Category Archives: Names and animals

Hariwulfaz/Hariulf/Hærulf – a trendy name in the 5th-11th centuries

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In an earlier post, I wrote about the fascination of the wolf in the Iron and Viking Ages and how this comes through in names. The tradition of combining wolf-elements with battle related words in personal names date back far earlier than the Late Iron and Viking Age. One compound name in particular is found in several examples over a long period of time in many parts of the Germanic speaking areas. And I thought I would share this little curiosity here. First, on the three 7th c. Blekinge stones discussed in the first post on wolves, one of the Continue reading Hariwulfaz/Hariulf/Hærulf – a trendy name in the 5th-11th centuries→

Wolves of war

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Iron Age naming behavior and warrior identity Scandinavian Iron and Viking Age people had a strong fascination of the wolf and seem to great extend to have identified themselves with this animal. Wolf symbolism played a key part in the world perception.This can be concluded from both mythology, artwork and naming behavior, together stretching over a very long period. Already in the 3rd c. AD, we find a name, Widuhundaz on an elaborate silver brooch from Himlingøje, Zealand. This name is a compound of the words ‘wood/forest’ and ‘dog’ and are thought to refer to the wolf. The brooch was Continue reading Wolves of war→