Talk:Wicklow
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[edit] Moved from article to talk page
This is a matter for discussion and finding sources first. ww2censor 15:47, 2 September 2006 (UTC)
It is much more likely that the name Wicklow is a combination of the word Vik meaning inlet, common in many Nordic/Saxon place names, and the Nordic word Logi/Loge pronounced lawghi or lawghe, meaning flame or light. The old town coat-of arms for Wicklow town show a "lighthouse/tower& flame" which would indicate that the town in bygone years remembers its' ancient connection with the sea and a very likely old tradition of keeping a light burning to guide mariners safely in to port. The old Norse traders and warriors did not regard themselves as "Vikings". The term was often used to mean a person or persons acting against accepted norms of the day. It would be highly unlikely that such a trading community as Wicklow in the 10th century would call itself anything connected with the word "Viking". Even if that is what they were. originally posted by User:Oscardh (10:42, September 2, 2006) on article page
The basis for my alternative explanation of how Wicklow got its name can be put in three arguments.
1. The old Wicklow town coat of arms showing a blazing fire. If this fire/"light" has its background in an old seal/old documents showing the "flame" motif, then argument nr. 2 comes in to play. If the "flame/fire" motif is of a fairly new origin, then I have no case.
2. According to the book "Gammel norsk" (Old Norse/Norwegian) by Leif Hebbstad, the Norske Samlaget 1930, the word flame (lòge som brenn/loga) is Log. (Pronunciation not like the English log but like lawgh. Flame could also be Loggi (as lawghi) and a burning log of wood would be Logbrandr.
3. If Wicklow's name came into use after 1171 and/or after the Hiberno-Norse Ostmen had gone from the place, then it might well be likely that the scribes of the Middle Ages might have called Wicklow a name based on the Viking presence earlier. But if the name appeared when the Ostmen traders (and slavers) were in full swing, it would be highly unlikely that they themselves or the Wicklow clans with whom they had their trade (and occasional fights) would call themselves something to do with Vikings. Wicklow was - and in a way still is - a Vik. oscardh —Preceding unsigned comment added by Oscardh (talk • contribs) 13:33, September 20, 2006
- Remember that this is an encyclopaedia and only verifiable information is to be included. If you have a source for this conjecture then it may be accepted but until you can produce some decent source your Wicklow naming arguments will stay as only arguments. Did you ever look up the well researched series by Liam Price "The Place-names of Co. Wicklow" for an Irish view on the name? That would be my first starting point but I don't have access to my copy nor will I in the near future. Maybe someone else can help. ww2censor 23:14, 20 September 2006 (UTC)
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- After Ww2censors reply I went to the Bray library and had a look at Liam Price book of place names. It states, quite correctly that the name in Norman times was judged to refer to the Viking presence in Wicklow town. But I find this very unlikely. The term "viking" was not something the vikings were very fond of. At the time of the first Norwegian, "Viking" king Harald Finehair the sagas state that he went west (at least as far as Man) to hunt down vikings that were disturbing the peace in his new, western kingdom. Unless the Ostmen of Wicklow were happy with being called bandits and robbers, and the name Wicklow goes back to before 1170, then I simply find it defies belief that the name of Wicklow town comes from "Viking+meadow". Oscardh —Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.149.27.59 (talk) 14:06, 12 April 2008 (UTC)
