looking for the use of a name in the record books

[kareina]

I am seeking help finding a reference to the name Kjar being used for humans sometime before 1600, and since I know people who are looking in all sorts of interesting places for their own research I thought I would ask here in case one of you happen to stumble upon that name and are willing to share where you found it.

Nearly two years ago now my partner was trying to decide on a name for use in the SCA, and we checked a variety of web pages that listed Norse (and other similar language) names. Eventually we found a list which mentioned the name Kjar. The list stated that Kjar was the father of someone (whose name I have long since forgotten, and I am on the wrong computer to look it up just now) and was mentioned one time in a saga (sorry, still on wrong computer to look up which one). He liked the name, so submitted it to the SCA College of Heralds and started using it.

Now, well over a year after submitting the name, the College of Heralds has written to him saying that while the name Kjar was, in fact, mentioned in the sagas, the man in question was the father of a Valkyrie, not an ordinary human (something the web page that included the name in the list of names from the saga failed to mention). The SCA College of Heralds has a rule against people using names of gods or supernatural beings, unless they can prove that the name was used for normal humans at some point somewhere before 1600. However, after all this time of using the name my partner is rather fond of it, and would like to keep it.

Therefore, if any of you happen to stumble upon the name Kjar appearing in any document from before 1600 (tax records? contracts? birth/death/marriage rolls? or...?) please let me know where you found it (and if it is in a book and not on line please send me a photocopy of the relevant page + publication details). In the meantime we will look on our own, but for this sort of quest many eyes have a better chance of finding what we seek than just one or two sets.

(Failing that, if anyone happens to have documentation that Valkyries happen to be born of human fathers, I suppose that would also solve their complaint, but somehow I doubt that path will lead anywhere.)

Comments

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

The CoA did a pretty exhaustive search of all the sources for Scandinavian human names that we know of, so I wouldn't hold out too much hope. Still, you never know when something new might pop up!

The original source cited was http://thescholarsgarret.com/opusculi/viking_names/, but this website no longer exists, and hasn't for at least 6 months.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Yup, anything is possible. I think it is a terribily silly reason to say no to a beautiful name though--but then I live in a country where naming kids after gods is so common that there are "name days" for various god's names. If one can be named for a god...

I just checked that link in the way back machine, and it is archived, so I will copy it in comments below, but it has to be in segments, since it is too much text for a single comment.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

The pattern of naming children after gods developed in Scandinavia after our period for the most part. It's interesting that "Odin" and "Thor" show up in England in post-Anglo-Scandinavian contexts, but you don't find them in the Scandinavian countries. What you do see there is the use of god/ess names in compounds, e.g., not "Odin" but "Odindisa", not "Freya" but "Freydis", not "Thor" but "Thorgeirr", etc.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Three Hundred Viking Names from the Sagas

by David Swan, writing as Henry MacQueen, October 1995
This is not a comprehensive list of all period Norse names, but it is, instead, a fair sampling of the names found in the Norse and Icelandic Sagas. I have made up this list for two reasons. Firstly it is intended to assist a newcomer who is interested in a Viking persona to select a name. Secondly it will help local heralds (and others) to recognize period names so that they may advise from a position of knowledge without having to plough through reams of difficult prose.
The naming convention in the Scandanavian countries was to give a newborn the name of an honorable relative (usually recently dead) or of an heroic saga character. This made some names fairly common. To differentiate one "Svein" from another a patronymic was used. The father's name (or, occasionally, the mother's if the father was unknown or had disowned them) would have "son" or "daughter" appended to it and used as a name. For instance, a boy named Svein, Thorstein's son, would be named Svein Thorsteinsson and a girl named Hildr, Thorstein's daughter, would be Hildr Thorsteinsdatter. This means that a period first name can be had by dropping the "son", "sson", "datter" or "sdatter" from the patronymic. Women generally did not change their names as a result of marriage.

