Category Archives: Social identity and names

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

Posted on by

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→

Names of The Barbarians

Posted on by

Name use in the Netflix series and in early Germanic tribes The 2020 Netflix series Barbaren or Barbarians, retells the famous story of Arminius, a Roman-raised Germanic prince, who led a conglomerate of Germanic tribes to victory over three Roman legions in the Teutoburg forest in the year 9 AD. A historical turning point and a fascinating chain of events which we know about from several Roman sources. In recent decades, archaeological evidence has even emerged in Northern Germany that could be related to the battle.  I generally really enjoyed the Barbarians very much and found that the creators had Continue reading Names of The Barbarians→

Wolves of war

Posted on by

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→

An anonymous past?

Posted on by

A short introduction to personal names in the Scandinavian Iron Age Names, qualities and characteristics When we get to know someone, one of the first things we learn about them is usually their name. As an archaeologist, you can get very close to prehistoric people. You excavate the remains of a house, to which the door once opened and closed several times a day, letting people walk in and out and through the rooms. We hold in our hands their personal objects such as tools and ornaments that are worn from long continued use. We even deal with remains of Continue reading An anonymous past?→

A name fit for a king

Posted on by

The modern Scandinavian name Erik or Eirik seems to have become a common personal name in the Late Viking Age or Early Medieval period in Scandinavia. We often find it as a name of medieval Swedish, Norwegian and Danish kings. Yet, it also occurs in runic inscriptions and in place names ending in –toft and –torp. The dating of these place name types to the Late Viking Age and Medieval Period indicates that Erik/Eirik was in general use at least from the late Viking Period and onwards. At an earlier stage however, Erik/Eirik was probably not a name at all, Continue reading A name fit for a king→