They definitely valued shiny new weird things. Bog-sacrifices seem to have been a lot more common in Denmark than here, most of our finds from that era have been grave mounds and ships. Which are absolutely awe-inspiring to behold, even with much of what was once there gone. Oh, and the odd remnants of a longhouse or two, at least one of which has been reconstructed and is absolutely amazing.
Ragnvaldr is probably where the modern Ragnar came from, given the pronounciation and how consonants flowed then and now, especially in certain dialects that are more 'archaic' than others. I don't think Ragnvaldr would have been an uncommon name back then, and Ragnvald without the final 'r' is still a fairly common name (not very, but I doubt anyone would find it odd or archaic or any such thing). Also, I don't find Ragnvaldr to be much of a mouthful, but then I studied the Norse language, its pronounciations and its development into the modern Scandinavic and Icelandic languages for two years in Upper Sec. : )
Bertram is composed of Germanic 'berth' and 'hramn', meaning bright and raven, respectively. I know hramn would have been in use at that time ('ramn' still is), but the modern version 'Bertram' definitely wouldn't have been. The Normans quickly adopted the French language, so I'm not sure how much would still have remained of the Norse way of constructing names. Obviously there are certain traces, but.. I really need another etymological dictionary.
And now I've dug out my favourite book in Norse. If you need me, I'll be over there, reading Hávamál out loud. To myself.
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I see your tl;dr and raise you my own
Date: 2010-12-26 05:42 pm (UTC)Ragnvaldr is probably where the modern Ragnar came from, given the pronounciation and how consonants flowed then and now, especially in certain dialects that are more 'archaic' than others. I don't think Ragnvaldr would have been an uncommon name back then, and Ragnvald without the final 'r' is still a fairly common name (not very, but I doubt anyone would find it odd or archaic or any such thing). Also, I don't find Ragnvaldr to be much of a mouthful, but then I studied the Norse language, its pronounciations and its development into the modern Scandinavic and Icelandic languages for two years in Upper Sec. : )
Bertram is composed of Germanic 'berth' and 'hramn', meaning bright and raven, respectively. I know hramn would have been in use at that time ('ramn' still is), but the modern version 'Bertram' definitely wouldn't have been. The Normans quickly adopted the French language, so I'm not sure how much would still have remained of the Norse way of constructing names. Obviously there are certain traces, but.. I really need another etymological dictionary.
And now I've dug out my favourite book in Norse. If you need me, I'll be over there, reading Hávamál out loud. To myself.
The Lady 529