A person would usually pick up a nickname sooner or later. It could be for something he did, somehow he looked or somewhere he lived. For instance, King Magnus Barelegs wore a kilt instead of trousers. When a complimentary nickname was given, friends would gather and have a party. Insultory nicknames generally appeared through usage and seldom were wanted by the individual so named (and never celebrated). Nicknames cause a lot of confusion in the Sagas for the neophyte reader, especially when one translator translates the nickname and another doesn't. For instance King Harald Sigurdarson (remember him from 1066?) was also called Harald Hardraddi, which in some versions has been translated to Harald the Stern. Here we have three names but only one person. Another example is Helgi Sigmundson (from the Lay of Helgi and Sigrun) who was later born again as Helgi Haddingjaskati, which means Helgi Hadding's killer. Here, again, we have one person (or two, depending on your religion) with up to three names, depending upon the translator.
These names were collected from English translations of the Sagas and I have retained the spelling and translation used by the translator. more recent translations. Repeats of names from the same period have been removed but repeats from different dates have been retained. The Vikings named their horses, houses, farms and animals; some of those names are included here.
The names are divided by object names (houses, farms, female, male, swords, etc.) and within each division by date (in chronological order). Within each division, the names are presented in alphabetical order.

The Scandanavians of 800-1040 (the Viking Age) had a culture rich in traditions, arts and customs. I wish well to anyone from that period.




House name period for 1010 (taken from GUNNLAUG'S SAGA ORMSTUNGU)

Grenjar

Farm name period for 1205 (taken from JONS SAGA HELGA)

Oddi

Names with no definative gender period for pre-800 (from PROSE EDDA)
(These names are typically male, but this was not explicit in the text)

Bikki Gudny

Name with no definative gender period for 1010 (from HALLGRIM PETURSSON)
(This name is typically female, but this was not explicit in the text)

Hungerda

Bird names period for pre-800 (taken from PROSE EDDA)

Randver (Hawk's name)

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Female names period for pre-800 (taken from PROSE EDDA)

Brynhildr Fenja Grimhildr
Gudrun Gjukisdatter Hildr Hjordisa Eylimsdatter
Menja Svanhildr Sigurdsdatter

Female names period for 800 (taken from VOLSUNGAKVIDA HIN FORNA)

Borghild of Bralund Sigrun Hognisdatter

Female names period for 800 (taken from VOLUNDARKVIDA)

Bodvild Nidudsdatter Hervor All-wise Olrun Kjarsdatter
Swanwhite Hladgud

Female names period for 970 (taken from VATNSDAELA SAGA)

Mjoll Thordis Ingimundsdatter Vigdis

Female names period for 1010 (taken from GUNNLAUG'S SAGA ORMSTUNGU)

Dylla Helga Thorsteinsdater Ingbjorg
Jofridr Gunnarsdatter Kormlad Sigridr (the proud)
Thorgerdr Egilsdatter Thuridr

Female names period for 1015 (taken from NJAL'S SAGA)

Astrid Bergthora Hallgerda (the vile)
Hildigunna Rannveig Thorhalla


Female names period for 1025 (taken from OTTARS THATTR SVARTA)

Astrid Olafsdatter

Female names period for 1205 (taken from JONS SAGA HELGA)

Ingun

Female names period for 1215 (taken from GUDMUNDAR SAGA DYRA)

Arnthrud Fornadottir Gudrun Onundsdatter Ingibjorg Gudmundsdatter

Female names period for 1215 (taken from PALS SAGA BISKUPS)

Herdis Ketilsdottir Thora

Female names period for 1250 (taken from THORLAKS SAGA IN YNGRI)

Halldora Brandsdotter Ragnheid Thorhallsdottir

Horse names period for pre-800 (taken from PROSE EDDA)

Goti Gray

Male names period for pre-800 (taken from PROSE EDDA)

Atli Budison Erpr Jonakrson Fafnir Hreidmarson
Fridleif Shieldson Frodi Gjuki
Gotthorm Gjukisson Gunnar Gjukisson Hamdir Jonakrson
Hedin Hjarrandson Hjalnek Hjarrand
Hogni Gjukisson Hreidmar Jonakr
Jormunrek Randver Regin Hreidmarson
Shield Sigmund Sigurdson Sigurd Sigmundson
Sorli Jonakrson Tjolnir

Male names period for 800 (taken from VOLSUNGAKVIDA HIN FORNA)

Bragi Hognison Dag Hognison Helgi Sigmundson
Helgi Hjorvardson Hodbrodd Hogni
Sigmund

Male names period for 800 (taken from VOLUNDARKVIDA)

Egil Kjar Nidud Slagfid
Thakkrad Volund

Male names period for 930 (taken from EGILSSAGA)

Adils Alfgeir Athelstan (King England) Egil
Gudrek Hring Olaf (King of Scots) Thorolf


