How to Document a Name

So, you've dutifully filled out the top of the Name Submission Form. And now you're left staring at the Name Documentation and Consultation Notes section. Much as you may want to, leaving it blank is not an option! But don't despair; here's a quick rundown of what you need to write to complete your submission.

Registerability

First, double-check that your proposed name is likely to be registerable! Very generally, you can register:

• Any period spelling of a name.
• A standard modern spelling (i.e. a header form) of a name, as long as you can prove that some form of the name was used in period.
• A variant spelling, if you can provide enough examples of related period spellings to prove that the spelling you've suggested would not be unlikely in period.
• A constructed name, if you can provide enough examples of related period names to establish the existence of a pattern your constructed name fits into.

(It's also important to make sure that all the parts of your name are 'temporally compatible,' that is, all the elements must be provably dated to within 1000 years of each other.)

Documentation

Now, on the submission form itself you should include, for each element of the name:

• The spelling that you're submitting.
• The name of the source where you found the name element. If you use an online article, include the name of the author, the title of the article, and the URL. If you use the same source more than once, you can use the abbreviation ibid. to mean 'from the same source,' instead of writing it all out again.
• The header form under which the name can be found. You can use the abbreviation s.n. (sub nominee) to mean 'found under the heading.'
• Any relevant dated citations given by your source.

Hopefully, the spelling that you're submitting is the same as either the header form or a dated citation. If it's not, your job is slightly more complicated. But for now, take a look at the examples below:

Examples

Submitting header forms. Remember that you need to prove that the name was used in period!

"Ryzhei Oslanov"

Ryzhei: Wickenden gives the header form Ryzhei and cites Arkhip Ivanov syn Ryzhego in 1542.

Oslanov: Wickenden gives the header form Oslan and cites Ivan Oslanov in 1584-6.

Submitting period spellings.

"Moris Wynterbourne"

Moris: Withycombe, s.n. Maurice, dates the spelling Moris to 1346.

Wynterbourne: Reaney & Wilson, s.n. Winterborn, cite John de Wynterbourne in 1341 and William Wynterbourne in 1372.

...And now for the tough one:
Submitting variant spellings and/or constructed names:

"Bernhard Schwarzrose"

Bernhard: Talan Gwynek's article, "Late Period German Masculine Given Names: Names from 15th Century Arnsburg" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/germmasc/arnsburg15.html) lists Bernhart and Gerhard.
Talan's article, "Late Period German Masculine Given Names: Names from 15th Century Plauen" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/germmasc/plauen15.html) lists Gerhart (dated to 1401-1450).
If Gerhart also appears as Gerhard, it seems likely that Bernhart could appear as Bernhard.

Schwarzrose: Brechenmacher gives several bynames using the protheme (first part) Schwarz- (black-) including Schwarzhaupt 'black head', Schwarzburg 'black castle', and Schwarzmantel 'black coat.'
Brechenmacher includes a variety of names ending in –rose, such as Flacherose 'flat or low rose' and Weißrosen 'white roses.'
Based on these examples, Schwarzrose seems like a plausible construction.

Hopefully the examples above will point you in the right direction for documenting name submissions. And remember, if you're really stuck you can always turn to other heralds in the College for assistance. Happy documenting!