OK, been thinking about my persona for the SCA lately. Having been a member for about 8 years now, it's about bloody time I settled on a period!!!
Anyway, after talking with some VERY knowledgeable people, and doing a ton of research, I've found out that the name Everild, which I assumed dropped out of fashion some time after the Norman Conquest, was actually still around and documented as being in use as late as 1603 - which means that I have hard evidence for it being in use from the 7th century to the 17th.
That basically means I have everything from Anglo Saxon to Jacobean to choose from! I was originally as late as I thought I could get away with - 12-13C. I loved the dresses, but HATED that damn wimple.
So after a lot of deliberation, I think I've finally settled on the period I want. I have my coat of arms.... but I'm not sure about my persona's surname. I've chosen one from a list of late 16thC English names, that I think complements her first name.
So, here's what I have so far:
Name: Everild Wolfden
Era of persona:1580's (approx)
Coat of Arms

Backstory - not much of a backstory, yet. Born in the North-East of gentle birth (so not a noble, but not working class either), she has had a fairly extensive education, from both her mother and father. She can handle a rapier with some competency, and a bow, but is also at home with a calligraphy pen in her hand, and a needle. But she's not very good with a distaff, or foreign languages (which is quite rare for an Elizabethan, actually. Everild's education excels in some areas, but lacks in others). I think her mother probably died quite young, and her father couldn't pay for tutors, so ended up teaching her what he knew - which is why she's good with a sword and bow, but not at french love poetry. Everild may have ended up teaching herself how to sew and do other domestic duties around the house, as she has only a passing knowledge in some subject areas.