Thanks for your help

I have recently become the herald of my shire. And though I have the ruby and diamond heralds also as shire members, I have no clue what to do other than fill out the monthly forms. That part is easy since I have yet to be asked to do anything. What resources are at my disposable for researching names and devices for conflict? My own name and device have already been approved. So I am aware of what I did for research and submissions. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Get on your Kingdom heraldry mailing list. They have the local knowledge to answer most of your questions whereas answers you get Society-wide may not be applicable to your Kingdom.

Reading-wise, here's a link dump. Once you've read all these, you should be able to pass a Pursuivant Extraordinary exam (if your Kingdom has them). Don't worry, for your purposes, you probably don't need to read all the articles.

heraldry.sca.org/
s-gabriel.org/names/
s-gabriel.org/heraldry/

anplica.net/articles/basics.html Anpliça Fiore's Basics of Heraldry

www.modaruniversity.org/Heraldry.htm Modar's Heraldry
* www.modaruniversity.org/vocal.htm Modar's Vocal Heraldry

www.therotunda.net/heraldry/index.html Yves' Rotunda - Heraldry

There are also more specialist pages for specific topics, but these pages have a lot of good general information on all sorts of heralding. For anything more specific, Google is your friend but failing that, you could always ask on your Kingdom heraldic mailing list or here.

So, I've been looking for a Scottish name for a while now and I settled on Stiophan mac Brian. I plan on doing a lower-noble in the 8th to 9th century.

I had to do a little jumping around, but I first found a variation of the spelling of my own name here

and then from there I jumped to here and found the following "Stìobhan, Stìophan, Stèaphan (Scottish Gaelic)" and after a little more scrolling found that it was used in other parts of the world, but I can't determine if it has been used in the location and time frame I wish to portray.

Also, My surname follows the conventions of Scottish naming found here and the actual name (Brian) I have traced to 941 using the same method as above and finding Irish King Brian Boru but I can find nothing that would make the jump from Ireland to Scotland.

Also, what is the procedure and requirements for getting a name registered? (Or finding out if a name is already taken.)

I haven't had the chance to scan the image, but if anyone here can give me advice on my blazon, I'd appreciate it. I haven't been able to run it past my local heralds yet. Blazon as I have it figured is:

Gules, two wolves courant Argent

I've done a preliminary search for conflict, and I haven't been able to find any, but my skills are limited.

Thanks for any and all assistance!