyivanor.knownworldweb.com/zroaen0.htm Strip III number 350 Brunnfeld: Gules, a broad arrowhead bendwise argent. Strip II reverse number 296 Horben: Argent, a broad arrowhead bendwise gules.