Adopting an Old Norse name

OK, I may be bored and going a bit overboard and over-thought with this but hear me out. This is actually going to come to no more than an academic exercise and a brain-fart.

I'm on the verge of having that personal DNA test done that I keep going on about. But having a deep gut feeling - and I have enough bear (not beer) gut to listen to - that my ancestry is actually Vikingr, even if only in small part, I've developed an affinity, or a feeling of kinship with the Vikingar (and working on my ON declensions, which I may post on). To that end, as a thought experiment, I'm thinking what my Old Norse patronymic would or could be. I adopted the internet name Thorbjorn ('thunder bear') because I am Thor's bear.

My (deceased) father's name was Frank which though it's an approved Icelandic name it's not Old Norse. However, I never felt a closeness to him. Besides, I think the name Franksson is kind of pedestrian. Because I feel more of a kinship with the Vikingar I'm thinking of something like Thorbjorn Nordmannsson ('Northman's son', and properly declined in ON from Norðmaðr, being the geek I am ). As simple as it sounds I think it's a bit more inspired... and it's actually Old Norse. My family would wail and shriek and there would be the gnashing of teeth if I went through with it. I'm a schmuck at heart.

For what it's worth, all converts to Judaism, regardless of our genetic background, choose (or are given) a Hebrew name that shows our status as children of Abraham and Sarah. It is our official name for all religious rites and Jewish legal matters, and some legally make it their public name. It's quite a moving moment when you are first called to Torah by that name.

There can be a lot of meaning and power in a name.

If you find meaning in adopting a new name as part of your relationship with your Gods, then I say go for it.

I know that a lot of religions give a new name to converts, but I've never felt the need. Maybe I'm snobbish (well, yes, I am) but it always seems to make it a bit like joining a re-enactment society.

Thorbjorn is very much still in use in Scandinavia with different spellings. If you decide to go ahead with it, don't be surprised if someone from Scandinavian countries who hears your name will try to talk Skandinaviska with you.

Tarheeler said:

For what it's worth, all converts to Judaism, regardless of our genetic background, choose (or are given) a Hebrew name that shows our status as children of Abraham and Sarah. It is our official name for all religious rites and Jewish legal matters, and some legally make it their public name. It's quite a moving moment when you are first called to Torah by that name.

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Really!? I never knew that. Though it's not unlike being given a baptismal name in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

DavidMcCann said:

I know that a lot of religions give a new name to converts, but I've never felt the need. Maybe I'm snobbish (well, yes, I am) but it always seems to make it a bit like joining a re-enactment society.

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It's probably not something I would legally or publicly do, but I think it's a fun thought experiment. If I joined a kindred I would probably use it.

Jumi said:

Thorbjorn is very much still in use in Scandinavia with different spellings. If you decide to go ahead with it, don't be surprised if someone from Scandinavian countries who hears your name will try to talk Skandinaviska with you.

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I know... it could backfire on me. I'd make sure I learn how to say "I no speak". I think only Icelandic keeps the /th/, the other languages (Danorwedish as one linguist called the language continuum) I've seen it as 'Tor'. I'd actually like to learn Icelandic (Icelandic, Old Norse, almost the same) though I have no one to talk to. I was actually proud of myself learning how to properly pronounce (for an American) Eyjafjallajökull, since English doesn't have the Icelandic ll sound.

I think pretty much all of us who are descended from the various Folks of the British Isles have, even if distantly, Viking blood.

I've personally never seen the need to change my given name (which, incidentally, is a Hebrew-descended name ^_^), largely because my father's last name, the one I have, is already kind of a warp of the real Greek name (which I still don't know the meaning of); but my mother's last name (which she kept through, and past, their marriage) is Anglish already, and it's the one I use as the basis for naming myself in other languages, even though it's not part of my given name (and I do know what it means).

