Have you read the book printed by Dover Press called "Snorre Sturlason HEIMSKRINGLA or The Lives of the Norse Kings?" It is a 770 page book with 145 illistrations and 5 maps. I have check it out of my local Library and am just getting into it. Looking foreward to a very interesting reading and learning exsperience. Got it off the Norwegian Digest list. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: G. Lee Hearl <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 10:24 PM Subject: Re: Onomastics to name a few > Eddie & All: > When I first began searching my family name, I did what many beginning > researchers do, went to the books which purport to explain the origin of > surnames.. I found several variations of the name "Herrell, Harrold etc.". > The origins, according to the books, were that Knights who fought with > William The Conqueror were given land in England.. Some of them were from > Harel in Normandy and registered the land under that name, which didn't make > a lot sense to me.. Another origin stated that some men who carried messages > for the Kings and rulers were called "Heralds" hence the name Herald etc.. > Some stated that the name was of Norse origin, so I began a search into > Norse history for the name and after much reading found the first Harrell, > Harrold, was an ancient territorial King or Chieftain in Norway. His name > was Wartooth Haraldar and he was called Wartooth because he had a very large > tooth which protruded from his mouth! He was killed in battle and one of the > warriors severed his head and hung it on his saddlehorn to bring home and > show off.. > During the ride home that big tooth rubbed against the warriors' leg, > wounding it, and he took blood poison and died.. > I found many interesting stories while researching the Harrell etc. name.. > which I believe prove that the name originated in the area around Norway, > Denmark and Sweden and spread into France, Scotland, Ireland and England > from there between 700 and 1000 A.D... The Harraldars were Vikings.. > G. Lee Hearl > Authentic Appalachian Storyteller > Abingdon, Va.. > > ______________________________