List Of People, Clan, And Place Names In Germanic Heroic Legend

Names only appearing in ''Widsith'' with no further information are excluded from the list.

A-C

}, non, Aumlungar, ang, Amulinga in Alfred the Great's translation of Boethius.
, The Gothic Amal dynasty, to which Theodoric the Great and Ermanaric belonged. Name probably derived from Gothic *amals (bravery, vigor). The medieval versions add the suffix ''-ung'' indicating "belonging to". ''Amelungenland'' (ON ''Amlungaland'') refers to Dietrich's kingdom in northern Italy (see also Lombardy).
, In Middle High German epic, used for Dietrich von Bern's relatives. This name is used exclusively and instead of the term "Goth". In ''Dietrichs Flucht'' and ''Rabenschlacht'', Dietrich's followers are split between Amelungs and Wolfings, whereas in the ''Nibelungenlied'', all his followers are Amelungs. The ''Þiðreks saga'' confuses ''Amlungaland'' with the land of the Harlungen, who in German sources are associated with Breisach and the south Rhine.
, -
, Amoþingas
,
, See Hinnøya
,
, -
, Ænenas
, ang, Ǣnenas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' that can not be identified. Perhaps, they are identical to the Nuithones of Tacitus, if the name is emended to ''Unithones''.
,
, -
, Angles
, ang, Engle, , non, Englar
, From PGmc *''Angilaz'', itself from the name of the Anglia peninsula, where they settled. Related to PGmc *''angōn'' ("curve; neck") and *''angulaz'' ("hook, tip").
,
, -
, Agnafit
, non, Agnafit
, Located at the outflow of Mälaren where modern Stockholm is situated. In ''Ynglinga saga'', it is reported that it got its name "Agne's meadow" from the story when the legendary Swedish king Agne's bride hanged him from a tree there, in his golden torc.
, ''Ynglinga saga'', ''Hervarar saga'', ''Ásmundar saga kappabana'', ''Orvar-Odd's saga'' and in the ''Saga of Olaf Haraldsson''.
, -
, Álfheimr (region)
, non, Álfheimr
, In the Norse legendary sagas, the name of an area corresponding to Bohuslän, in Sweden.
,
, -
, Andvari Falls, Waterfall of Andvari
, non, Andvarafors
, The waterfalls of the dwarf Andvari, who swam there in the form of a pike and owned the hoard that later became known as the Rhinegold. Loki later caught him and extorted from him all the gold, including the cursed ring Andvaranaut.
,
, -
, Aquitaine
, la, Aquitania, gmh, Wasconje lant
, Region in modern western France.
, The people of Walter of Aquitaine in the ''Waltharius'', Walter's association with Aquitaine (MHG ''Wasconenlant'', ''Wasconje lant'', "Basque Land") and his encounter with Gunther and Hagen in the Vosges (MHG ''Waskenwalt'') may have reinforced each other. The smith Hertrich dwells there in ''Biterolf und Dietleib''.
, -
, Arastein
, non, Arastein
, The name means "eagle cliff".
, After having killed Hunding's sons and just before meeting Sigrun in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'', Helgi Hundingsbani rests at Arastein.
, -
, Arheimar
, non, Árheimar
, The "river home" on the Dniepr was the capital of the Goths in '' Hervarar saga''. It has been identified with Kamjans'ke Horodyšče, near Kamianka-Dniprovska which has provided archaeological finds to support it. Kiev has also been proposed but does not fit archaeologically or historically.
,
, -
, Baiuvarii (Bavarians)
, gmh, Beier
,
, In the ''Nibelungenlied'', the Bavarians have a reputation for robbery and boastfulness. They attack the Burgundians as they travel to the Huns in Hungary.
, -
, Banings
, ang, Bāningas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' and perhaps located in central Germany.
, It may be connected with the district name ''Bainab'' that appears ''Origo Gentis Langobardorum'', and the people ''Βαινοχαῖμαι'' that Ptolemy located near the Elbe.
, -
, Bechelaren
, gmh, Bechelâren,
, Pöchlarn in modern Austria. The ''Þiðreks saga'' places it on the Rhine rather than on the Danube.
, The capital of the Hunnish march ruled by Rüdiger.
, -
, Bern
, gmh, Berne, non, Bern
, Verona, Italy. The change of ''v'' to ''b'' could show Romance or Gothic influence, while the remainder of the development of ''Verona'' to MHG ''Berne'' is regular. This was the first city south of the Alps on the usual route from Germany.
, Home of Dietrich von Bern. The term ''Bernære'' (Berner/Veronan) is commonly used to refer to Dietrich in medieval German epic. In ''Dietrichs Flucht'', Dietrich von Bern's father Dietmar founds Bern, whereas in the ''Heldenbuch-Prosa'' the city is constructed by Dietrich's real father, the demon Machmet (Mohammad), in three nights.
, -
, Bohemians (Czechs)
, gmh, Bêheim
, A Slavic people living in the modern Czech Republic.
, Attila and Dietrich von Bern are challenged by Wenezlan, the ruler of the Bohemians, in ''Dietrich und Wenezlan''. Bohemians also fight against Attila in ''Biterolf und Dietleib'', in which they are said to fight with flails.
, -
, Bolmsö
, non, Bólm
, The home of the sons of Arngrímr, the twelve beserkers in the '' Samsey poetry''. The island is situated in lake Bolmen in the Finnveden region of Götaland. The name is from the name of the lake, Bolmen, which is from Old East Norse *''bolmber'' meaning "big one". Schütte argued that Angelstad at the lake was named after Angantyr, which is accepted by Pritsak.
, This is according to the more original R version of ''Hervarar saga''. The considerably more altered H and U versions place it in Hålogaland in Norway''. Gesta danorum ''places the berserkers in Sweden.
, -
, Bragalund
, non, Bragalundr
, The name means "grove where great deeds are performed" and appears in the heroic poem ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''.
, A fictive location where the hero killed bears.
, -
, Brálund
, non, Brálundr
, The element ''brá'' is the same as that of the real location ''Brávellir'' but ''Brálundr'' may have been created for alliterative purposes in the poems ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''.
, The location where the hero of the poems was born to Sigmund and Borghild.
, -
, Brand Isle
, non, Brandey
, The word ''brandr'' may refer to "a stock in the front of a ship" and appears in the heroic poem ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'', it has been suggested to correspond to the island Brännholmen in Östergötland.
, A location where the hero has assembled his fleet.
, -
, Brávellir, Bråviken
, non, Brávellir, non, Brávík
, The name ''Brávellir'' refers the plains ('' vellir'', " wolds") near Norrköping in Östergötland, and ''Bråviken'' to the inlet (-''viken'') north-east of the city. The first element is the Old East Norse adjective *''brar'' ("shining"), but the name of the inlet may originally have been *''Brae'' meaning "the shining one" or the fjard to which the river *''Bra'' (Motala ström) runs.
, The location of the massive Battle of Brávellir between Danish king Harald Wartooth and Swedish king Sigurd Ring, the father of Ragnar Lodbrok. It was also the home of Sinfjötli in ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana I'', stanza 42 (taunted for having had unnatural relations with Sigurd's horse Grani there).
, -
, Breisach
, gmh, Brîsâch, non, Trelinnborg (?)
, Breisach on the Rhine.
, In German tradition, the home of the Harlungen. In the ''Þiðreks saga'', Trelinnborg is one of three cities associated with the Harlungen and is usually identified with Breisach.
, -
, Brittany (Bertangaland)
, non, Bertangaland
, A Celtic-speaking region in modern Western France. The normal name for Brittany in Old Norse was ("lesser Britain") or ("southern Britain"), and Bretons were called - the form in the ''Þiðreks saga'' is based on a genitive plural of a name , which, however, is not used in the saga. The name could have been altered by influence of and confusion with Bardengau, a region in Northern Germany.
, In the ''Þiðreks saga'', the kingdom of King Arthur, but it is seized by king Isung after Arthur's death. Dietrich von Bern faces twelve champions there, including Siegfried/Sigurd. Dietleib von Steier is killed there by the forces of Hertnið.
, -
, Brondings
, ang, Brondingas
, The people of Breca and his father Beanstan.
, The name is maybe from ''brond'' ("sword") or from ON ''brandr'', which means "prow of a ship".
, -
, Black Forest
, non, Svávaskógr
, The Norse name means "Swabian Forest" and could also refer to the Swabian Jura around Switzerland.
, In the ''Þiðreks saga'', Sigurd/Siegfried's mother gives birth to the hero and dies in the "Swabian Forest". Sigurd/Siegfried is subsequently raised by a hind in the forest.
, -
, Bruna Bay
, non, Brunavágar
, Wessén translates the name as "bay of breaking waves" (the word ''allbruna'' appears in the Gotland dialect of Old Norse), while Bugge translates it as the "bay of burning and pillaging". It appears in the heroic poem ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''.
, A fictive location where the hero rests with his fleet.
, -
, Burgundians
, ang, Burgendas, gmh, Burgonde, non, Burgundar
, The Germanic tribe of the Burgundians, who settled first on the Rhine and then in Burgundy. Name possibly means "those who dwell in high places/forts" from PGmc *burg-. Their origins have been connected to Borgund, in Norway, and to the island of Bornholm (ON: ''Borgundarholmr'', OE: ''Burgendaland'').
, The historical Burgundian kings Gunther/Gunnarr, Giselher, and Gernot are described as Burgundians in the German tradition. ''Widsith'' associated Gunther (Guðhere) with the Burgundians, and Gunnarr is described as "friend of the Burgundians" ( non, vin Borgunda) in ''Atlakviða'', but otherwise in ON, he and his brothers are called Niflungar. In Middle High German tradition, their kingdom is centered around Worms on the Rhine. In the ''Waltharius'', the capital is Châlons; however, here Gunther and his brothers are Franks and Hildigund and her father Hericus are Burgundians.
, -
, Busiltjorn
, non, Busiltjǫrn
, ''Busi'' is a variant of ''buði'' and means "swollen", cf. ''busilkinna'' ("woman with swollen cheeks"), while '' tjǫrn'' means "lake".
, When Sigurd chooses a horse, he drives a herd through the river Busiltjorn and the only horse that does not swim back is Grani.
, -
, Carpathians
, non, Harvaða fjöllum
, Most scholars have long agreed that ''Hervarar saga'' preserves an ancient Germanic form of the name "Carpathians" as ''Harvað-'', from PGmc *''χarfaþ''-, from an earlier ''karpat'', as it shows that it has been worked on by Grimm's law.
, Mentioned in the Gothic legends in '' Hervarar saga''.
, -
, Chatti, Chattuarii,
, ang, Hetware, ang, Hætwerum
, A people mentioned in both ''Beowulf'' (line 2363) in connection with Hygelac's historic raid into Frisia, and in ''Widsith'' (line 33), where they have a ruler named Hūn. The name derives from ''hæt'' ("hat") meaning "helmet" and -''ware'' ("inhabitants"), so it means "helmet bearers" or "helmet dwellers". They were a "people on the lower Rhine" who were Frankish or allied with the Franks. They were raid's victims but also the ones who defeated the Geats.
