I need help with a name also

albatros · Post by **albatros** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 8:36 am

It seems you are gleefully helping PoD with an SCA name And I also am in need of a good name. My real name is John Conrad Allen, I am thinking of staying with the name Conrad if it can be traced back to the 1500's or so but what else to ad? Conrad the Conquerer? hell I dont know, give me ytour input guys

Thorgrim · Post by **Thorgrim** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 9:29 am

You might start by looking at the Academy of Saint Gabriel, which is here.

Looking in their library under 15th century German names you'll find "Conrad" as a given name.

You might have to find a different byname than "the Conqueror", I think that's registered to King Kull. [img]http://www.armourarchive.org/ubb/rolleyes.gif[/img]

When you've done all the homework on your selection that you can, try submitting it to the Academy for their opinion (I doubt they'll respond unless you've done some of the work yourself). Most SCA heralds will take their work as documentation.

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Deus Suos Cognoscet
Company of Saint Olaf

Melchior · Post by **Melchior** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 9:59 am

You are on the right track. Try to keep your name as simple as possible. Remember the heralds have to read your name and announce you in the lists. By the look on there faces you can tell they have trouble with some names and when they call it out it is distroyed.
Take your time and do your research. Have fun with the name. A fun name can be rememberd.
Good luck.

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Melchior Erasmi von Frankfurt
AKA Neil Erasmus
In Service to the Dream

Le Brassey · Post by **Le Brassey** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 12:38 pm

Here's my advice:

Keep the name simple and effective. Too many SCA folk have names that are nearly unpronounceable and they are a yard long as well. Choose one that is distinct, brief & memorable.

Remember, a name does its job only if it can be REMEMBERED.

Good Luck & Welcome!
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By the way, since this is really more of a RESEARCH & AUTHENTICITY issue, you might consider reposting or cross-posting there? Just a thought.

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Timothy D. Finkas
Long Beach, CA
(SCA: Henri le Brassey, an English soldier late 1400's/early 1500's)

[This message has been edited by Le Brassey (edited 12-22-2000).]

Gethin · Post by **Gethin** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 12:54 pm

What culture? That is pretty important, becouse it defines the construction of the name. Some cultures use paternal by-names (son of) throughout the time period, others don't.
What other interests do you have? That can help you in the name. What geographical areas are you interested in?
Basically you need to build the parameters of the time period and culture that most interests you. That helped me the most in choosing a name.
All the best,
Rhys

Konall · Post by **Konall** » Fri Dec 22, 2000 1:30 pm

If you like your given name, just use it.
There is apparently an escape clause in the SCA name rules that lets you use your real name without any period documentation ('Moon Unit of Caid', as the hypothetical legal SCA name of Moon Unit Zappa, is the example I've most often seen used to demonstrate this point)

Damocles · Post by **Damocles** » Sun Dec 24, 2000 10:11 am

Name choosing can be a real SOB...

My SCA name would be (if i can document it)
Liliwin Aurifaber. Liliwin is Saxon, and Aurifaber is Norman. My Persona will be a Norman footsoldier/whatever about 1 generation after Hastings, with family on both sides. His Dad was a Norman, and his Mother a Saxon (mixed marriages like this were known to happen..) and she got insistent on his name...

If anyone comes across any documentation for either part of the name i'd be grateful if you could mail me it..

Thanks, and good luck on your own name-choosing...

Tom

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If you give a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life...

Constancius · Post by **Constancius** » Sun Dec 24, 2000 11:58 am

For one form of documentation for my SCA name, (Constancius of Lincolnshire. [the full version]) I found an online version of the 1332 Lay Subsidy Rolls for Lincolnshire, England. I went looking for the history of Linclonshire and ran across it.
Now, I want to find an Anglo-Saxon source where i may be able to find it....... I'll keep looking.
Names are best to keep simple. I know that my name is rather long to write out,but it is easy on the mouth and can be easily remembered.

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Constancius of Lincolnshire
"Die all,Die merrily."