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I've been known by several names in the SCA. Previously names were not particularly well researched. This time around, I'm going to do it right. I did the research and threw the dice. I never post real name stuff here, but need to bitch... for the sake of that, I'll be Godric Healfdene. The first name is an alias, the second name is my chosen one.
That first name is a good Saxon name, appropriate to time and place. My persona is Saxon-Danish fusion, consistent with Danelaw England. There's some debate as to how the well the Saxons and the Danes actually mixed at this time, but we'll ignore that for now.
Here's the rub, Saxons didn't actually use last names at this time. You might have a Bealdric from the South, or an Aethelred the Smith, but no real surnames yet.
On the Danish side, surnames, while still not consistent, are becoming more standardized. Last names are starting to follow the form of the father more consistently, like Olaf Guntharson; anything with -son. Danes also enjoyed descriptive names, giving us things like Ivar the Boneless.
A Saxon of my time wouldn't have a last name, but for SCA I've got to pick one. Healfdene mocks itself, since a Saxon wouldn't have such a name, where real Dane wouldn't have such a first name; as the name points out. It's also a safety, since it's not just a name, but a descriptive, which were commonly used. The spelling is from Beowulf, a poem dated to my time.
Why all the name stuff? Well, I just got a letter from the heralds and I'm at a loss as to how to respond.
Names changed and behind cut:
( Letter )
I guess the question is, am I totally off? If not, what source would make my case? Number 3 sucks, number 1 is just silly, and I'm not sure number two even makes sense for 10th century.
Suggestions welcome.
That first name is a good Saxon name, appropriate to time and place. My persona is Saxon-Danish fusion, consistent with Danelaw England. There's some debate as to how the well the Saxons and the Danes actually mixed at this time, but we'll ignore that for now.
Here's the rub, Saxons didn't actually use last names at this time. You might have a Bealdric from the South, or an Aethelred the Smith, but no real surnames yet.
On the Danish side, surnames, while still not consistent, are becoming more standardized. Last names are starting to follow the form of the father more consistently, like Olaf Guntharson; anything with -son. Danes also enjoyed descriptive names, giving us things like Ivar the Boneless.
A Saxon of my time wouldn't have a last name, but for SCA I've got to pick one. Healfdene mocks itself, since a Saxon wouldn't have such a name, where real Dane wouldn't have such a first name; as the name points out. It's also a safety, since it's not just a name, but a descriptive, which were commonly used. The spelling is from Beowulf, a poem dated to my time.
Why all the name stuff? Well, I just got a letter from the heralds and I'm at a loss as to how to respond.
Names changed and behind cut:
( Letter )
I guess the question is, am I totally off? If not, what source would make my case? Number 3 sucks, number 1 is just silly, and I'm not sure number two even makes sense for 10th century.
Suggestions welcome.