, They are also mentioned in connection with Hygelac's raid by ''Liber Historiæ Francorum'' where they are called ''Attoarii''.
, -
, Cumans
, gmh, Valwen
, A nomadic Turkic people also known as the Polovtsi; ''Valwen'' is the German form of this second name.
, The Cumans appear as archers in Attila's army in ''Biterolf und Dietleib'' and also in the minstrel epic ''König Rother''.

D-G

}
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 63, and who lived somewhere in southern Scandinavia. It appears to be the same name as the '' Daukíones'' reported by Ptolemy and Ptolemy's form is derived from PGmc *''Dauhjaniz'' while ''Widsiths form is from the non-hypocoristic form *''Dauhaniz'', both from same PGmc base *''dauh'' as the verb *''dugan'' ("to be worth").
, It has also been suggested that ''Dēanum'' should be emended to ''Denum'' ("Danes").
, -
, Danes
, non, danir, ang, Dene, gmh, Tenen
, From PGmc *''đaniz'', of uncertain origin. Some suggestions are "valley inhabitants", "inhabitants of swampy borderlands in the south", and "forest people" (cf. modern German ''Tanne'', pine tree). They are not mentioned before the 6th c.
, In several medieval chronicles, a Danish tradition is preserved that an eponymous king Dan had ruled over Zealand, Møn, Falster and Lolland, a kingdom called ''Vihtesleth''. Most Middle High German heroic poems include Danish heroes, and in the ''Nibelungenlied'' a distinction seems to be made between (a march of the Holy Roman Empire between the rivers Schlei and Eider inhabited by Danes) and (a separate kingdom).
, -
, Drecanflis
, non, Drecanflis
, Probably Drachenfels, a mountain on the Rhine that had a castle in the Middle Ages. The name is from MHG ''trache'' (dragon) and ''felse'' ("rock, cliff, stronghold on a mountain"); the form in the ''Þiðreks saga'' may show Middle Low German influence.
, The ''Þiðreks saga'' locates the giant Ecke here. The name only occurs in the ''Þiðreks saga'', but other indications suggest that the Ecke legend was placed on the Rhine in German tradition.
, -
, Dunheiðr
, non, Dúnheiðr
, Most scholars of Germanic languages have derived the name from *''Dūnabisheiðr'', the "Danube heath" or the "Danube plain". However, several historians have identified ''Dún'' with the Donets river, which was called ''Don'' in the Middle Ages.
, ''Hervarar saga''
, -
, Earnaness
, ang, Earnanæs
, ''Earn'' means "eagle", and ''næs(s)'' means "headland, bluff". It is one of several legendary place names that have a fictive quality with an element from the natural world, and like several constructed with the name of an animal in the genitive + a common word for a natural feature, and it seems to be a poetic invention. Several locations with that name exist in southern Scandinavia, such as Årnäs in Västergötland, which is commonly believed to correspond to the kingdom of the Geats, and one on the coast near Kungsbacka ("king's hill"), where the Geatish royal seat has been conjectured to have been located.
, The location, where Beowulf fights the dragon, and where their dead bodies are laid out.
, -
, East-Thuringians
, ang, Ēastþyringas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 86, and identical to the Thuringians, below. The name may be due to their eastern location east of the Elbe.
, The use of ''east'' may be to distinguish them from the Thoringi in the Netherlands.
, -
, Egyptians
, ang, Ēgypte
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 83.
,
, -
, Eowan
, ang, Eowan
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 27, who were the inhabitants Öland.
,
, -
, Exsyrings
, ang, Exsyringas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 82, who were apparently the Assyrians.
,
, -
, Etzelnburg
, gmh, Etzelnburc
, City of Etzel (Attila). Either Esztergom or Buda in Hungary.
, The name of Etzel's capital in the Middle High German tradition.
, -
, Falstr scogr
, non, Falstr scógr,
, Several thick forest once occupied the area of Holstein, from which the territory derives its name (''Holta ' "forest"). The name ''Falstr'' probably derives from a root ''fal'', one of the ethnic names for a group of the Saxons, found in MLG as ''val'', equivalent to Slavic ''pol(ije)'' ("flat land, field") with a suffix -str.
, In the ''Þiðreks saga'' a forest lying between Denmark and Hunland (Northern Germany). Sequences involving the Veleti and Dietleib von Steyr occur here.
, -
, Fehmarn
, non, Fimber
, An island in the Baltic off the coast of Holstein. The name may derived from Slavic ''ve morju'' ("in the sea") or from the Ambrones, who appear in ''Widsith'' as ''Ymbrum'' (dative plural).
, According to the Swedish version of the ''Þiðreks saga'' Vithga (Widege) fled here after he learned that Dietrich had become emperor, out of fear that Dietrich would avenge the death of his brother at Vithga's hands. The two fight a final duel here in which both are fatally wounded.
, -
, Fifeldore
, ang, Fīfeldor
, A location mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 43, which is identified with the estuary of the Eider. The word ''fīfel'' may mean "flooder, overflower".
, The fight between Offa and the Myrgings was at this location.
, -
, Franks
, ang, Francan, ang, Froncan, , non, Frakkar
, The ethnonym ''Franks'' is derived from PGmc *''Frankan-'', itself probably from PGmc *''frankaz'' meaning "fierce, daring, eager to fight". An alternative etymology proposes to derive the ethnonym from the name of the Frankish weapon, the *''frankōn'', although it may be the other way around., s.v. ''Franken''.
, In Middle High German, the name is usually used for Franconians; in the ''Waltharius'', the Burgundian kings are called and in MHG they are sometime scalled ("Rhine Franconians"). Separated from Rhine Franconia is East Franconia (), north and south of the Main River. Travelers going to or from the Burgundian kingdom from the East pass through it. In the ''Þiðreks saga'' "Frakland" refers roughly to the area in modern France under the control of the Capetian dynasty in the thirteenth century.
, -
, Frekastein
, non, Frekastein
, The name means "wolf cliff". It appears in the eddic poems, ''Helgakvíða Hjǫrvarðssonar'', ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II'', and in ''Völsunga saga''. The location is considered unidentified, but a location in south-eastern Sweden has been suggested.
, The location where Helgi Hjörvardsson dies after a duel, and where later Helgi Hundingsbane wins his battle against Hothbrodd.
, -
, Frisians
, ang, Frísan, , ,, non, Frísir
, From PGmc *''Frīsaz''. Unclear origin; perhaps related to PGmc *''frijaz'' ("free").
, Conflict between the Frisians and Danes forms the basis of the Old English ''Finnsburh Fragment'' and is also alluded to in ''Beowulf'' and ''Widsith''. In ''Kudrun'', the Frisians are one of the people in Heoden (Hetel's) kingdom, but are otherwise absent from surviving continental tradition. In the ''Þiðreks saga'', Attila is a Frisian prince who conquers the Hunaland, and there is an allusion to at least one other forgotten legend concerning them in the saga.
, -
, Frumtings
, ang, Frumtingas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 68, who were the followers of the Suebi Kingdom, Suebian king Framta, in Spain. The name may originally have been ''Framtingas''.
, There was rivalry between the Framtings, the faction of king Framta and the Maldrings, the followers of king Maldras, when king Rechiar died in 457. The alliteration between Frumar and Framta suggests that they were near relatives. The faction may have been called ''Framtings'' when following Framta, and ''Frumtings'' when following Frumar. When Frumar died 464, Richimund could unite the Sueves and become sole king.
, -
, Fyn
, non, Fjón
, An island in what is today Denmark.
, In ''Völsunga saga'', Gudrun and Thora make a tapestry showing Sigar and Siggeir doing battle on the island.
, -
, Fyrisvellir
, non, Fýrisvellir
, The plains ('' vellir'', " wolds") south of Uppsala. The first element is from Old East Norse *''wikt:fjara, føre'' "soggy hay meadow" or "inundated area" and there are remains of the name in the small lakes (''Övre Föret'' and ''Nedre Föret''). The phoneme ''ø'' was misinterpreted in the Icelandic tradition and replaced with ''y''.
, Mentioned in ''Ynglinga saga'', ''Styrbjarnar þáttr Svíakappa'', ''Hervarar saga'' and ''Hrólfs saga kraka''.
, -
, Garda, Veneto, Garda
, gmh, Garte
, Garda in medieval Lombardy, modern Veneto.
, The home of Hildebrand and the capital of Ortnit. Ortnit's analogue in the ''Þiðreks saga'' is instead associated with Novgorod (''Holmgarðr'').
, -
, Geats
, non, gautar, ang, Gēatas
, There are several arguments that connect the Geats and the Goths, and some of them are linguistic ones. The ''Geatas''/''gautar'' ethnonym is derived from PGmc *''gautaz'' a different ablaut grade of the Name of the Goths, same root that gave Goths (*gutaniz), and ablauting was used to connect related geographic entities. The two names probably meant "Insemination, pourers (of semen)", i.e. "men".
, The ethnonym originally probably referred exclusively to the population of Gautland ("Geatland"), modern Västergötland, but in Old Norse, it could also include the people of Östergötland. Later it was extended to the population of Götaland ("lands of the Geats"), which was coined to separate it from the core territory Västergötland. The Anglo-Saxons seem to have confused the Geats with the Jutes once the latter people were no longer important. The nature of how they were subsumed into Sweden is an old and inflammatory debate, influenced by a strong movement of popular Götaland theory, modern Geatish revisionism.
, -
, Gefflegan
, ang, Gefflēgan
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 60. Kemp Malone, Malone analyses it as ''gefl'', an epithet cognate with Gothic ''gifla'' ("pinnacle"), an ''Ēgan'' which would refer to the Aviones. Their location may have been in Jutland.
,
, -
, Gepids
, ang, Gifðas, ang, Gefþan lat, Gepidae
, The Gepids had migrated from southern Sweden to the mouth of the Vistula by the 1st c. In the next century they moved to the Hungarian plain, where they together with other Germanic tribes defeated the Huns in 454. In the 6th c. the Lombards defeated them and they disappear from history.
, According to ''Beowulf'' they were still associated with their old homeland in Sweden.
, -
, Gjukungs/Gibichungen
, non, Gjúkungar
, The sons of Gjuki, alternative name for the Burgundian kings.
, The name appears to be an Old Norse neologism and is absent from the German tradition.
, -
, Glasir Grove
, non, Glasislundr
, ''Glasir'' means "resplendent". It is one of several poetic place names found in ''Helgakvíða Hjǫrvarðssonar''.
,
, -
, Glæsisvellir
, non, Glæsisvellir
, Glæsisvellir was the mythical kingdom of Guðmundr in the north-east of Scandinavia that appears in several legendary sagas and in ''Gesta Danorum''. According to Rudolf Simek, it was most likely not based on pagan Germanic traditions but created in medieval Scandinavia through foreign influence.
,
, -
, Glomman
, ang, Glomman
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 69, who may have referred to the Lemovii mentioned by Tacitus, or the people at the Glomma river in Norway.
, Both the Lemovii and the Glomma have been analysed with ON ''glammi'' ("wolf" i.e. "barker").
, -
, Gnipalund or Gnipa Grove
, non, Gnípalundr
, ''Gnípa'' means "peak", but the location is unidentified.
