ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 2945 http://www.s-gabriel.org/2945 ************************************ From: "C. L. Ward" 13 Nov 2004 ************************************* * * * See report 2979 for a followup. * * * ************************************* Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked for our opinion of as an early to mid-14th century German name, as well as the arms 'Or, a pair of wings conjoined sable, within a bordure gules'. Here is what we found. Forms of both and occur as German personal names in or near your period: Wilhelm (1352) [1] Wilhelm (c. 1400, 1411, and 1495) [2] Wilhelm (1452 s.n. Balzunger) [3] Wilhelm (1525 s.n. Franz) [3] Ludewicus (Latin form, 1200-1250) [2] Ludwig (1280, 2 instances) [4] Lodwig (1360) [2] Lodewig (1352) [2] Ludwig (1407) [4] Either of these names is a fine choice for your period; but using both of them is not as good a choice. We have found a few examples of German double given names as early as the mid-13th c. [5], but this type of name didn't become common until the late 15th or 16th century in Germany [6]. We wouldn't recommend using this type of name without a very good reason, i.e. you are re-creating a member of a particular family which you know used double given names. You explained that you created the placename by replacing "raven" for "emperor" in the placename . Unfortunately, we don't think this is a valid construction. The name "Emperor's Lautern" reflects the history of this particular place, an existing town called in which the Kaiser established a residence. We can't see any parallel development that could have produced the name "Raven's Lautern" [7]. The placename is a fine choice late in our period. For the 14th century, the documented spelling would be a better choice. If you want to avoid the real placename, then you could create a new one in a manner similar to the way the real one arose. For example, "Bishop's Lautern" is a plausible name for a town that grew up around a bishop's estate near the town of Lautern. A 14th century spelling of that name might be [12]. If you want a placename that includes the "raven" element, then there are lots of possibilities: could combine with any generic placename element to create a name. Some examples are "raven stream", "raven stone", "raven field". We could suggest many more if none of these appeals to you. The Zurich Roll of Arms (ca. 1340) includes several arms containing wings or pairs of wings. One set of arms in the roll, 'Argent, a lion sable within a bordure gules' [13], is similar to your design in having a single, black charge within a red border. Thus, your design is very compatible with 14th century German heraldic style. I hope this letter has been useful. Please write us again if any part of it has been unclear or if you have other questions. I was assisted in researching and writing this letter by Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Talan Gwynek, Arval Benicoeur, Walraven van Nijmegen, Modar Neznanich, Jillian Saint Andre, and Margaret Makafee. For the Academy, Gunnvor Silfraharr 12 November 2004 ----------------------------------------------------- References [1] Brechenmacher, Josef Karlmann. Etymologisches Woerterbuch der Deutschen Familiennamen (Limburg a. d. Lahn: C. A. Starke-Verlag, 1957-60); Vol. II, pp. 271-3. [2] Talan Gwynek, "Medieval German Given Names from Silesia", revised edition (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1999). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/bahlow/ [3] Schwarz, Ernst. _Sudetendeutsche Familiennamen des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts_ (Mu"nchen: Robert Lerche, 1973). The represents a u-umlaut. [4] Talan Gwynek, "German Given Names 1200-1250" (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, 1997). http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/germ13/ [5] Academy of St. Gabriel Report #2874. (WWW: Academy of Saint Gabriel, April 2004). http://www.s-gabriel.org/2874 [6] Socin, Adolf. _Mittelhochdeutsches Namenbuch. Nach oberrheinischen Quellen des 12. und 13. Jahrhunderts_ (Basel: Helbing & Lichtenhahn, 1903; Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1966). See the end of ch IV and pp.107-8. [7] The oldest name we find for the modern place is or , appearing c. 820 or 830 as and as in 985 [8, 9, 10]. The modern name first appears as in 1322 [10]. A drawing of 1620 or a copperplate engraving made from it in 1645 appears to be labelled [11]. [8] "Eine Stadt mit Geschichte: Kaiserslautern". (WWW: Druckerei-Kerp. 1999). http://www.shopping-kl.de/Info-KL-Ordner/Staedte/KL-Geschichte.html [9] Schmitt, Josef. "Die Geschichte unserer Heimatstadt Kaiserslautern". (WWW: Homepage Kaiserslauten). http://www.alt-kaiserslautern.de/Alt-Lautern/Geschichte_1/body_gesc hichte_1.html [10] "Stadtinfo Kaiserslautern mit Fotos Barbarossa Online". (WWW: Computer Beutler. 2002). http://www.barbarossa-online.de/stadtinfo_kaiserslautern__mit_.html [11] Schmitt, Josef. "Geschichte 2". (WWW: Homepage Kaiserslauten). http://www.alt-kaiserslautern.de/Alt-Lautern/Geschichte_2/geschicht e_2.html. The umlaut may actually be a small instead. [12] Brechenmacher, op.cit., s.n. has 1323 as an example. [13] Bigalski, Gerrit. "The Zurich Roll of Arms: Die Wappenrolle von Zu"rich". (WWW: Homepage of Ivanor. 1996). http://ladyivanor.knownworldweb.com/zroaen0.htm. Popoff, Michel, _Le Ro^le d'Armes de Zurich_, Documents d'He/raldique Me/die/vale 9 (Paris: E/ditions du Le/opard d'Or, 1986). Here the represents an o-circumflex, while represents an with an acute accent. Pairs of wings Strip II front page 12, #126 Argent, two wings conjoined in lure sable. Strip II front page 14, #147 Or, two wings conjoined in lure sable. Strip II, front page 14, #158 Argent, three pairs of wings conjoined in lure azure. Strip II back page 3, #187 Gules, a vol argent. Bordures Strip II front page 6, #65 Quarterly argent and sable, a bordure gules. Strip II front page 13, #143 Argent, a sheep statant sable atop a mount issuant from base vert within a bordure gules Strip II back page 3, #200 Sable, three fusils conjoined in fess argent within a bordure or. Strip II back page 5, #211 Sable, a bordure or. Strip II back page 5, #215 Argent, three escutcheons gules within a bordure compony or and sable. Strip III back page 1, #381 Argent, a lion sable within a bordure gules. Strip III back page 2, #385 Gules, a pale sable within a bordure or.