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Greetings,
Here is the information we found about "Gwenllian verch Rhys ap Llewellyn," which you'd like to use as an early 12th-century Welsh name, and the design for your arms.
We were impressed by your research. Your name is completely correct, but it is in modern form (many history books modernize their spellings). Based on a 12th century Welsh history, the appropriate form for your period is "Guenlliant verch Rys vap Llywelyn." (1) "Guenlliant" is actually used in the text, but the spelling "Gwenlliant" would also be consistent with the forms used in our source.
Heraldry was first used in England and France in the mid-12th century, and over the next 100 years it spread into the rest of Western Europe. As far as we can tell, heraldry wasn't used by Welsh people in 1150, so your persona would probably not have had arms. However, we have made suggestions based on early heraldry as it was used in England and France. Heraldry of this period was very simple, and so we are recommending only very simple designs.
In the language of heraldry, your arms would be described (blazoned) as "Vert, on a bend argent a raven maintaining a sword sable." We recommend several changes to your coat of arms which will make it more consistent with medieval Welsh heraldic style. Based on our research into Welsh heraldry, we recommend a number of changes to your arms.
Swords are far rarer in medieval heraldry than they are in SCA heraldry. SCA people often use swords to say, "I'm a fighter" or "I'm a strong person." At the time period for your persona, merely *having* arms was a way of showing prowess in battle, since at this time arms were closely linked to fighting in tournaments. In addition, medieval heraldry almost never had animals (other than lions) holding objects. Thus, we would recommend dropping the sword from your arms.
Second, charges on ordinaries (stripes of various kinds) appear more commonly groups of three, rather than as a single charge.
Third, green (vert) is an uncommon color in medieval heraldry, especially early heraldry--and it was also uncommon for early arms to have three different tinctures.
The design, "Vert, on a bend argent three ravens sable" (Green background, diagonal white stripe with three black ravens on it) would eliminate the first two problems, and it would be a possible, but very unlikely, example of early heraldry. If you wanted to have a more authentic design, you could use
As far as we can tell, these arms can be registered in the SCA.
Zenobia Naphtali, Tangwystl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Talan Gwynek, Elsbeth Anne Roth, Livia Montgomery, Lothar von Katzenellenbogen, AElfwyn aet Gyrwum, and Arval Benicouer contributed to this letter.
We hope this has been helpful, and that we can continue to assist you.
In service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of S. Gabriel
(1) Evans, D. Simon. "A Medieval Prince of Wales: The Life of Gruffudd
ap Cynan." Llanerch Enterprises, 1990.