, In the ''Völsunga saga'' a good harbour in Granmar's kingdom. In ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'', a location in Granmar's kingdom, where Sinfjötli is said to have been castrated by gýgjar.
, -
, Gnipafjord
, non, Gnipafjǫrðr
, For ''gnipa'', see above.
, A fjord mentioned in connection with the town Hvítabœr, in ''Ragnars saga Loðbrókar''.
, -
, Gnitaheath
, non, Gnitaheiðr
, Possibly meaning "heath of debris."
, The heath where the dragon Fafnir lives. In the twelfth century, the Icelandic bishop Nikulús of Þverá was shown the location of Gnitaheath south of Paderborn in Germany.
, -
, Götaland
, non, Gautland, ang, Geatland
, See ''Geats''.
,
, -
, Goths
, non, gotar, ang, gotan
, A Germanic tribe that moved from the Baltic sea area and settled in the Ukraine before splitting up into Visigoths and Ostrogoths. Name of the Goths, The ethnonym ''Goths'' is derived from PGmc *''Gutaniz'' (pl.) from PGmc *''geutan'' meaning "to pour, to mould" and it is the same as that of the population of Gotland, The ethnonym is closely related to that of the Geats with which it shares etymology, probably meaning "Insemination, pourers (of semen)", i.e. "men".
, Old Norse does not differentiate between Gotlanders and Goths and Old English between them and Geats. In Middle High German epic, the name Goths is not used, despite the prominence of Gothic heroes such as Dietrich von Bern.
, -
, Gothiscandza
, lat, Gothiscandza
, Presumably from *''Gutisk-andja'', i.e. "Gothic end", or from *''Guti-Skandia'' which means "Gothic Scandinavia", and possibly the origin of the city names Gdansk and Gdynia, in northern Poland, where the Goths are reported to have settled after their migration from Scandinavia.
, The vast majority of scholars consider Jordanes' account of a Gothic migration from Scandinavia to the mouth of the Vistula, c. 100 B.C. to be trustworthy in its general outline.
, -
, Greeks
, ang, Crēacas, gmh, Krieche(n), non, Grecia, Girkland
, The Greeks are an Indo-European people living in Greece but also ruling the Byzantine Empire; the name probably derives from a single Greek tribe. The name derives in Germanic languages via Gothic, regularly showing initial ''k'' for ''g''.
, ''Widsith'' places the Greeks under the rule of Caesar ( ang, Casere), reflecting the Byzantine Empire. In Middle High German epic, a number of characters are associated with Greece or the Eastern Roman Empire, including Dietrich von Kriechen, Hugdietrich, and Wolfdietrich. In the ''Þiðreks saga'', it is treated as part of the domains of other kings, such as Ermanaric or the Russian Hertnið (Ortnit). The conquests by the Rus' rulers in the saga could reflect historical attacks by the Rus' on Byzantium.
, -
, Greutungi
, , ,
, ''Greuting'' was an East Gothic tribal name derived from PGmc *''ʒreutan'', meaning "stone, gravel". It is preserved in German ''Grudziądz, Graudenz'' from Old Prussian ''Graudingis''.
, Appears in the ''Hlǫðskvíða'' part of ''Hervarar saga''
, -
, Grindir
, non, Grindir
, A location that appears in ''Völsunga saga'' based on a misreading of ''í grindom'' ("within a harbour marked out with stakes") in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I''.
, Granmar reports that Helgi Hundingsbane has a large force there.
, -
, Grove of Bondage
,
, In ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II'', Helgi ("dedicated to the gods") is killed by his brother-in-law Dag using a spear that he has been given by Odin.
, This has long been compared to an account by Tacitus on the Semnones. They had a grove that could only be entered when they were fettered, and the god who was worshiped was probably Odin, and being fettered may have been an imitation of Odin's self-sacrifice.

H-K

}
, The ''Hæleþan'' were a people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 81. The name ''Halla herred'' is attested in the Doomesday book of Valdemar II of Denmark for an area at the Randers Fjord in north Jutland. The attestation in ''Widsith'' has also been emended to ''Hæreþan'' and connected to the Charudes.
, The North Germanic form is from *''halþar'', while the OE name shows another grade, ''haluþi'', which changed into ''halyþi'', to ''hæliþi'', and finally to ''Hæleþ''. The ON ''Hǫlðar'' corresponds to the OE form, and was a heiti for "men", and such words were commonly derived from ethnonyms. The people are probably attested as the ''Chali'' by Ptolemy.
, -
, Hälsingland
, non, Helsingjaland, , , ang, Hælsingas?
, The name is originally an ethnonym, the ''Helsings'', with the element -''land'', signifying their "territory". The ethnonym is a genitive plural of ''hals'' ("neck") referring to a narrow strait, and in this case the Kvarken, narrow part of the Gulf of Bothnia. It was long an independent region of Scandinavia, and it probably did not become a part of Sweden until the Christianization in the 11th c. The laws of the Helsings concerned all of the northern 2/3 of Sweden, Norrland, until at least 1436.
, During the Roman era, the region was the principal recipient of Roman objects in what today is Sweden, and it is also where the earliest finds of Samanid Empire, Samanid coins have been made in Sweden.
, -
, Hælsingas
, ang, Hælsingas
, A people that is mentioned in ''Widsith'' as ruled by Wade (folklore), Wade. Karl Müllenhoff, Müllenhoff connected the name with ''hals'' ("neck") although he considered them fictive. They cannot be identified securely, but are generally considered to have been a real people. Most scholars localize them somewhere on the shores of the Baltic Sea. They were identified as early as Price (1826) as the people of ''Hälsingland'' (see above), he considered ''Helsinki'' (''Helsingfors''), ''Helsingborg'' and ''Helsingör'' to be traces left by their settlers. That these names were spread by colonizers is a view also shared by Chambers (1912).
, Chambers comments that philologists around 1912 generally have connected this people with the name of a river that appears in Ptolemy, the ''Χάλουσος ποταμός'', but the location of this river is disputed.
, -
, Hatafjord
, non, Hatafjorðr
, The name means "Hati's fjord" and is where lived the jötunn Hati, whose names means "hateful", in ''Helgakvíða Hjǫrvardssonar''.
, The location where Helgi Hjörvardsson kills the jötunn Hati. The jötunn's daughter Hrímgerðr is upset and starts a raunchy flyting contest with Helgi and his companion Atli² that ends with Hrímgerðr being caught by sunrise and turning to stone.
, -
, Hatun
, non, Hátún
, The name means the "high enclosure".
, A location mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' among the estates given to the hero at his naming ceremony.
, -
, Heaðobards
, ang, Heaðubeardan
, The Heaðobards are sworn enemies of the Danes, who are mentioned in ''Beowulf'' and ''Widsith''. A Germanic people who were possibly a remnant of the Lombards, Langobards. The name is from PGmc *''χaþuz'' ("war") and *''barđaz'' ("beard").
, In ''Beowulf'', Hróðgar's daughter Freawaru will marry their king Ingeld to bring peace between the tribes. At the wedding a young Dane will offend the Heaðobards by carrying one of their captured swords. An old Heaðobard will cause a young Heaðobard to kill the Dane and escape with the sword. After this Ingeld's interest in the bride will diminish and the feud will start again.
, -
, Heaðoreamas
,
, See ''Romerike''.
,
, -
, Hebrews
, ang, Ebrēas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 83, possibly referring to the people of Kingdom of Judah, Judah in contrast to those of Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), Israel.
,
, -
, Heðinsey
, non, Heðinsey
, It may be the same island as Hiddensee near Rügen.
, It is mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' as a location from where a fleet with warriors was sent to him. The location is probably taken from the tradition of the island of Hjaðningavíg (see below).
, -
, Hedmark
, non, Heiðmǫrk, , , ang, Hǣðnas
, The people of Hedmark are mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 81, as the ''Hǣðnas''.
, The people may be mentioned in Ptolemy as the ''χαιδεινοι''.
, -
, Helmings
, ang, Helmingas
, The name is from ''Helm'' means "protector", and a Wulfing called Helm is mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 29. Wealhtheow, Hrothgar's wife is called ''ides Helminga'' ("lady of the Helmings") in ''Beowulf'' (610), which means that she belonged to Helm's clan and was a Wulfing.
,
, -
, Heodenings
, ang, Heodeningas, non, Hjaðningar, gmh, Hegelinge
, *Heðaningas, from the personal name Heoden or maybe meaning "people of the skins". The German form may show a phonetic development of -tl- to -gl- or have been influenced by the place name Högling near Tegernsee.
, Ethnic name of Heoden's people. In ''Widsith'', he is king of the "island-Rugians" (), in ''Kudrun'' his kingdom seems to be in Denmark, and in ''Sörla Þattr'', he is king of "Serkland", which may mean Africa.
, -
, Heorot
, ang, Heorot
, The hall of the Danish king Hrothgar, and it appears in ''Widsith'', line 49, and in ''Beowulf''.
, The name has been connected to the Danish champion Hort(ar) from Lejre, who appears in the account of the Battle of Brávellir in ''Gesta Danorum''.
, -
, Herefaran
, ang, Herefaran
, A people who are mentioned in line 34, in ''Widsith'', but whose identity is unknown, but the name may mean "pirate".
,
, -
, Herelings
, ang, Herelingas, gmh, Harlunge
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 112, whose name means the "followers of Herela". The name ''Herela'' means "he of the army", which fits the god Odin, and corresponds to king Herla, the leader of the Wild Hunt (Odin).
, The name corresponds to the Harlungs of the ''Þiðrikssaga''.
, -
, Himin Fells, and Himin Meadows
, non, Himinfjǫll and
, The two locations are mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' and mean "sky fells" and "sky meadows". ''Himinfjǫll'' may be simply a descriptive word, but both are probably created for poetic purposes.
,
, -
, Hindarfjall
, non, Hindarfjall
, ON for "Hind mountain". It is called ''Hindarheið'' in ''Norna-Gests þáttr'', and ''Skatalund'' ("grove of heroes") in ''Helreið Brynhildar'', and ''Norna-Gests þáttr''.
, The mountain in the land of the Franks where Brunhild is asleep behind flames in the Norse tradition.
, -
, Hinnøya
, non, Ǫmð, ang, Amoþingas
, An island whose people are mentioned in ''Widsith''. It is the largest island what is today Norway.
, The island was the seat of the 6th c. petty king Goðgestr, an ancestor of the earls of Lade, and notable because of his death. ''Ynglinga saga'' relates that the Swedish king Aðils (Eadgils) sent Goðgestr a horse named Hrafn that threw him off so that he died.
, -
, Hlé Fells
, non, Hlébjǫrg
, The word ''hlé'' means "leeward".
, In 'Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II'', it is where Helgi Hundingsbane killed the sons of Hrollaugr.
, -
, Hlymdalir
, non, Hlymdalir
, ''Hlymr'' means "clash, as of hooves", and ''dalir'' means "dales".
, The place where Aslaug is raised by Brunhild's fosterfather Heimir.
, -
, Hocings
, ang, Hōcingas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 29, and it is the plural form of a patronym and used for a people ruled by a dynasty. In ''Beowulf'' it is explained that Hoc was the father of the Danes Hnæf and Hildeburh, so it appears that the Hocings were a Danish group. The fact that there is h-alliteration, and Hnæf and his men are referred to has ''Healfdene'' and ''Scyldings'', suggests that the Hocings were related to the ruling dynasty of the Danes, the Scyldings.
