The Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory - SCA Heraldry

The Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory:The Rules for SubmissionsName phrases documented in this way are categorized as given names and bynames based on type(surnames are a type of byname). They may be used in any way that a given name or byname of thattype may be used. Modern "middle names" are a special case. Some people in the modern world havemiddle names derived from given names. Others have middle names derived from surnames, throughshifts in naming practice, through marriage, or for other reasons. Therefore, middle names areregisterable based on the type of name they are: given names or surnames. Middle names whichoriginated as surnames but are modernly used as given names may be used as given names.For example, someone whose legal middle name is Elizabeth may use it as a given name, becauseElizabeth is a given name by type. However, someone whose legal middle name is MacGregor may notuse it as a given name, because it is a surname by type. The name Madison, while it originated as asurname, is modernly used as a given name. Therefore, someone whose legal middle name is Madisonmay also use it as a given name through the legal name allowance.This rule can allow a name phrase which is not attested in period, but the name as a whole must stillmeet the other requirements for names. This includes issues with overall construction, conflict,presumption, and offense.For example, Earl is a modern given name, but it is also a title of rank within the SCA. Therefore, wewould not register it, even if documented as the submitter's legal given name.f. Branch Name Allowance: Name phrases may be created from the registered forms of SCA branches.Only the exact registered form of the branch name may be used, and they are registered in the linguaAnglica form, 'of Branchname'. Translated forms will not be registered under this allowance, even if itmatches the intended origin of the submission or of the branch.For example, this would allow the bynames of the East or of Fontaine dans Sable, as these are theexpected lingua Anglica forms. However, this would not allow von Osten as a German translation of"of the East", even if the given name was German. It would also not allow de la Fontaine dans Sable asa fully French version of "of Fontaine dans Sable" under this rule as it is not the lingua Anglica form ofthe branch name, even though the branch name is French. If Fontaine dans Sable can also documentedas an attested or constructed French name, de Fontaine dans Sable could be used in forming a fullyFrench name; however that would not be through the use of the branch name allowance.g. The Grandfather Clause: In a new personal name submission, an individual may use name phrasesalready registered to them, even if that name phrase would no longer be allowed under the current rules.Only the exact, actual name phrase from the registered form may be used, not variants, patterns, etc.The use of the grandfather clause does not allow the submitter to evade new style problems (asdiscussed in PN.2 below). It only allows the submitter to keep style problems that already exist withthe registered name.A name phrase from a registered name of an individual may also be registered by a close legal relative(such as parent, spouse, child, sibling, etc.). To do this, the submitter must demonstrate the relationshipthrough legal documents or through attestation of relationship from the individual whose name isalready registered. Documentation under the grandfather clause does not exempt a name or namephrase from conflict, presumption, or offense rules, unless that rules violation is itself grandfathered.Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory – April 29, 2012 - Page 11 of 73