Male names period for 970 (taken from VATNSDAELA SAGA)

Anir Bowswayer Horse-Bjorn Raumson Jokull Ingimundson
Ketill Ormson Orm Shell-sherd Raum (nickname)
Thorstein Ketillson

Male names period for 1010 (taken from GUNNLAUG'S SAGA ORMSTUNGU)

Atli Audun Bergfinn
Egil Skallagrimsson Eric Eric HACONSON
Eric the Victorious Gunnar Hlifson Gunnlaug Illugison
Gunnlaug Snake-tongue Hrafn Onundson Hrafn
Illugi Hallkelson Kogla-tosti Olaf Kvaran
Olaf Ericson Olaf the Swede Olaf Peacock
Olaf Hauskuldson Onund (of Mossfell) Sigtrygg Silkbeard
Sigurd Hlodverson Sigurd Skuli Thorsteinson
Svein Haconson Thorir Thorkel
Thororm Thorstein Egilson Thorvard

Male names period for 1010 (taken from HALLGRIM PETURSSON)

Eric Grim Gunnlaug
Helga Hrafn the Skald Hrafn Onundson
Olaf Thorkell Hallkellson Thorkell Swarthy

Male names period for 1015 (taken from NJAL'S SAGA)

Annund Asbrand Thorleikson Aunund
Eylif Aunundson Flosi Solmundson Geir
Gizur the White Grim Gunnar Hamondson
Helga Helgi Hrapp
Kari Kettle Kol Thorsteinson
Kolskegg Lambi Mord
Njal Sigfus Sigtrygg (King)
Sigurd Skarphedinn Njalson Thorbrand Thorleikson
Thord Thorgrim Easterling Thorkell
Thorleik Thrain Sigfusson Tjorvi

Male names period for 1025 (taken from OTTARS THATTR SVARTA)

Olaf Haraldsson Olaf Eiriksson Ottar
Sighvat Thardarson

Male names period for 1030 (taken from THE SAGA OF S. OLAF)

Afrafasti Arnljot Gellini Gauka Thorir
Gelli Thorkelson Olaf (K. of Norway) Tharand (the White)
Thorar Thorir Thorodd Snorrison

Male names period for 1050 (taken from ISLENDINGS THATTR SOGUFRODA)

Halldor Snorrason Harald Sigurdarson


Male names period for 1100 (taken from SIGURD JORSALAFARA'S SAGA)

Eystein Magnusson Gilli-Christ Magnusson Halkell Huk
Harold Gilli Magnus Barelegs Ottar Brighting
Sigurd Magnusson

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

Yup, the VOLUNDARKVIDA citation is the only one the College of Arms could find, and in looking at that saga, it's clear that Olrun isn't a real human person.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Male names period for 1205 (taken from JONS SAGA HELGA)

Audun Bjarni Bergthorsson Bjorn Gilsson
Gisl Gisli Finnsson Gjafvald
Harald Sigurdarson Hrein Styrmisson Illugi
Isleif Grimsson Isleif Hallsson Jon the Blessed
Jon the Black Ketil Thorsteinsson Klaeng Thorsteinsson
Kol Magnus Bareleg Magnus the Good
Olaf the Quiet Olaf (King) Saemund Sigfusson
Sigurd Woolstring Svein (King) Teit Isleifson
Vilmund Thorolfsson

Male names period for 1215 (taken from GUDMUNDAR SAGA DYRA)

Brand Erlend of Myrka Falki Dalksson
Galm Grimsson Gudmund Tassason Gudmund the Excellent
Gudmund Arason Hakon Thordsson Halli Nikulasson
Hamund Onundson Hauk Klaeng
Kolbein Tumason Leif Nikulasson Nikulas Bjarnarson
Nikulas Runolfsson Olaf Tarry-cheek Onund Thorkelsson
Runolf Nikulasson Runolf Turncoat Sighvat Soxolfson
Snorri Soxolf Fornason Starkad
Svein Jonsson Thord of Laufas Thord Onundson
Thorfinn Thorgrim of Modruvellir Thorodd Longnose
Thorstein Thorvald of Baegisa Thorvald
Tjorvi Urda-Stein Vigfus Onundson

Male names period for 1215 (taken from PALS SAGA BISKUPS)

Amund Arnason Atli the Priest Harald Maddadarson

Male names period for 1250 (taken from THORLAKS SAGA IN YNGRI)

