Who were the Vikings?
The Vikings were venturesome seafarers. From Denmark, Norway and Sweden they spread through Europe and the North Atlantic in the period of vigorous Scandinavian expansion (AD 800-1050) known as the Viking Age. Although they are often thought of primarily as raiders , the Vikings were also traders , explorers and settlers.
Behind them they left a legacy not only of archaeological remains, but also of family names, place names and fieldnames. Their "remains" can be found in local dialects and customs, in folk tales and oral traditions, and of course in the genetic make up of the local people themselves.The Viking Heritage
Placenames
Sailing along the coasts the Vikings gave names to inlets, bays and everything they needed for later reference. Viking settlers named their new farms after the farms in the area they came from. Some of the words and phrases they used were adopted by the native population in the countries the Vikings settled.
Archaeology
Evidence of Viking precence can be found in most parts of Europe. Archeological finds outside the Viking homelands are especially rich on the British Isles. You can read more about money in England and in Norway.
Here are some words the Vikings often used:
Torp (thorpe), a secondary settlement - outlying farm.
Seter (-set), mountain pasture, shielding. (Summerset).
Fjell (-fell), mountain
Dal (-dale), valley
0y (ey), island
Nes (ness), headland, promontory
Vik (wick), bay
Borg (borough), castle, fortified town
Vag (voe), bay
Gard (garth), farm
Sund (sound), strait(s)
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