Authenticity of an SCA name

mercenary · Post by **mercenary** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:48 am

Do you think that the name Spybeak is an authentic medieval last name? The reason I am even thinking of using it is because it's an anagram of my real name. The full name is Jerome T Spybeak. I'm thinking the name would be Spybeak beacuse my theoretical great-grandfather was a spy and had a long nose, or something. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

Tom Knighton · Post by **Tom Knighton** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:38 am

First, when and were are you trying to base your name on? Have you seen it anywhere from prior to the 17th Century?

It's not about how medieval a name sounds, but whether it was medieval. I seriously doubt that the name Spybeak is very authentic, but I have heard some doozies that were so I could be very wrong here.

Tom

T. Finkas · Post by **T. Finkas** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:52 am

Spybeak wrote:Do you think that the name Spybeak is an authentic medieval last name? The reason I am even thinking of using it is because it's an anagram of my real name. The full name is Jerome T Spybeak. I'm thinking the name would be Spybeak beacuse my theoretical great-grandfather was a spy and had a long nose, or something. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

Aren't you missing something quite overwelmingly obvious here? Let's put the issue of authenticity completely aside for the moment. Why would a spy actually be named "Spy"? I mean let's analyze this for a second. If your name were "James Secret-Agent-Man" you would expect to have a tough time accomplishing any effective secret agenting...right?

When you stop to conisder it that way, doesn't your back story for the name "Spybeak" become rather...um..silly? A more direct idea might be to review a list of period names and chose one that appeals to you rather than thry to make an existing name fit medieval conventions.

Just my 2 groats...

Glen K · Post by **Glen K** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:05 pm

Karl · Post by **Karl** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:07 pm

Spybeak wrote:Do you think that the name Spybeak is an authentic medieval last name?

No.

'Spielbach' may be a good alternative; it is contemporary and could be explained as the town where your persona is born.

mercenary · Post by **mercenary** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:32 pm

Thank you. I use that name anyway, because it sounds cool, and it's an anagram. But for medieval stuff, I guess I shoul look for something else. Any suggestions? Alseo I still thing Jerome T Spybeak is better than Temprees J'bayok, which is also an anagram.

Maelgwyn · Post by **Maelgwyn** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:51 pm

I suggest you pick a surname fromthis list, presuming you want to portray someone from England in the renaisance period. Otherwise I suggest you pick a time and place first and then pick a name suitable to that time and place. If you can tell us your time and place I'm sure we can help you.

Hew · Post by **Hew** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 2:11 pm

Even if you don't plan to register it with the College of Arms, it's kind of a nuisance to have to re-educate people to call you by a new name when you eventually do choose a more permanent name. Plus there's the inconvenience of having documents (Society Membership card, combat auth cards, maybe some scrolls) in different names.

However, if you take too much time selecting a name, chances are that people will give you a nickname, whether or not you approve of it. :twisted:

"Spybeak" sounds like a name that people would give to someone who was noted for being annoyingly nosey, or possibly even a voyeur.

Josh W · Post by **Josh W** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 3:23 pm

Why are anagrams so important to you?

Bartok · Post by **Bartok** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 5:34 pm

Wasn't Spybeak the transformer who was identical to Laserbeak? One of those condor/cassettes for Soundwave... My goodness, the things that stay in your memory forever :roll:

Name yourself properly now. I've heard the tale of they fellow who was named by heralds and the populous: Bubba ap Elvis.

Bartok
(Not my SCA name, I learned about the SCA from this board)

Josh W · Post by **Josh W** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:07 pm

That was "Buzzsaw", Bartok, unless the name was different for Canada...

Angus Bjornssen · Post by **Angus Bjornssen** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:47 pm

go ahead and use it. i use Angus Javier Bjornssen. the story is that my mother named me for the three most likely candidates for father. :twisted:

that'll get on someone's nerves...

Tom Knighton · Post by **Tom Knighton** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:20 am

Angus Bjornssen wrote:go ahead and use it. i use Angus Javier Bjornssen. the story is that my mother named me for the three most likely candidates for father.

that'll get on someone's nerves...

Sorry, but he did ask for the authenticity of the name, not whether the SCA would allow it's use.

Tom

Authenticity of an SCA name

Authenticity of an SCA name

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