Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1964, Page 154

162
Norn in Shetland
called Sjurdi. Sæmundr exists as Simon, (Seemin verbally).
Thorvaldr became Tervil and was in use until recently.
Geirhildr became Grizel or Grace, and its diminutive Geirsi
replaced all three in speech. Áslaug became Ursula, spoken
as Osla.
Between 1577 and 1648 one sees the English naming
making inroads. Forenames with a frequency of 30 to 15
were Laurence, Henry, David, Robert, and Malcolm (a Sin*
clair name). Occuring 11 to 5 tirnes were Peter, Edward,
Christian (the muchdater Christina), Janet, Barbara, Arthur,
George, Isobel, Elspeth, Helen, Patrick, Alexander, Bessie
and Donald. Of the older names the only ones comparing
in frequency were Christopher (14), Matho, Sinnevo, Walter,
Antonius, Bartilmo, Gregorius, Simon, Stephen, Garthrow
(Geirthruðr), Jacob, Sigurd, Benedick and Botulf or Bothí
well (Bótólfr).
Other Norse names still surviving were Bondi, Bruni,
Boun (Bjorn) and Berni, Beriald, Daniel, Eric, Erling, Er*
lend, Finn, Garth, Guthrum, Gavill (Gíafvaldr), Guneild
(Gunhilda), Halbard (Halvarðr), Halden (Haldingr), Harald,
Helga, Inga, Ivar, Ketill, Klaus, Kolbein, Knod (Knpttr),
Kurt, Martin, Magdalen, Michael, Orm, Poll, Rull (Rólfr),
Swan (Svanr), Swein, Skow (Skógr), Torvald, Torquele,
Turberrie (Thorbergr) and Turbenn (Thorbeinir). Less
apparently Norse were Adam, Anna, Clara, Daniel, Gabriel,
Matches (Mathías), Martin, Michael, Philippus, Salomon
(Solmundr), Silvester, Sara, and Vincentius. Bastian, Jerome
(existing until recently as Jarm), Leonard, and Melchior
may be entirely Hanseatic. Uryell is uncertain, and Gelis
may be Gils or Gísl. These could be supplemented many
times over from placemames.
Renaming a Norse people does not make them Scottish,
nor was there any immigration extensive enough to materi=>
ally influence their racial make*up. Indeed it is doubtful
if at any time, apart from Lerwick and Scalloway and the
Scots families who gradually secured nearly all the land,