But I'm not inherently against the idea, particularly for others. To join in on the thought-experiment, I'd probably just translate, even if only conceptually, these names. So... I'd probably be something like... Auðig... (checks an Old Norse dictionary) Margeirr? I'm probably butchering the grammar. LOL

Yes, it's written Torbjörn in Swedish. I don't think it would backfire, most Scands know English anyway so I don't think it's necessary. Heck, you might even find them teaching you the "helan går" at a local restaurant if you played your cards right

Riverwolf said:

I think pretty much all of us who are descended from the various Folks of the British Isles have, even if distantly, Viking blood.

I've personally never seen the need to change my given name (which, incidentally, is a Hebrew-descended name ^_^), largely because my father's last name, the one I have, is already kind of a warp of the real Greek name (which I still don't know the meaning of); but my mother's last name (which she kept through, and past, their marriage) is Anglish already, and it's the one I use as the basis for naming myself in other languages, even though it's not part of my given name (and I do know what it means).

But I'm not inherently against the idea, particularly for others. To join in on the thought-experiment, I'd probably just translate, even if only conceptually, these names. So... I'd probably be something like... Auðig... (checks an Old Norse dictionary) Margeirr? I'm probably butchering the grammar. LOL

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The funny thing is that my family surname indicates an occupation above what my Sicilian ancestors did for a living. Our name is attested as far back as William the Conqueror. It's a title given to one of his close noblemen. It came into Norman French from Latin. The Normans, as we know, were the descendants of Vikings who settled in France and adopted the Latin-based language. But how Sicilian peasants, laborers and seamstresses got it is beyond me. Sicilian is a sister language to Italian (not a dialect) and a descendant of Latin, but again, how did peasants wind up with a noble's title for a surname? To quote the king: "is a puzzlement".

Jumi said:

Yes, it's written Torbjörn in Swedish. I don't think it would backfire, most Scands know English anyway so I don't think it's necessary. Heck, you might even find them teaching you the "helan går" at a local restaurant if you played your cards right

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Ooh, is that the drinking song Thor and Erik Selvig were singing when they came out of the bar (deleted scene)?

Yeah, everyone else would be speaking English and here's the dumb Yank trying to speak Swedish or Norwegian or ....

Thorbjorn said:

This is actually going to come to no more than an academic exercise and a brain-fart.

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But you repeat yourself!

Seriously, I think this is cool, and wish you the best of luck, as names are important--sometimes. I of course have no idea about names in Norse cultures, but in many cultures, individuals have a variety of names, effective in different contexts, some public and some private, and often changing over time, and sometimes earning new ones. I've got a friend who went by Watches Fire for long a time, but now, after destroying three of them in various ways in just a few years, we call "RV Slayer."

beenherebeforeagain said:

But you repeat yourself!

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True.

Seriously, I think this is cool, and wish you the best of luck, as names are important--sometimes. I of course have no idea about names in Norse cultures, but in many cultures, individuals have a variety of names, effective in different contexts, some public and some private, and often changing over time, and sometimes earning new ones. I've got a friend who went by Watches Fire for long a time, but now, after destroying three of them in various ways in just a few years, we call "RV Slayer."

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Old Norse names (modern Icelandic kept the system) can be a nightmare. It's a patronymic system. Let's take Leif Erikson (Leifr Eiriksson). His father was Eiríkr Thorvaldsson, Erik son of Thorvald. Leif's son Thorkell was called Thorkell Leifrsson. If Leif had a daughter named Helga, she would be Helga Leifrsdottir. When she got married she would still be Helga Leifrsdottir. And in business or formal situations, the full name is used. So when addressing the former PM of Iceland you'd address her as "Nice to meet you Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir". Now, after all this delving into Norse linguistics, history and names, I damn well better be Norse!

Thorbjorn said:

True.