, The patronym appears in no other context for a group of people, but Charlemagne's wife Hildegard had a great-grandfather named ''Huoching'', and ''Høkingr'' is a sea-king in an Icelandic poem, where it means Hoc's sword.
, -
, Hofferdh
, non, Hofferdh
, An unidentified town in ''Suáwen'' (Swabia, but meaning generally southern Germany). The name is probably allegorical and from ON ''hofferd'' ("pride," "pomp") from MHG ''Hoverde''/''Hôchvart'' ("pride" also "noble, elegant living"), from MHG ''hôch'' ("high") and ''varn'' ("to live, to fare").
, According to the Swedish version of the ''Þiðreks saga'', Dietrich saved himself from being carried to hell by a black horse by praying to God and Mary. He then hunted down Vithga (Widege) to the island of Fehmarn off Holstein, where both were mortally wounded in a duel. Dietrich then went to the nearby town of Hofferdh and died.
, -
, Holmrugians
, ang, Holmryc[g]as
, The "island Rugians", a people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 21, and the name may refer to the ''Holmrygir'' of Rogaland or to the Rugians.
, Kemp Malone, Malone points out the usual sense of ''holm'' in Old English was "sea" and suggest that this indicates that ''Widsith'' referred to the Continental Rugians.
, -
, Reidgotaland, Hreith-Goths
, ang, Hrædas, non, Hreiðgotar
, The identification is disputed: Otto Höfler argues that the name applies to all Goths, whereas Otto von Friesen argued that it referred only to Goths who lived near the Vistula. The name is given five possible explanations by Jan de Vries (philologist), Jan der Vries: 1) it could be ON (nest), referring to those Goths who did not migrate from the Baltic; 2) it could be from (fame), but de Vries rejects this; 3) it could be a Germanization of the Adriatic sea (from got, *Hraiðimari-gutans, from la, Hadriatica mare); 4) it could be from an unattested PGmc ("elite, chosen"); 5) it could come from a root meaning first "fence" and then "assembly" (de Vries rejects this as well).
, ''Widsith'' locates the Hrædas on the Vistula, and the ''Hervarar Saga'' similarly located adjacent to Gardariki, Garðaríki, Hunaland, and Saxland, while Haukr Erlendsson placed them in eastern Poland. West Norse sources such as Snorri tend to instead localize in Jutland. The Rök runestone mentions a (Hreith-sea).
, -
, Hreosnaburh
, ang, Hreosnaburh
, The name may mean "hill of sorrows", but Andy Orchard, Orchard considers it meaningless unless emended as ''Hrefnaburh'' ("raven's stronghold"). It is one of several legendary place names that have a fictive quality. Just like the names of the Danish rulers alliterated with their residence ''Heorot''/''Hleiðr'', the Yngling rulers' names alliterated with their residence Gamla Uppsala, Uppsala, the names of the Geatish rulers alliterate with their seat Hreosnaburh.
, When the Geatish prince Haethcyn accidentally had killed his brother Herebeald with arrow, their father Hrethel died of grief because he couldn't avenge his dead son on his last son. With Haethcyn left as the king of the Geats, the Swedes took advantage of the situation and successfully raided the Geats at Hreosnaburh.
, -
, Hringstaðir
, non, Hringstaðir and non, Hringstǫð
, The two locations are mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' as estates given to the hero at his naming ceremony, and they are probably inspired by Ringsted in Denmark.
,
, -
, Hronan
, ang, Hronan
, A people who are mentioned in line 63, in ''Widsith'', but whose identity is unknown. The two other ethnonyms that appear in the same line belong to the southern part of the Scandinavian peninsula. The name corresponds to the Icelandic ''hrani'' ("coarse, crude, heedless person") and the Old Norse name ''Hrani'' ("blusterer, boaster"). The word ''hrani'' has been explained as "the one who squeals like a pig".
, Several scholars have identified them as the ''Ranii'' of Jordanes, and others with ''Hronesness'' in ''Beowulf''. Other suggested identifications are "whale hunters" and the people of :da:Hindborg Sogn, Hærnborg in Jutland.
, -
, Hronesness
, ang, Hrones Næs
, ''Hron'' means "whale", and ''næs(s)'' means "headland, bluff". It is one of several legendary place names that have a fictive quality with an element from the natural world, and like several constructed with the name of an animal in the genitive + a common word for a natural feature, and it seems to be a poetic invention.
, Where the Geats raise the barrow over Beowulf's remains.
, -
, Hundings
, ang, Hundingas
, A people who are mentioned in ''Widsith'' lines 23 and 81. It means "sons of dogs" and may be an old derogatory term for the Lombards and that later was narrowed down to those who lived in East Holstein. The epithet may have an old history with the Lombards and be related to Hungar (*''hund-gãr'', i.e. "dog spear") or Lamicho, who was the second king of the Lombards according to Paul the Deacon.
, The king ''Hunding'' who appears in the ''Poetic Edda'' and king ''Hundingus'' in ''Gesta Danorum'' are also related.
, -
, Hundland
, non, Hundland
, It is probably a creation by the poet to give a country for king Hunding to rule in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''. It is not the same as Hunland, the land of the Huns.
,
, -
, Huns
, ang, Hūnas, non, Húnar, gmh, Hiunen
, The Huns, a non-Germanic nomadic tribe.
, In Old Norse, is used both for Atli's subjects and as a general name for people from south of Scandinavia. In Middle High German epic, the Huns are identified with the Hungarians. In the ''Þiðrekssaga'' is located in Northern Germany and roughly corresponds to the Duchy of Westphalia.
, -
, Hvítabǿr
, non, Hvítabǿr
, In ''Ragnars saga loðbrókar'', the city seems to be Vitaby in Scania, however the saga may preserve a connection of the English town Whitby.
, A city raided by Ragnar's sons in ''Ragnars saga loðbrókar''. Rognvald is killed there.
, -
, Idumings
, ang, Idumingas
, A people who are mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 87. The name may refer to a Livonians, Livonian population, the Ydumaei, who were mentioned by Livonian Chronicle of Henry, Henricus Lettus.
,
, -
, Greater India, Indians (India)
, ang, Indēas
, The inhabitants of South Asia, mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 83.
, A misreading of the name as ''Judeum'' was adopted by several scholars.
, -
, Ilwan
, ang, Ilwan or ang, Eolum (dative)
, A people who are mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 87. The name refers to the same Germanic people on the lower Vistula, as the ''Helveconae'' of Tacitus and the ''Elvaeones'' of Ptolemy.
, The difference between the three forms of ''Widsith'', Tacitus and Ptolemy is that ''Elvaeones'' has a ''ja''-suffix, ''Helvecones'' has a ''k''-suffix, while ''Ilwan'' has a nil-grade of the Ptolemaic suffix.
, -
, Isenstein
, gmh, Îsenstein
, From Middle High German ''îsen'' ("iron") and ''stein'' ("stone"). Brunhild's castle in the ''Nibelungenlied''.
, Localized on Iceland ( gmh, Îsland) in the ''Nibelungenlied'', possibly showing knowledge of Old Norse traditions. However, "Iceland" shows no similarities to Iceland besides being an island far away from the Burgundian realm.
, -
, Island of the Hjaðningavíg
, gmh, Wülpenwerde or , non, Höð or
, Assuming an origin in the Baltic sea, the original location may have been Hiddensee, ( non, Heðinsey, island of Heoden), an island in the Baltic and the location given by the ''Gesta Danorum''.
, The battle is variously located: the German tradition places it on the island of Wulpen (island), Wulpen in the Scheldt estuary. The Norse tradition places it on the island of Hod off Norway or on Hoy, Orkney, Hoy in the Orkneys, while the ''Gesta Danorum'' places it at Hiddensee.
, -
, Israelites
, ang, Isrāhelas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 82, possibly referring to the people of Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), Israel in contrast to those of Kingdom of Judah, Judah.
,
, -
, Iste
, ang, Īste
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 87, and identified by Kemp Malone, Malone as Ostrogoths at the Baltic Sea, and not identical to the Greutungi of the Ukraine. They have also been identified with the Aesti of Tacitus, with the Istvaeones, Istaevones and with the Istrians.
, Malone rejects the other identifications on linguistic and historic grounds.
, -
, Italian Peninsula
, ang, Eatul
, A location mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 70, and the name is the Old English form of ''Italy''.
,
, -
, Jassarfjǫll
, non, Jassarfjǫll
, Several theories have been proposed such as the Czech Republic, Czech Eastern Sudetes, Jeseniky Mountains, the north Hungary, Hungarian North Hungarian Mountains, Jaszygi mountains and hills in Croatian Banovina (region), Banovina. However, ''Jas''- can be connected to the Alans and so ''Jassarfjǫll'' were probably the Jas/Alan hills, the Donets Ridge which were considered sacred by locals until the 16th century.
,
, -
, Jochgrimm
, gmh, Jochgrîm
, Mountain in South Tyrol.
, The three queens who send Ecke out to seek Dietrich von Bern in the ''Eckenlied'' reside here.
, -
, Jutes
, non, jótar, ang, Ēotas, la, Iutae,
, The derivation is unclear, but suggested meanings are "people" (cf. ON ''ýtar''), "land" (cf. Greek ''οὖδας'') or "waterland" (cf. the Swedish lake names '':sv:Juten, Juten'' and ''Jutern''). They are associated with Jutland and took part in the Anglo-Saxon migration to England, which implies early Scandinavian elements among the Anglo-Saxons, but it is also possible that the West Germanic Jutes that left for England were replaced by North Germanic people who inherited their name.
, There is a long-standing debate in ''Beowulf'' studies whether the word for ''Jutes'' actually refer to (sometimes translated as "giants") and whether the ''Frisians'' refer to "Jutes". Moreover, it has been proposed that the Geats of ''Beowulf'' were in fact Jutes.
, -
, Kerlingen
, gmh, Kerlingen, non, Tarlungaland (''Þiðreks saga'')
, French/Franks, the land or people of Charlemagne. The form in ''Þiðreks saga'' appears to be a distortion of ''Karlunga-land'', from the MHG name.
, In German tradition, the name is especially associated with Walter of Aquitaine. In the ''Þiðreks saga'', the location of Sigurd/Siegfried's kingdom, south of ''Frakland'' (France).

L-S

}, non, á nesi Ságu
, In ''Völsunga saga'' called ''Láganes'' instead of ''á nesi Ságu'' that appears in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I''. ''Lágr'' (as in ''Láganes'') means "low", whereas Sága and Sökkvabekkr, Sága (as in ''á nesi Ságu'') was the name of a Norse goddess.
, In the ''Völsunga saga'' and ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'', Sinfjötli says that he made Granmar/Gudmund pregnant with nine wolves in the location.
, -
, Læsø
, non, Hlésey
, The name means "leeward island". In 'Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II'', the hero lies that he lives there. In ''Oddrúnargrátr'', the heroine reports that she visited Geirmund in his castle on the island.
