The Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory - SCA Heraldry

The Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory:The Rules for SubmissionsB. Geographic Definition: The center of the Society is medieval and Renaissance Europe.In names, elements and patterns found in Europe (in the times defined in Section A above) are allowed for alltypes of personal and non-personal names. We allow elements and patterns for personal names from beyondEurope, but we require them to be from cultures that were known to medieval and Renaissance Europeans orwhose members might reasonably have traveled to Europe. We allow non-personal names from places beyondEurope only when the entity in question could have traveled to Europe. Thus, we allow household names ofnon-European origin, but not branch names. For the same reason, we do not register heraldic titles inlanguages from cultures that did not use heraldic titles.In armory, we allow elements and patterns from European heraldic traditions. We also allow elements andpatterns from "heraldic" traditions from other regions when their owners might have reasonably traveled withthat armory to Europe. However, we do require those elements to follow more stringent rules. As we requireelements and patterns to be from the same location, artistic designs that are not part of a heraldic traditionmay not be registered as part of armory.In any case, elements and patterns are only allowed when they do not otherwise violate the rules, such asoffense or presumption rules.GP.4. Definitions of Terms Used in these RulesThere are some terms which are used in heraldry and in these rules with specific meanings beyond or somewhatdifferent from their common meanings. This section explains a few such words which are used throughout theserules. Other sections of these rules define additional terms specific to those sections.A. Element: An element is, in a broad sense, the smallest part that a submission can be broken into. In names, itmay be a word, such as of or the, or a part of a word, such as –gar in Ælfgar or –shire in Lincolnshire. Inarmory, it may be a charge, such as a lion or a trivet; a division, such as per fess or compony; an arrangementof charges such as in bend or a charge between in cross four other charges; a tincture, such as vert or ermine;or other parts of an armorial design.B. Attested: Attested is the term we use for the idea that a name phrase, the structure of a complete name, acharge, a combination of charges or tinctures, a line of division, or other element is found in period sources.One way of documenting an element or pattern is to demonstrate that it is attested in period.C. Documentation: Documentation is the term we use for demonstrating that a name phrase, the structure of acomplete name, a charge, a combination of charges or tinctures, a particular heraldic arrangement, a line ofdivision, or other element is registerable.This may involve demonstrating that it is attested to period. Alternately, it may involve demonstrating that itis legal for the submitter to use for some other reason. In some cases, required documentation may includepetitions of support from the populace, letters of permission, etc. The rules for the types of submissionswhich require petitions, letters, etc. are found in the Administrative Handbook.D. Substantial, Distinct, and Significant: These terms are used in defining conflict. For armorial conflict, theterms substantial and distinct are both used to describe differences between items. Substantial changes(sometimes abbreviated as SC) are larger than distinct changes (sometimes abbreviated as DC). Generally asingle substantial change is sufficient to bring two pieces of armory clear of conflict, while two distinctchanges are required to do so. In prior precedent regarding armory, significant was used to mean much thesame thing as distinct. In names, substantial and significant have previously been used somewhatStandards for Evaluation of Names and Armory – April 29, 2012 - Page 5 of 73