The Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory - SCA Heraldry

The Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory:The Rules for Submissions1. Use of Elements that Appear to Be Titles: Names may not contain an element or group of elements thatcreate the appearance of a claim to have a specific protected rank or title that the submitter does not possesswithin the Society, even if that name element or elements are attested. Those titles which are so protectedcan be found in the List of Alternate Titles.Bynames which are identical to titles used in the Society are generally not allowed for individuals who donot have that rank. Relatively minor changes to the form of the byname can remove the appearance of aclaim to rank.For example, only a knight can register the byname Knight or Chevalier, as both are titles used in theSociety for a knight. However, while the family name Visconti is derived from the word for viscount(visconte) it is not actually the restricted title. Thus the byname Visconti is not a claim to be a viscount, andcan be registered.Bynames using titles not used within the SCA cannot be considered a claim to a rank. Nonetheless, suchnames will only be registered if they were used as bynames by normal people who did not have that rank.For example, Pope is a surname also used by normal people. Therefore, it can be registered in a personalname.Given names that are identical to titles and forms of address may be registered in contexts that make it clearthat they are given names and not titles.For example, a given name like Regina may be registered in a name like Regina the Laundress or ReginaSmith. Names like Regina of England or Regina Juliana of York will not be registered. They create theappearance of a claim to the restricted title Queen. Similarly, Miles is the approved Latin alternate forknight; however, Miles is also used as an English given name in period. Thus, Miles Martin would notcreate the appearance of a claim to the restricted title Miles.Bynames incorporating the names of Society peerage orders and real-world knightly orders are notconsidered a claim to rank or membership in those orders.For example, the use of an attested byname de la Rose or atte Pelican, both derived from inn-sign names, isnot a claim to be a member of the order.Submitters may register names that create a claim to rank that they do possess within the Society. Onlypermanent ranks may be used in names. Documentation must be provided that the submitter is entitled tothis rank.For example, no submitter may register a byname meaning king or princess, as those are not permanentranks. Landed barons who are not court barons may not register a byname meaning baron.2. Dynastic Names: Names may not contain a byname uniquely used by a single dynasty. Dynastic namesused by both a royal family and normal people are acceptable. While some kingdom names were originallyused primarily or exclusively by royalty, those names came to be used so widely that they are notconsidered a claim to rank.For example, the byname Hohenstaufen was used only by a single ruling dynasty, and thus cannot be usedfor SCA names, as it makes a claim to be a member of that specific dynasty. We do not limit the use ofbynames like Tudor, Stuart, or Bourbon, as these bynames were used by many people who were not part ofthose ruling dynasties.Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory – April 29, 2012 - Page 17 of 73