,
, -
, Lejre
, non, Hleiðr or non, Hleiðargarðr
, According the ''Skjöldunga saga'', the oldest residence of the Scylding, Skjöldung clan. ''Beowulf'' mentions the hall of Heorot in the location, and it is supposedly the site of Harald Wartooth's grave. Thietmar of Merseburg reported of great pagan sacrifices very much like those in Gamla Uppsala, Uppsala. His report may be substantiated by finds of 10th c. buildings on the location. The names of the Danish rulers alliterated with their residence ''Heorot''/''Hleiðr'', just as the Geatish rulers with ''Hreosnaburh'', and the Yngling rulers' names alliterated with their residence Gamla Uppsala, Uppsala.
, Generally identified with the location of Heorot in ''Beowulf''
, -
, Leonas
, ang, Lēonas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 80, and identified by Kemp Malone, Malone as the ''ljónar'' of ''Ynglingatal'', i.e. the ''liunar'' or Östergötland, but Iversen, who partly bases a study on Malone's analysis of ''Widsith'', considers this identification too speculative to even be mentioned.
, Other identifications suggested by scholars are the Leonas in Armorica, the Asturians of León, Spain and the Liothida of Jordanes.
, -
, Lidings, Lidvikings
, ang, Lidwicingas, , non, Liðungar
, ''Lidingas'' is an emendation of the MS' ''Lidwicingum'' as ''Lidingum''. A people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 80, and mentioned as ''Liðungar'' in ''Íslenzkir Annálar'', and generally accepted as the inhabitants of the Oslo region.
, Another identification is the ''Letavici'' of Armorica whose name has forms like ''Lidwiccas'' in Old English annals.
, -
, Limfjord
, non, Limfjorðr
, In ''Atlamál'', the Limfjord in northern Jutland separates the kingdom of the Huns from the kingdom of the Gjukungs.
,
, -
, :de:Locheim (Biebesheim), Locheim
, gmh, Loch
, A town once located between Mainz and Worms on the Rhine that was destroyed by a flood in the thirteenth century.
, The place where Hagen has the hord of the Nibelungs sunk in the Rhine in the ''Nibelungenlied''.
, -
, Logafjöll
, non, Logafjǫll
, The means "flame mountains". It is mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''.
, In shining splendour, the Valkyrie Sigrún meets Helgi Hundingsbane for the first time, and the poet gives the place the fitting name "flame mountains".
, -
, Lombards, Lombardy
, la, Langobardi, gmh, Lamparten, ang, Longbeardan, non, Langbarðar
, A Germanic tribe, their name means "men with long beards". In the medieval period, the name "Lombardy" referred to a larger area than the modern Lombardy region in northern Italy.
, The Kingdom of Ortnit, Wolfdietrich, and Dietrich von Bern is referred to as "Lombardy" (), which is also used as a people name. The ''Þiðreks saga'' sometimes distinguishes it from "Amlungaland" (see Amals).
, -
, Lorsch Abbey
, gmh, Lôrs
, A Benedictine monastery located 15 kilometers from Worms, founded 764.
, According to the ''Nibelungenlied'' C, Kriemhild and her mother Ute both stayed at the monastery. A large sarcophagus in the chapel is said to be Siegfried's coffin.
, -
, Mälaren
, non, Lǫgrinn, , ,
, The name ''Lǫgrinn'' is the definite form of ''lǫgr'' which means "water" and "lake", and is cognate with ''lake''. It is located west of Stockholm.
, In Norse mythology it was created by the goddess Gefjun when she tricked the Swedish king Gylfi into giving her the amount of land she could plough during a day and a night. She pulled away a large piece of land and put it between the island of Fyn and Scania, creating Zealand. What remained was filled with water creating Mälaren. The lake is mentioned in e.g. ''Ragnarsdrápa'', ''Heimskringla'' and ''Ásmundar saga kappabana''.
, -
, Merovingian dynasty, Merovingian
, ang, Merewīoing
,
,
, -
, wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/mērijaz, Maerings, Maeringa burg
, ang, Mǣringa burg, non, Mæringa[r] (corrected from ). A 12-c. gloss from Regensburg gives gmh, Meranare for Goths.
, Possibly the clan name of Theodoric the Great, from wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/mēraz, ''mer''/''mær'' (famous), thus "the famous Goths". The element was commonly used in his family; his father was Theodemir (Ostrogothic king), Theodemer, and his uncles Valamir, Valamer and Vidumer. Possibly connected to Maronia (Istria, (MHG Mêrân)) or Meran in South Tyrol.
, People/place name associated with Dietrich von Bern in ''Deor'' and on the Rök runestone.
, -
, Mautern an der Donau
, gmh, Mûtâren, gmh, Mûter
, A town in Austria located on the Danube.
, The Burgundians pass through Mautern on their way to Attila's court. In ''Virginal'', Mautern is the location of Dietrich von Bern's captivity among giants, and the place is referred to in connection with Dietrich and Heime (Háma's) liberation by Witige in ''Alpharts Tod'' as well.
, -
, Mofdings, Ofdings
, ang, Mōfdingas,
, The ''Widsith'' manuscript reads ''Mofdingum'' in line 86, and whom it referred to is unknown, but Kemp Malone, Malone emends it as ''Ofdingum'' and derives it from Ovida. As a dynastic name it would have referred to the Ostrogoths of Geberic's time.
, It may be assumed that the Ostrogoths of Geberic's time (4th c.) still controlled the Vistula basin.
, -
, Moinsheim and Moinsheimar
, non, Móinsheim and
, Mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' and ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''. Bugge who tried to locate the heroic lays in Denmark, suggested Møn. See also Moin (mythology), Moin in Norse mythology.
,
, -
, Møn
, ang, Moide, non, Mói
, The ''Moide'' were a group people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 84, and identified as the inhabitants of the island of Møn. The old name of the island was ''Mói'' and it appears in Adam of Bremen's work as ''Moiland''. The name is derived from *''mōh'' with an ''aja''-suffix and the Old English form regularly evolved from it. It is also identified with a battle mentioned in the ''Poetic Edda'', see ''Móinsheim''-, above.
, Older scholarship interpreted the name as referring to the "Medes".
, -
, Moors
, gmh, Mœre
, From medieval Latin ("Moor").
, The hero Siegfried von Moorland and some others are described as Moors in medieval German epic. In Siegfried von Moorland's case, Moor may be used synonymously with "heathen," as he appears to be a Viking.
, -
, Mornaland
, non, Mornaland
, Mentioned in ''Oddrúnargrátr'' ("Oddrun's lament"), but it is not known from anywhere else. Finnur Jónsson, Jónsson commented that he name reminded him of the Myrgings (see below), and Cleasby & Sigfússon suggest Moravia. The verb ''morna'' means "to mourn".
,
, -
, Munarheim
, non, Munarheimr
, The name means the "home of love". It is one of several poetic place names found in ''Helgakvíða Hjǫrvarðssonar''.
,
, -
, Munarvágr
, non, Munarvágr or
, The name appears with variations in spelling. If the first element is ''Una''-, it means "where life is good". The element ''Munr'' means "mind", "desire" and "love", and ''vágr'' which means "wave". It is located on the island of Samsø in the sagas.
, It is mentioned in e.g. ''Hervarar saga'', ''Orvar-Odd's saga'', ''Ragnar Lodbrok's saga'' and ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I, 31''
, -
, Myrkviðr, Mirkwood
, non, Myrkviðr
, The name means "dark forest." It is unclear if the forest had any geographical meaning originally. As for the location in the ''Hlöðskviða, Battle of the Goths and the Huns'', Omeljan Pritsak identifies it with what would later be called the "dark blue forest" (''Goluboj lěsь'') and the "black forest" (''Černyj lěsь'') near the Dnieper. German chronicler Thietmar von Merseburg (died 1018) uses to refer to the Ore Mountains, which would be on the route taken by a messenger crossing from the Rhine (Burgundians) to the Danube (Huns).
, A forest mentioned almost exclusively in Old Norse heroic poems that is often on the border between one land and another, as between the Burgundians and Huns in ''Atlakviða''. It is often between the Goths and Huns.
, -
, Myrgings
, ang, Myrgingas
, In ''Widsith'' lines 42–43, king Offa of Angel marked the border to the Myrgings at the Eider (''Fifeldore''). The word ''murge'' or ''myrge'' means "pleasing" and "agreeable", modern ''merry'', from PGmc *''murʒuz'' ("short"), and according to Rudolf Much, Much it was a derogatory nickname that was raised to a title of honour for Lombards, Langobards. However, they are also identified as Saxons or Suebians. Clarke notes that it is difficult to establish their identity as it may have been a dynastic name, and while Saxo Grammaticus, Saxo (''Gesta Danorum'') calls them Saxons, his contemporary Sven Aggesen calls them ''Alemanni, Alamani''. Also in the end of the Offa part in ''Widsith'' (line 44) it is said that the border established by Offa was upheld by Angles (Offa's people) and Suebians (''Swæfe''), which was a collective name for the tribes in the Elbe basin.
, The reason why king Eadgils of the Myrgings appears in 12th c. Danish sources (Saxo and Aggesen) as a king of Sweden may be that he was originally called ''Swebe kyning'' and that ''Sweba'' was replaced with ''Svea'' ("Swedes") which was by then more familiar.
, -
, Myrkheim
, non, Myrkheimr
, The name is ON for "World of Darkness and is probably a deliberately irreal location.
, The place where Gunnar is thrown into the snake pit in ''Atlakviða''. Nikulús of Þverá identified as having taken place in the city of Luni, Italy.
, -
, Nibelungs
, gmh, Nibelunge, non, Niflungar, la, Franci nebulones (''Waltharius'')
, Name could originate with the Nibelungids, a Frankish dynasty installed in the conquered Burgundian kingdom in southern Gaul. The etymology is uncertain, possibly named after Nivelles (Gmc ''*Niuwa-alha'' "new sanctuary"). The word has been influenced by PGmc ''*nebula-'' ("mist, darkness") or ''*nibila-'' ("low, deep, dark").
, The name is consistently applied to the Burgundians in the Old Norse sources, including the ''Þiðreks saga'', but in the German tradition it can also refer to magical beings under the control of Siegfried. In the ''Nibelungenlied'', the Burgundians are not called "Nibelungen" until the second half of the poem.
, -
, Niederland
, gmh, Niderlant
, Not the Netherlands, but the low country around Xanten.
, Sigmund and Siegfried's kingdom.
, -
, Njarar
, non, Niarar
, It's uncertain if the name represents a historical people. They have been connected to the Swedish region of Nerike or with the Belgic Nervii tribe.
, In ''Völundarkviða'', the people of King Nithhad, which it apparently places in Sweden.
, -
, Normans, Normandy
, gmh, Ormanie
,
, The land of Ludwig and Hartmut in ''Kudrun''. Certain elements seem to derive from knowledge of the Normans of Sicily rathar than Normandy in France.
, -
, Norvasund, Orvasund
, non, Nǫrvasundr, non, Ǫrvasundr
, Norvasund means "narrow strait" and was the name for the Strait of Gibraltar. ''Orvasund'' means "arrow sound".
, In the ''Völsunga saga'' a location from where troops were sent to aid Helgi Hundingsbane. In the first lay of Helgi Hundingsbane named ''Örvasund''.
