Hrollaug - A Norwegian man in Iceland (2) Hrafn - One of the first settlers of Greenland (1) Herjolf - Father of Bjarni, one of the first settlers of Greenland (1, 2) Helgi - Helgi Thorbrandsson was one of the first settlers of Greenland (1) Harald - Popular with the kings of Denmark and Norway (2) Halfdan - The son of a king of Norway (2)

Hafgrim - One of the first settlers of Greeland 1) Gunnvor - A man mentioned on a rune stone in Denmark (2) Geirstein - The man who outlaws Erik the Red from Haukadale (1) Gamli - This name was found two times in the Landnámabók (3) *Fridrek - A German Bishop and missionary to Iceland (1)įrobjorn - A man in Jutland (Denmark) (2)įrodi - The name of two individuals in the Landnámabók (3) See also Knud (2)Įinar - The name of several people, including one of the first settlers in Greenland and a Norwegian earl of Orkney (1, 2)Įrik/Eirik - A name held by Erik the Red, Erik Bloodaxe the King of Norway and York, and others (1, 2)Įyjolf - The name of several individuals in Eirik's Saga (1)įloki - One of the first to settle in Iceland (2) Yngvild - Descendant of Thorfinn Karlsefni and mother of Bishop Brand (1)Īsbjorn - The name of a man mentioned on a rune stone (2)Īsvald - Asvald Ulfsson was the grandfather of Erik (1)Īsved - A name found in eastern Scandinavia (2)ījorn - The name of several people, including a king of Sweden and Bjorn Jarnsida (2)īrand - Brand Saemundarson was the Bishop of Holar and a descendant of Karlsefni (1)īrandr - A name found 20 times in the Landnámabók (3)Ĭnut - A popular name held by many Danish kings. Viborg - A woman mentioned on a rune stone (2) Tola - A woman who raised a rune stone in Gripsholm (2) Thurid - Daughter of Eyvind the Easterner, also the daughter of Snorri (1, 2) Thorgunna - A Hebridean woman who has a son by Leif (1) Thorgerd - Mother of Bjarni Herjolfsson (1) One Sigrid, also called Grimhild, was the wife of Thorstein of Lysufjord (1, 2) Rjupa - A name found in the Landnámabók (3) One Ragnhild was mentioned on a rune stone in Denmark (2) Odindisa - A Swedish woman mentioned in a rune stone (2) Kolgrima - A name found in the Landnámabók (3) Kolfinna - A name found 6 times in the Landnámabók (3) Jorunn - Jorunn Skaldmaer was a poet in Norway (2) *Hekja - A Scottish bondwoman who is taken along to Vinland (1) Hallfrid - Daughter of Snorri Karlsefnisson (1) Gunborga - A female rune carver and poet (scald) from Sweden (2) Gudrid - One of the Vikings who went to Greenland and Vinland (1) Grimhild - Wife of Thorstein of Lysufjord (1) Note: * indicates the name was held by someone who was not Scandinavian.Īrnora - Daughter of Einar of Laugarbrekka (1)Īstrid - Norwegian woman mentioned in a rune stone (2)Īud - One of the first settlers of Iceland (1)įastvi - A woman mentioned on a rune stone in Sweden (2) Examples of attributes include Aud the Deep Minded, Erik Bloodaxe, Erik the Red, Jorunn Skaldmaer ('poetry-maid'), Leif the Lucky, Olaf Kyrre ('the Quiet'), Svein Forkbeard, and Ulf Crow. Individuals could also be named after their mother. Many bynames reflected the name of the individual's father, such as with Olaf Haraldsson and Olaf Tryggvasson, Thorgils Leifsson, Thorvald Asvaldsson and his grandson, Thorvald Eiriksson. Bynames reflected family relationships, locations, or attributes. In addition to a personal name, the Vikings also had a byname. The name element 'Thor' appears in numerous names. These names are also found in compounds such as Gorm, Gunulf, Styrbjorn, and Ulfbjorn. The name Bjorn meant 'bear', Orm meant 'snake', and Ulf meant 'wolf'. The Vikings were often named after animals or after the god, Thor. One woman, Gunborga, was a rune carver and a poet. Women could not be merchants or craftspeople but they could raise their own rune stones.

Women's graves were as grand as those of the men although men were buried with 'male' implements and women with 'female' grave goods. The women were often left in charge while the men were off exploring or raiding. Women enjoyed a relatively high status in Viking society. Other Scandinavians served as imperial guards in Byzantium.

Eventually this region became known as Normandy. In 911 AD the French king gave the Viking chief Rollo the lands around the mouth of the Seine. Many Vikings settled and farmed the areas they had conquered and they gradually became integrated with the surrounding peoples. Although known for their quick raids, the Vikings also built fortresses and bridges, established big trade centers such as Hedeby, Birka, and Dublin, and explored and colonized the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland. The Viking world stretched from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. The period lasted longer in Ireland where it did not end until about 1170. The Viking Era is generally held to have lasted from about 793 to 1066 AD. Medieval Scandinavian Names Medieval Scandinvia

Medieval last names norway