ACADEMY OF SAINT GABRIEL REPORT 1940 http://www.s-gabriel.org/1940 ************************************ 7 Feb 2000 From: (Josh Mittleman) Greetings from the Academy of Saint Gabriel! You asked whether is an appropriate name for a 12th or early 13th century man of Welsh and Norman descent. You also asked our opinion of your designs for your arms, "Argent, two chevronels gules" and "Bendy argent and gules, within a bordure azure, platy." Here is what we have found. Your name is perfect for a slightly later period, and almost perfect for your period. and were both common in your period. The spelling appears to have been less common, but we did find an example just after your period, 1260. The form , however, didn't develop until somewhat later than your period. In the 12th century, the equivalent name would probably have been . It might also have been written in Latin, . In both versions, the in could have been omitted [1, 2]. Your first design for your arms, two red chevrons one above the other on a white field, is an exemplary re-creation of early Norman heraldry. Unfortunately, you can't register it in the Society: It is too similar to the registered arms of Caitlin Stuart "Argent, two chevronels gules, overall a dragon passant sable, gorged of a crown embattled, dependent therefrom a chain Or" [3]. Since you mentioned that you created this design as a variant of the Fitzgerald arms "Argent, a saltire gules", we thought you'd like to know that this isn't one of the ways that a member of that family would have created a new design from the basic family motif. He would more likely have changed a tincture, change the plain saltire to a saltire engrailed, or added a set of charges on the field or on the saltire. If you'd like us to suggest simple variants of your design or of the Fitzgerald arms, let us know. The standard blazon for your second design is "Bendy argent and gules, a bordure azure platy." We believe that this design is a little too complex for the early part of your period when most English heraldry was very simple; but that it is appropriate for the last 50 years or so. If you remove the plates from the bordure, the design would fit your entire period. Either way, it appears to be registerable in the Society. We 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, Zenobia Naphtali, Talan Gwynek, Rouland Carre, Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, Walraven van Nijmegen, Amant le Marinier, Margaret Makafee, and Alan Fairfax. For the Academy, Arval Benicoeur 7 Feb 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - References [1] Reaney, P. H., & R. M. Wilson, _A Dictionary of English Surnames_ (London: Routledge, 1991; Oxford University Press, 1995), s.nn. Stephen, Richard, FitzSimon, Fitz. It offers the examples , recorded during the reign of Henry II, and 12th century. The earliest example we find of surnames like is 1295; that style of name doesn't seem to become common until the mid-14th century. See s.nn. FitzHerbert, FitzJames, etc. [2] Nicolaa de Bracton, "A Statistical Survey of Given Names in Essex Co., England, 1182-1272", Known World Heraldic Symposium Proceedings 1995 (SCA Inc.). http://members.xoom.com/nicolaa/names.html. Please note that the source used for this article was translated from Latin to English, using later-period or modern spellings. [3] Unfortunately, a couple of the simplest ways of avoiding this conflict don't help. Switching the field to ermine brings the design into conflict with Robert of Winchester "Ermine, two chevronels gules between three boar's heads couped sable langued gules." Swapping argent and gules runs into the arms of Brenda Lynne of Clan Neil "Gules, two chevronels between three thistles argent".