, -
, Oium
, lat, Oium
, ''Oium'' is a Gothic word in the dative plural from and means "in the fruitful fields" or "on fruitful island", and it was located in the Ukraine.
, In Jordanes' ''Getica'', king Filimer is reported to have led the Goths there from Gothiscandza.
, -
, Ongendmyrgings
, ang, Ongendmyrgingas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 85, and the name may have referred to a branch of the Myrgings living in western Schleswig.
, Kemp Malone, Malone compares the word ''ongen(d)'' with name of the Swedish king Ongentheow He connects ''ongen'' to ''ing'' and ''ang'' that may be in Apophony, grade relation, which would be the simplest way of explaining the form ''Ingentheow'' in ''Widsith'' for the name ''Ongentheow''. The words relate to "spear", "sting" and "prick" and thus to ''phallus'', and the god ''Ing'' (Freyr) was a phallic god.
, -
, Pechenegs
, gmh, Petschenære
, A nomadic Turkic people, who attacked Constantinople in the eleventh century.
, Depicted as skilled bowmen who can shoot a bird while riding who are subject to Attila in the ''Nibelungenlied''.
, -
, Perse
, ang, Perse
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 84, and it may refer to the Celtic Parisi (tribe), Parisi tribe at the Humber. If it were emended to ''werse'' it would refer to the ''versir'', the inhabitants of Voss near Bergen, Norway, and if emended to ''Merse'' it would refer to the inhabitants of Mors (island), Mors, an island in the Limfjord.
, Traditionally the name has been connected to the Persians.
, -
, Picts
, ang, Peohtas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 79, and the name refers to the Picts of Scotland.
,
, -
, Pole, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poles, Poland
, gmh, Pôlân or gmh, Bôlân, non, Pulinar
, A Slavic people living in modern Poland. The name derives from Slavic ''pole'' ("field, prairie") + the derivative suffix ''-jane'' and means "prairie dwellers".
, In the ''Nibelungenlied'', they are subject to Attila. In ''Biterolf und Dietleib'', Biterolf leads Attila's armies against the rebellious Poles and Rus'. Several heroes, including Hornboge, are associated with Poland. In ''Þiðreks saga'', the area is vaguely located between Hunaland and Rus' and is partially ruled by Rus', partially by the Veleti. This may be because Poland had lost Pomerania by the time of the saga's composition and thus had no direct connection to Scandinavia via the Baltic. The saga also uses the names ''Smáland'' for Lesser Poland and ''Þioðland'' for Greater Poland.
, -
, Pomeranians (tribe), Pomeranians, Pomerania
, gmh, Pomerân
, A Slavic tribe inhabiting the area east of the Oder River.
, Dietleib conquers the Pomeranians for Attila in ''Biterolf und Dietleib''. In the ''Kaiserchronik'', the Pomeranians are among Dietrich von Bern (Theodoric the Great)'s force invading Italy to fight Odoacer.
, -
, Old Prussians, Prussians
, gmh, Priuzen
, A Baltic people who were either wiped out or conquered by the Teutonic Knights.
, In ''Biterolf und Dietleib'', Attila's Huns conquer the Prussians, and they are mentioned in other epics as well.
, -
, Raben
, gmh, Raben(e), non, Rana, possibly
, Ravenna, Italy. The ''Þiðreks saga'' locates the same battle at a place called Gronsport on the Moselle river in northern Germany; this could reflect a corruption of Gregenborg ("Greek-city"), one of the names given to Ravenna in the saga. It may instead reflect an alternative localization in Northern German legend, in which case various explanations for the name have been offered.
, Site of an enormous battle between Dietrich von Bern and Ermanaric's forces, during which Witige slays Dietrich's brother Diether and the sons of Attila and Helche. In the ''Þiðreks saga'', Ermanaric gives Ravenna to Witige after he has killed the Harlungen.
, -
, Ramsta, Nærøy, Ramsta
, non, Hrafnista
, A small homestead in Northern Norway that has given its name to four legendary sagas, the Hrafnistumannasögur.
,
, -
, Raudabjorg
, non, Rauðabjǫrg
, ''Rauða''- means "red" while ''bjǫrg'' means "help, deliverance out of need or danger".
, A location mentioned in ''Völsunga saga'' as the location where Helgi Hundingsbane assembled his army.
, -
, Ravenswood
, ang, Hrefna Wudu, ang, Hrefnes Holt
, A forest in Sweden. The name ''Hrefna Wudu'' is mentioned line 2925, and ''Hrefnes Holt'' in line 2935.
, In the battle of Ravenswood against the Geats, the Swedish king Ongentheow fell, and Ohtere succeeded him.
, -
, Rodulsvoll, Rodulsfell
, non, Rǫðulsvǫll and
, ''Rǫðull'' may mean "the sun", but it may also mean "glory" and "halo", or "crest". ''Fjall'' means "mountain". For the meaning of ''vǫll'', see Fýrisvellir.
, ''Rǫðulsvǫll'' is mentioned by the Valkyrie Svafa as the location where the hero of the poem was born, and ''Rǫðulsfjall'' is mentioned by the hero as place near his home.
, -
, Rogheim
, non, Rogheimr
, Cleasby & Sigfússon suggest Rogaland.
, Mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hjǫrvarðssonar'', as a location where the hero of the poem lives.
, -
, Romerike
, ang, Heaðoreamas, non, Raumar, non, Raumaríki, lat, Raumariciae
, The people of Romerike are mentioned as the ''Heaðoreamas'' ("battle raumar") in Beowulf and as the ''Raumariciae'' in Jordanes' ''Getica''. The name is derived from the river Glomma, Raumelfr, where ''raumr'' is derived from ''rjúmi'' or ''rjómi'' which means "calm".
, North Germanic tribe
, -
, Rondings
, ang, Rondingas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 24. Chambers translates it as the "shield men", while Kemp Malone, Malone compares it to ''rondburgum'' ("border strongholds") and interpretes the name as the "borderers" and referring to the people of Telemark.
, Other scholars have identified the name with the Reudigni of Tacitus.
, -
, Rosomoni
, la, Rososomoni,
, The name of the family of Svanhildr, Sunilda and Jonakr's sons, Ammius and Sarus in Jordanes ''Getica'': the name may derive from Pre-Germanic ''**rudh-s-mn̥-'' "those bearing red", possibly indicating natural or dyed hair or skin color.
, In the 19th century, Karl Müllenhoff believed that the name was of mythological origin, while Richard Heinzel suggested a connection to the early Slavs. Other suggestions are that the name is a version of Iranian Roxolani; however, the names given in Jordanes are clearly Germanic. Herwig Wolfram suggested a connection to the Heruli, however Helmut Castritius argues that they were a Gothic noble family.
, -
, Rugii
, ang, Rondingas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 69. According to Kemp Malone, Malone identical to the Holmrugians of the same poem.
, Chambers located them on the Danube, which Malone considers to be incorrect.
, -
, Rumwalas
, ang, Rūmwalas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 69, and identifiable with the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire.
, The vowel ''ū'' instead of ''o'' shows transmission through Gothic intermediaries.
, -
, Rus' people, Rus'
, gmh, Riuze(n), non, Ruzi (''Þiðreks saga''), non, Garðar, non, Garðaríki and many other namesE.g. non, Hólmgarðaríki ("Realm of Novgorod"), non, Austrríki ("Eastern Realm"), non, Austrvegr ("Eastern Route"), non, Rússía, non, Rússland, non, Svíþióð hinn kalda ("the Cold Sweden"), and non, Svíþjóð hin mikla ("the Great Sweden").
, Old East Slavic, OES ''wikt:Русь, Rus''' is generally accepted to derive from Finnic languages, Finnic ''wikt:Ruotsi, ruotsi'' ("Swedes (Germanic tribe), Swedes") from the Old Norse, ON root ''wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/rōaną, roðr'' meaning "rower crew") and initially, it referred to the Swedes active on the waterways of Eastern Europe. Later it became the name of the state they founded, Kievan Rus'. The ON name ''Garðaríki, Garðar(íki)'' is probably from the network of forts (''wikt:garðr, garðar'', cf. Slavic ''Gorod (toponymy), gorod'') built to protect the routes. There are many other ON names for the region, but several of them were written down with vague geographic knowledge, distant in time and location from those who coined them.
, The region and its people are often mentioned in Old Norse legendary sagas. In the ''Nibelungenlied'', they are Attila's subjects. In ''Ortnit'', the hero Iljas von Russland is from Rus'. In ''Biterolf und Dietleib'', they rebel against Attila, and a reference by the poet :de:Der Marner, Der Marner suggests their may have been additional songs about them. In ''Þiðreks saga'', their king Valdemarr attacks Attila's kingdom and is killed.
, -
, North European hunters and gatherers, Sami people (Lapps), Finns
, non, Finnr
, Of contested origin, from e.g. PGmc *''Finnaz'', of unclear origin, or from PGmc *''fanþian''- "wandering people". Non-Germanic people that were more widespread over northern Scandinavia, Finland and northern Russia.
,
, -
, Samsø
, non, Samsey
, A Danish island where the Swedish hero Hjalmar and Ingeborg, Hjalmar and the Norwegian hero Örvar-Oddr fought twelve infamous beserkers in Norse legends.
, It was also the location of Munarvágr.
, -
, Sævarstath
, non, Sævarstað
, The name means "place by the sea", "sea-stead".
, After Nidud's men had hamstrung Wayland the Smith, Wayland, they confined him to an island named Sævarstað.
, -
, Saxons
, ang, Seaxe, , non, Saxar
, From PGmc *''Sahsaz'' or *''Sahsōn'', from the PGmc noun ''*sahsan'', which designated a kind of small sword similar to a knife or a dagger.
, The Saxons are described as proverbially fierce in Medieval German epic. In the ''Þiðreks saga'', the name is used for northern Germany.
, -
, Scania, Scandinavia
, ang, Scedeland, ang, Scedenig, non, Skáney, lat, Sca(n)dinavia, lat, Scandza
, The name is derived from PGmc *''skaþōn'' ("harm, damage") and *''aʒwjō''/''aχwjō'' ("island"), and may be reconstructed as *''Skaðinawiō'' with the same meaning ("damage island"). It may have originally denoted the south-westernmost point at Falsterbo with its dangerous shallows. In ''Beowulf'' the names ''Scedeland'' and ''Scedenig'' are used to denote the Danish territory reflecting the fact that Scania was part of the Danish realm (it stayed Danish until 1658).
, The hero Biterolf is the king of Scania (Skane) in the ''Þiðreks saga'' - this may derive from his associate with Spain (Spanje) in medieval German epic.
, -
, Scoti
, ang, Scottas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 79, and referring to the Irish.
, It can hardly refer to the Highland Scots as one scholar thought.
, -
, Scridefinns
, ang, Scridefinnas
, Probably the Sámi people of Northern Scandinavia, and mentioned in ''Widsith'', line 79, see also entry.
, The prefix ''scride'' refers to skiing.
, -
, Scyldings
, ang, Scylding, non, skjǫldungr
, Traditionally derived from ''Scyld'' or ''Skjöldr'', the eponymous founder of the clan.