Arnthor Einar Jonsson Eystein
Halldor Jonsson Jon Loptsson Orm Jonsson
Pal Jonsson Saemund the Learned Saemund Jonsson
Sigurd Jonsson Thorlak Thorhallsson Thorstein Jonsson

Male names period for 1265 (taken from STURLUNGA SAGA)

Erlend Paunch Gaut (of Mel) Hakon the Old
Hrafn Oddsson Magnus Hakonson Sturla Thordarson
Thorir Mouth


Sword names period for pre-800 (taken from PROSE EDDA)

Dains-Leif Gram Hrotti Refill

Sword names period for 930 (taken from EGILSSAGA)

Long



Here are my source references: (in alphabetical order of Saga name)

EGILSSAGA from the year 930 (+- 10 years) can be found in
"Translations from the Icelandic",
W.C.Green, Cooper Square Pub., N.Y., 1966

GUDMUNDAR SAGA DYRA from the year 1215 (+-5 years) can be found in
"The North Men Talk",
J.Simpson, J.M.Dent&Sons, 1965 (Aldine Press)

GUNNLAUG'S SAGA ORMSTUNGU from the year 1010 (DURING REIGN OF ETHELRED)
HALLGRIM PETURSSON from the year 1010 (DURING REIGN OF ETHELRED)
"Translations from the Icelandic",

ISLENDINGS THATTR SOGUFRODA from the year 1050 (+-5 years) and
JONS SAGA HELGA from the year 1205 (BY MONK GUNNLAUG LEIFSSON)
"The North Men Talk"

NJAL'S SAGA from about the year 1015 (this is just a guess) and
OLDER EDDA from before the year 800 can be found in
"Translations from the Icelandic",

OTTARS THATTR SVARTA from the year 1025 (+-5 years) and
PALS SAGA BISKUPS from the year 1215 (+-5 years) can be found in
"The North Men Talk"

PROSE EDDA from before the year 800;
SAGA OF GUNNLAUG SNAKE-TONGUE from before the year 800; and
SIGURD JORSALAFARA'S SAGA from the year 1100 (+-15 years)
"Translations from the Icelandic",

STURLUNGA SAGA from the year 1265 (+-5 years) can be found in
"The North Men Talk"

THE SAGA OF S. OLAF from the year 1030 (DURING REIGN OF KNUT)
"Translations from the Icelandic",

THORLAKS SAGA IN YNGRI from the year 1250 (+-5 years) can be found in
"The North Men Talk"

VATNSDAELA SAGA from the year 970 (pre Olaf; 970 is accurate)
"Translations from the Icelandic",

VOLSUNGAKVIDA HIN FORNA from before the year 800 (POETIC EDDA) and
VOLUNDARKVIDA from before the year 800 (POETIC EDDA) can be found in
"The North Men Talk"

YOUNGER EDDA from before the year 800 can be found in
"Translations from the Icelandic",

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Thus ends the copying of the text from the WayBack machine. The formatting didn't come through, of course--the original had columns of names, and now they sort of blend together. but you can see how, from this list, we had no idea that Kjar isn't just a normal name.

Is it unreasonable of me to think that a good sounding name is a good sounding name, and used in the correct period is good enough. Who cares what sort of special traits the daughter of the Kjar in the sagas had? And I so don't have time to go read the saga myself and confirm the rumor that she is really is a Valkyrie, nor do I know if Valkyries start life as humans and wind up with an interesting career, or if they really do count as something god-like, and so banned by the College of Heralds as name sources.

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

we had no idea that Kjar isn't just a normal name.

Nor did the Drachenwald CoH when we forwarded the name to the College of Arms -- if we had, the problem would've been caught that much quicker. Unfortunately, the best source out there for Norwegian names, Lind, E.H., _Norsk-Isla:ndska Dopnamn ock Fingerade Namn fra*n Medeltiden_ (Uppsala & Leipzig: 1905-1915, sup. Oslo, Uppsala and Kobenhavn: 1931), I didn't not at the time have a copy of, otherwise I would've looked the name up there to provide further support (and then may or may not have discovered the problem then, since the book is in Norwegian and, more problematically, filled with abbreviations which are tough to puzzle out if you're not very familiar with the book).

[northernotter.livejournal.com]

Looks like I will have to puzzle out the availability of that one...