Old Norse names (modern Icelandic kept the system) can be a nightmare. It's a patronymic system. Let's take Leif Erikson (Leifr Eiriksson). His father was Eiríkr Thorvaldsson, Erik son of Thorvald. Leif's son Thorkell was called Thorkell Leifrsson. If Leif had a daughter named Helga, she would be Helga Leifrsdottir. When she got married she would still be Helga Leifrsdottir. And in business or formal situations, the full name is used. So when addressing the former PM of Iceland you'd address her as "Nice to meet you Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir". Now, after all this delving into Norse linguistics, history and names, I damn well better be Norse!

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I had heard this about surnames in Iceland, but didn't know if it applied in all Norse cultures. I remember when I was learning Russian lo these many years ago that traditionally children took the patronymic, although if I recall correctly, there is also a mother-line name possible, too--or that may just be a brain aneurism about to happen. Maybe the Russians did it because of the Norse influence? That's what the "ovich" and "ova" endings in names in the Slavic regions are...

Anyway, several members of the family have had their genes tested. For Scandinavia, my parents were both 2 percent or less, I was 2 percent while my sister was 8 percent, and my son (apparently inheriting from his mother) was 9 percent. We are much more Great Britain and Western Europe. This may be why Norse and Celtic don't play high in my interests. But neither does Germanic, Gaulish, or any of the Mediterranean traditions...I'm an animist, for Mouse's sake! I guess I go back to the roots of them all...

beenherebeforeagain said:

I had heard this about surnames in Iceland, but didn't know if it applied in all Norse cultures. I remember when I was learning Russian lo these many years ago that traditionally children took the patronymic, although if I recall correctly, there is also a mother-line name possible, too--or that may just be a brain aneurism about to happen. Maybe the Russians did it because of the Norse influence? That's what the "ovich" and "ova" endings in names in the Slavic regions are...

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Afaik Denmark, Sweden and Norway have abandoned the patronymic system. In Iceland it's so ingrained and standard that you have to apply to some bureau to change your name to the format we use.

Russia does derive its name from the Rus'... the Norse as they were known. They sailed up the Volga and established settlements. Probably one of the reasons there are so many fair complexioned, blond-haired and blue-eyed Russians. My nephew's two adopted children are from Russia. his son 15 y/o now looks like a stereotypical Norse... tall, blond hair and blue eyes, as does his younger sister. might be coincidence though. What I seem to remember from some Russian acquaintances and co-workers is that a person's name inflects from the father or a woman's husband. For example, Grand Duchess Anastasia was Anastasia Romanova, but her father the czar was Nikolai Romanov.

Anyway, several members of the family have had their genes tested. For Scandinavia, my parents were both 2 percent or less, I was 2 percent while my sister was 8 percent, and my son (apparently inheriting from his mother) was 9 percent. We are much more Great Britain and Western Europe. This may be why Norse and Celtic don't play high in my interests. But neither does Germanic, Gaulish, or any of the Mediterranean traditions...I'm an animist, for Mouse's sake! I guess I go back to the roots of them all...

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I was hoping my family would chip in for the test. Granted it's only $100 but since they're not interested I'll foot the bill. If they want to know I'll tell them the results, if not, I won't. This is for my own curiosity anyway.

You could take a Germanic variant of your given name.

ancient societies often had second names(although i dont think norsemen did)
one is the one your given as a child the next is the one for your adult life.

it should reflect the man you have become.

that said i have been "goblin king" for years, but only friends call me Goblin or 'Gobs'

why dont you choose a name of a God thereby becoming a vessel of that Gods power.

Nietzsche said:

You could take a Germanic variant of your given name.

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Yeah, I've been playing around with that. There are sites that translate and decline names.

Goblin said:

why dont you choose a name of a God thereby becoming a vessel of that Gods power.

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That's a good idea, something I've been thinking about. It's not uncommon as I've been learning about names, to have an element repeated in the first and last names. So, Thorbjorn Thorsson is not unreasonable or unheard of. In fact, it's pretty common. I like the ring of it too. It translates as "Thor's bear Thor's son" (or "thunder bear thunder's son").