, ''The ''Skjöldungs'', the ruling clan in Lejre among whom several Norse legends and the first part of ''Beowulf'' take place.''
, -
, Sea-Danes
, ang, Sǣdene
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 29, and referring to the Danes.
, The prefix ''sea'' possibly narrows them down to the Danes that had settled on the Danish islands, or it refers to the maritime might of the Danes.
, -
, Secgan
, ang, Secgan, ang, Sycgan
, In the ''Finnsburg fragment'', there is a warrior named Sigeferth from the Secgan tribe, who Frederick Klaeber, Klaeber identifies as a coastal people, and Gillespie locates them on the northern coast of Germany. He notes that Sigeferth is probably the same character as Sǣferð of the Sycgan in ''Widsith'' 31. Clarke also identifies the two characters and comments that based on the name ''Ymber'' ("Ammerland"), the form ''sycg'' in ''Widsith'' may originally have been ''secg''. He suggests that it was originally a dynastic name among the Anglo-Saxons. Sometimes they are considered to have belonged to the "half Danish tribes", although evidence is lacking, but they were in any case a "very minor ethnic group".
, Klaeber derives Secgan from ''segc'' meaning "sword" and compares it to ''seax'' as in Saxons. Otherwise it is derived from PGmc *''sagjaz'' which means "companion", "man" or "warrior" and it has cognates in OS ''segg'' and ON ''seggr'', and also in Latin ''socius''. This shows that they derive from a PIE form *''sok^wi̯ós'', of which the stem would be *''sok^wh₂''- ("friend").
, -
, Segard
, non, Segarðr
, In Old Norse, the name means "fortress city by the sea," whereas in the presumed German original, it would mean "enclosure by a lake." A manuscript variant could indicate the island of Rügen as the original location.
, Brunhild's stronghold in the northern Alps in Swabia in the ''Þiðreks saga.'' The iron door of the castle suggests a link to her stronghold in the ''Nibelungenlied'' Isenstein (MHG ''îsen'' = iron).
, -
, Sercings
, ang, Sercingas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 75, and possibly referring to the Siraces at the Black Sea, mentioned by Tacitus. It may also refer to Serkland.
, Malone rejects the derivation of Serkland from Saracens because the form would have been *''Serkjaland''. He instead derives it from ''Serica, sērica'', see below.
, -
, Serings
, ang, Seringas
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 75, and the name refers to the Serica, Sēres, the people of Central Asia, a region that was in close contact with the Baltic Sea area due to the Volga trade route, Neva and Volga river trade routes.
,
, -
, Sevafjoll
, non, Sevafjǫll
, The name means "wet mountains". It appears in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''.
, The place where Helgi Hundingsbane lived with his Valkyrie Sigrún after having fought and won a war for her sake. They had several sons, but soon Sigrún's brother killed him in revenge for their father.
, -
, Sigarsholm, Sigarsvöll
, non, Sigarsholmr and
, ''Sigarsholm'' is place where swords are hidden in ''Helgakvíða Hjörvardssonar'' and the name means Sigar's island. ''Sigarsvöll'' mentioned in the same poem means "Sigar's plain", and is the location where the hero dies in a duel. The second location is also mentioned in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' as an estate given to the hero when he was born.
, The place names are probably symbolical, like other place names in the poem.
, -
, Signhildsberg
, non, Sigtún
, The derivation is contested but may be cognate with the Celtic toponym Segodunum, from PGmc *''wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/segaz, siga-wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/tūną, tūna'' ("strong fortress").
, Founded by Odin according to the ''Prose Edda''. It also appears in e.g. ''Hervarar saga'', in ''Heimskringla'' and ''Gesta Danorum''. It is mentioned in the legend of Hjalmar and Ingeborg in ''Hervarar saga'', but was renamed in honour of another legendary couple, Hagbard and Signy, Hagbard and Signy (Signhild) in the 17th c.
, -
, Siklings
, non, Siklingar
, The dynasty of king Sigar (OE Sighere). The name applied to the house of Sigar suggests a hypocoristic eponym *''Sikki'' (OE *''Secca''), based on ''Sig'' and a ''k''-suffix.
, In ''Skáldskaparmál'', in the ''Prose Edda'', its members include both the Geatish king Siggeir and the Danish king Sigar.
, -
, Slavs
, ang, Winedas, non, Vindr
, The (Western) Slavs were called in PGm *''Weneđaz''. Of unknown origin; perhaps related to *''weniz'' ("friend").
,
, -
, Soest, Germany, Soest
, non, Susat
, Soest in Westphalia.
, In the ''Þiðreks saga'', Atli's capital is at Soest, which was one of the most important cities in the Hanseatic League in the thirteenth century. It is unclear if the localization in Soest was a feature of north German legend or a creature of the ''Þiðreks saga''.
, -
, Sok, Sogn
, non, Sǫk, non, Sǫgn
, An island which in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' is called ''Sǫgn'', which means "report, but in ''Völsunga saga'' called Sǫk, which means "legal action", "instigation".
, In ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'', Gudmund² reports that their enemy Helgi has 7000 warriors on the island, but in ''Völsunga saga'', this is reported by his father Granmar.
, -
, Solheim
, non, Sólheimr
, ''Sól'' means "sun", and ''heimr'' means "home".
, Solheim castle is where the adversary Hothbrodd lives in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I''.
, -
, Sparin's Heath
, non, Sparinsheiðr
, Sophus Bugge connected the name to Sparta. Sparin is unknown elsewhere. The location appears in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I''.
, A location where Hothbrodd and Granmar have allies against Helgi Hundingsbane.
, -
, Stave Ness
, non, Stafsnes
, ''Stafn'' means the "stem of a ship". It appears in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I''.
, A location from where allies come with warships to aid Helgi Hundingsbane in his war against Hothbrodd.
, -
, Staraya Ladoga
, non, Aldeigja, non, Aldeigjuborg, non, Aldogaborg,
, Staraya Ladoga is mentioned about 40 times in Old Icelandic literature. Archaeological finds from the mid-8th c. and onwards show that there was a Norse settlement there and that it was a transit point on the route from Sweden to Novgorod (''Holmgarðr'') where ships were repaired and built. Although, the name ''Aldeigja'' is connected to the name of Lake Ladoga, there are several theories about its Finnic origin such as *''aaldokas'', ''aallokas'' ("wavy"), *''Alode-joki'' ("lowland river") or from ''Olhava'', the name of a nearby river. When the Slavs later arrived, they borrowed the name ''Aldeigja'' as ''Ladoga''.
, In the U version of ''Hervarar saga'', Angantyr's father-in-law is earl there.
, -
, Styr Cliffs
, non, Styrkleifar
, The word ''styrr'' means "tumult", "brawl".
, In 'Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II'', it is where Helgi Hundingsbane killed Starkad.
, -
, Styria
, gmh, Stîre
, A region in modern Austria.
, The heroes Biterolf and his son Dietleib are associated with Styria in medieval German epic. Attila grants Biterolf Styria as a fief following Biterolf's excellent service to him, although the hero is originally from Spain. Moritz Haupt and Hermann Schneider both believed that Dietleib was originally a Danish hero, as in the ''Þiðreks saga'', and that Styria (MHG ''Stîre'') might be a south German adaptation of the Stör river in Schleswig-Holstein.
, -
, Suebi (Swabians)
, ang, Swǣfas, gmh, Swâben, non, Sváva[r]
, From PGmc *swēbaz, from ''*swē-'' ("one's own"). The Swabians in modern southern Germany. The name is first attested in Caesar and then attested referring to a number of tribes in northern Germania in Tacitus.
, The Swabians are frequently mentioned in German epic, as characters travelling from the Rhine to Hungary or Italy must pass through their territory. Several minor heroes are Swabians. In the ''Þiðreks saga'', the name is used to refer to southern Germany in general. ''Widsith ''makes the Hundings the neighbors of the Swabians.
, -
, Svarin's Hill
, non, Svarinshaugr
, The name has been connected to Schwerin. It appears in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' and in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana II''.
, It is where the adversary king Granmar lives.
, -
, Swedes (Germanic tribe), Swedes
, ang, Swēon, non, svíar, lat, suiones, lat, sueones, lat, suehans
, The ethnonym may be derived from *''suī'' and refer to "swine". The Swedes wore helmets decorated with boars. Moreover, the Swedish Yngling dynasty were called descendants of the god Freyr whose animal was the boar. The boar was likely their regal insignia. The boar also represented both Sweden and Freyr iconographically. Another theory, suggests *''swe-'' ("one's own"), meaning "confederates" or "independent", and be related to OHG ''giswīo'' (< -''swiho'') "in-laws". The name may also be derived from a root *''swi'', as in OHG ''swīnan'', "to ebb out" and be related to water, as in the Swedish body of water Svinnegarn, or from the Proto-Germanic word for "sea", *''saiwi''.
, Located in the Mälaren basin with their tribal centre in Gamla Uppsala, Uppsala, where resided the yngling, scylfing (Yngling) dynasty. Their realm is believed to have included the provinces Uppland, Södermanland, Västmanland and Närke.
, -
, Sweordweras
, ang, Sweordweras
, A group of people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 62, and they have the same name as the Suarines, Suardones of Tacitus, which is derived from a word for "pig skin". In Tacitus' work they belong to seven peoples located in an area often identified as Jutland.
, Older scholarship interpreted the name as "men of the sword".

T-Z

}, ang, Þyringas, gmh, Düringen
, Etymology uncertain, possibly from ''*þuringoz'' ("the brave") or related to the Celtic tribal name Teurii, or related to the Germanic Hermanduri tribe. The tribe ruled an independent kingdom until 531 when it was incorporated into Francia.
, In the MHG tradition, represented most prominently by Hermanafrid (Irnfrid) and Iring, which is the only clear example of a heroic legend developing within modern Germany. The Thuringians, with Hermanafrid as an exiled margrave, appear among Attila's men in the ''Nibelungenlied''.
, -
, Tischcal
, gmh, Tischcâl
, The name may refer to Dijon in Burgundy.
, In ''Wolfdietrich'' D, Wolfdietrich retires to the monastery of Tischcal, which is under the "Order of Saint George", and becomes a monk. He aids the monastery in fighting off a giant named Tarias. He does penance for his sins and is visited by the souls of all those he has slain. According to the ''Eckenlied'', Wolfdietrich bequeathed the invincible suit of armor of Ortnit to Tischcal, where Queen Seburg of Jochgrimm acquired it and gave it to Ecke. The armor was then taken by Dietrich von Bern after he kills Ecke.
, -
, Thor's Ness, Thrasness
, non, Þórsnes, non, Þrasnes
, In ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' called "Thor's Ness", but in ''Völsunga saga'' called Thrasness. ''Þras'' means "quarrel". In 'Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'', the location of Gnípalundr (Gnipa Grove).
, In the ''Völsunga saga'', a location in Granmar's kingdom, where Sinfjötli is said to have been castrated by daughters of jötnar.
, -
, Trøndelag
, non, Þrøndr, ang, Þrōwend
, A district whose people mentioned in Old Norse sources and in ''Widsith'' line 64.
, One scholar identified the people of ''Widsith'' with the Treveri of the Moselle valley.
