Corresponding Family Names of Scandinavian Origin in Normandy
and Yorkshire
The Vikings left their mark on the dialect of Normandy and the dialects of
Yorkshire, so that we can today find some cognates and near-cognates in both
these language varieties.
Similarly, there are correspondences to be found amongst family names in both
areas, derived in each case from the same Scandinavian sources. Here are some
examples :
| Scandinavian root |
Norman family name |
Yorkshire family name |
| Ásketill, Áskell, Árnketill. |
Anquetil |
Antell, Antill, Axtell, Eskell (these may be associated
with the Yorkshire place- names Astley and Exelby) |
| Ásgautr |
Angot |
Angood. |
| bekkr (= stream) |
Le Bec |
Beck |
| Ketill (also occurs as an element in compound names, i.e.
Ketill_____ and _____ketill. |
Quetil |
Kell, Kettle(s) (these may be associated with the
place-name Keld. |
| lund (= copse; grove of trees) |
Lalonde |
Lund(s), Lound, Lounts, Lund(s), Lound, Lounts, |
| Thorstein |
Tostain, Toutain |
Thurston, Thurstan |
| Thorketil(l), Tóki |
Torquetil |
Thurkell, Thirkettle, Thirtle, Thirkil(l), Took(e), Tuck,
Tuckey. (The Manx names Caukill,Cawkill, Corkill, Coakill,etc., are from
the same Scandinavian source). |
| Thorgaut |
Turgot |
Thorogood, Thoroughgood. |
| Thorgísl, Thorgils. |
Turgis |
Sturge, Sturges, Sturgess |
| Thorvald |
Thérou, Thouroude |
Thursfield |
This is by no means a complete list but is probably sufficient to demonstrate
that family naming in both Normandy and Yorkshire, in the Viking Age, followed
similar patterns and used the same Scandinavian sources. Nor can it be claimed
that the names given above are to be found only in Normandy and Yorkshire
respectively, for Viking influence spread beyond these regions and, of course,
subsequent geographical mobility has also had an effect. The point is simply
that these names are strongly associated with these regions and, by choosing
these two, an effective comparison can be shown. If this stimulates others to
research along similar lines, then our purpose will be served !
Further reading :
Rogers, K.H. (1991) Vikings and Surnames. ISBN 1 85072 086 X.
Rogers, K.H. (1995) More Vikings and Surnames. ISBN 0 9525967 0 9.
Prénoms normands et vikings auteur/author : Georges Bernage éditeur/editor
: Heimdal - coll. Guide Heimdal
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