, -
, Tronu Strand
, non, Trǫnueyrr
, The first element of ''Trǫnueyrr'' means "crane", while the second means "gravelly bank".
, A location where the hero of ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' has ships in his fleet.
, -
, Tronje
, gmh, Tronege
, No clear identification: proposals include a castle Troneck in Hunsrück, Kirchberg in Alsace, Troyes, France, Tournai or Tongeren, Belgium, or Trondheim.
, Place of origin of Hagen/Högni¹ in German tradition. In the ''Waltharius'', explained as deriving from Hagen's descent from the ancient Troy, Trojans.
, -
, Troy
, gmh, diu alte Troye or
, An ancient city in modern Turkey. The Franks claimed Trojan descent. In medieval German epic, ''Troye'' can also refer to Troia, Apulia, hence the use of terms such as "old Troy".
, The wild woman Else is the queen of Troy in ''Wolfdietrich'', and it is called "Elsentroye" in ''Dietrichs Flucht''. Hagen/Högni is also sometimes connected to Troy (see Tronje).
, -
, Tyrol
, gmh, Tirol
, Region in the Alps in modern Austria bordering Italy.
, Dietrich's adventures fighting supernatural beings are frequently set in Tyrol. The dwarf kingdoms of Virginal and Laurin are also located there, as is the mountain Jochgrim from which the giant Ecke is sent out.
, -
, Ulleråker Hundred, Ulleråker
, non, Ullarákr, lat, Laneo Campo or lat, Campus Laneus
, The legendary location ''Ullarakr'' was located near Uppsala, Sweden. The name referred to a Hundred (county division), hundred district named after the local thing (assembly), thing (assembly location), which was some 100m south of the later Uppsala Cathedral. ''Uller'' is the genitive form of the theonym Ullr and ''åker'' means "field". Since ''ull'' can also mean "wool" it has been mistranslated as ''Laneo Campo'' "field of wool", see also Rory McTurk, McTurk's translation (1991). In ''Gesta Danorum'', Saxo appears to have moved ''Campus Laneus'' to western Scania.
, Mentioned in ''Heimskringla'' and in the Lodbrok lay ''Krákumál'', and in the legendary sagas ''Þorsteins saga Víkingssonar'' and ''Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar''.
, -
, Varin's Fjord, Varin's Isle
, non, Varinsfjǫrðr and non, Varinsey
, The name ''Varin'' is a personal name based on the ethnonym Varini, but the location has been connected with Warnemünde.
, In a flyting with his opponent Sinfjötli accuses his opponent Gudmund of having been a witch on Varin's Isle and of having played the female part to him in sexual intercourse. Varin's Fjord appears in ''Helgakvíða Hundingsbana I'' as a location where the hero's fleet was moored. It also appears in ''Helgakvíða Hjǫrvarðssonar'' as the place where the gýgr Hrimgerd wants to meet the hero.
, -
, Veleti
, gmh, Wilzen, non, Wilcinaland
, A Slavic tribe living between the Elbe and Oder rivers whose name was extended to mean all Polabian Slavs.
, References in the poet :de:Der Marner, Der Marner suggest that the Veleti featured in German heroic legend, but stories are only found in the ''Þiðdrekssaga'', where Attila's wife Helche comes from the Veleti. The Veleti kill Ermanaric's son Frederich after Sibeche contrives to have him sent their to demand tribute.
, -
, Vendel, Vendsyssel, Vandals
, ang, Wendlas, , non, Vendill
, The name ''Wendlas'' in ''Beowulf'' may refer to the Vandals, the inhabitants of Vendel (see Vendel Period) near Uppsala, in Sweden, or to Vendsyssel in northern Jutland. Neither is it always clear in ON sources, whether ''Vendil'' refers to Vendel or Vendsyssel, as in the case of the location of the death of the Swedish king Ohthere, where it appears to have moved from Sweden to Denmark in Icelandic sources.
, From PGmc ''*Wanđilaz'', itself from PGmc *''wanđaz'' ("turned, twisted") or from the PGmc root *''wanđ-'' ("water"), presumably because the tribe was originally located near the Limfjord (cf. , "sea"), but they were also linked to Vendel, in Sweden.
, -
, Vífilsborg
,
, It is identified by Nikulás of Þverá as Avenches in Switzerland, whose former German name was "Wuflisburg".
, A city raided by Ragnar's sons in the Holy Roman Empire.
, -
, Vinbjorg and Valbjorg
, non, Vinbjǫrg and non, Valbjǫrg
, Locations that are given to Gudrun as compensation for the killing of her husband and son, in ''Völsunga saga'', and ''Guðrúnarkvíða hin forna'', but they are otherwise unknown.
,
, -
, Vistula Woods
, ang, Wistlawudu
, The areas around the river Vistula where the formerly were Germanic-speaking populations, see ''Hreith-Goths'', above.
,
, -
, Vlachs (Romanians)
, gmh, Walâchen, gmh, Vlâchen
, A nomadic people in South East Europe, in MHG usage probably identical with the Romanians.
, The Vlachs are among Attila's subject peoples in the ''Nibelungenlied'' and are described as riding like flying birds. Hornboge and some other heroes are associated with this people.
, -
, Völsungs
, ang, Wælsing[as], non, Vǫlsungar
, George Gillespie states that the name is probably based on PGmc ''*wala-'' ("selected, beloved"), comparing Gothic ''walisa'' ("beloved"). It could also derive from the equivalent of ON ''völsi'' ("phallus"), possibly as a name for Odin. There are no clear historical origins for the clan, except that they were probably originally Frankish.
, In Norse Tradition, the clan of Sigmund and Sigurd. Sigmund is called a Wælsing in Beowulf.
, -
, Vosges
, gmh, Waskenwalt or , non, Vaskasteinn
, A low mountain range on the border between modern France and Germany. Waskenstein may mean "sharp rock" ( goh, (h)was, "sharp").
, The site of Siegfried's murder in most versions of the ''Nibelungenlied'', as well as of Walther of Aquitaine's battle against Gunther and Hagen in ''Waltharius'' and probably in the fragmentary ''Walther und Hildegund'' (Walter is called "von Wasgenstein" elsewhere and is being escorted through the "Waskenwalt" in the fragment).
, -
, Walhaz, *Walhōz
, ang, Wealh, , , non, Valir or
, A PGmc term (singular ''Walhaz'') designating the Romance or Celtic speakers. Probably borrowed from the Celtic Volcae tribe, and later applied to the Romanized Celts.
, In ''Widsith'', the word is used twice to mean "Romans" ( and ) rather than the usual OE meaning of "Celts"; this matches Old High German and Old Norse usage in e.g. "The Battle of Goths and Huns". In Middle High German, used for the Italians.
, -
, Warini
, ang, Wærne,
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' lines 25 and 59, and the same people as the Warini, Varni of Procopius and probably the same as the Warini, Varini of Tacitus, and possibly the Warini, Varinnae of Pliny the Elder. They may have lived in the 6th c. between the Elbe and the Saale rivers.
,
, -
, Wedinghausen Monastery
, on, Wadincúsan
, A monastery formerly located near Arnsberg, Westphalia; however, the Þiðreks saga locates it in Lombardy.
, Heime goes into a hiding as a monk at the monastery in the Þiðreks saga, defending it from the giant Aspilian; however, after he is recognized by Dietrich von Bern he rejoins Dietrich, burns down the monastery, and kills all the monks.
, -
, Wicings
, ang, Wīcingas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' lines 47 and 59, and identified with the Heaðobards or the people of the Viken (region), Viken region.
, The identification has made two scholars identify the Oslo region as the original home of the Heaðobards.
, -
, Wilten Monastery
, german: Wilten
, A monastery near Innsbruck in Tirol.
, According to an early modern broadsheet from Wilten Monastery (printed 1601), the hero Heime become a monk and was the founder of the monastery, which he defended against a giant named Thurso and also a dragon. Heime's grave at Wilten had earlier been mentioned by the North German chronicler Albert von Stade in the 13th century.
, -
, Withmyrgings
, ang, Wiþmyrgingas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 118, and perhaps the same as the Ongendmyrgings. The element ''with'' points to them being located at the river Vid, near Schleswig.
,
, -
, Woings
, ang, Wōingas
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 30, and which is otherwise unknown. Kemp Malone, Malone suggests Veierland as it was known in Old Nose as ''Vár'' or ''Vóm''.
,
, -
, Wolfdales and Wolf Lake
, non, Ulfdalir and non, Ulfsjar
, The names of the locations mean "Wolfdales" and "Wolf Lake".
, In ''Vǫlundarkvíða'', the place where Wayland lived with his brothers, where they met the three Valkyries, and where he stayed waiting for his Hervor until Nidud captured him.
, -
, Worms, Germany, Worms
, gmh, Wormez, non, Verniza, la, Wormatia
, Worms, a city located on the Rhine, founded by the Romans and captured by the Burgundians in 413.
, Capital of the Burgundian kingdom in the Middle High German tradition. Although the city was part of the Burgundian kingdom on the Rhine, there is no evidence that it was their capital.
, -
, Wrosnan
, ang, Wrosnan
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 33, and identified by Kemp Malone, Malone as those of Vræsen, an island south-east of the Danish island Fyn.
, The island Vræsen was depopulated during the Migration period and its inhabitants may have joined the Angles and the Saxons in their migration to England.
, -
, Wulfings
, ang, Wylfingas, non, Ylfingar, gmh, Wülfinge
, "People of the wolf." In Scandinavian sources, a Geatish dynasty in Östergötland, and it is possible that the Anglo-Saxon Wuffing dynasty is descended from this clan of what is today southern Sweden. Possibly a Geatish dynastic name that was used by the Gothic Amals, or the name could be created from "wolf" independently in Middle High German epic. They are by some authors considered a clan in northern Germany.
, In Middle High German epic and the ''Þiðreks saga'', used for the relatives of Hildebrand. In the ''Völsunga saga'', Wulfings is an alternative name for the Völsungs, due to the absorption of the story of Helgi Hundingsbane into that of the Völsungs.
, -
, Ymbran
, ang, Ymbran
, A people mentioned in ''Widsith'' line 32. Perhaps they were the Ambrones and the people of the island of Amrum (formerly ''Ambrum'').
,
, -
, Ynglings
, ang, Scylfing, non, Skilfingr and non, Ynglingr
, The name ''Ynglingr'' comes from Yngvi, one of the names of the god Freyr, the founder of the dynasty, and Sweden, in Norse mythology. The name Scylfing/Skilfingr is of uncertain meaning. Just like the names of the Danish rulers alliterated with their residence ''Heorot''/''Hleiðr'', the Geatish rulers with ''Hreosnaburh'', the Yngling rulers' names alliterated with their residence Gamla Uppsala, Uppsala.
, The Norwegian Fairhair dynasty claimed to be descended from this dynasty.
, -
, Xanten
, gmh, Santen
, Xanten in Westphalia.
, Siegfried is associated with the city of Xanten in the ''Nibelungenlied'', but not elsewhere, possibly via association of his name ("victory-peace") with saint Viktor of Xanten.

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Germanic heroic legends, people, clan, and place names
Lists of literary characters, Germanic heroic legend