Visborg on Gutland and the Visi-Goths

[akoddsson]

Regarding the element 'visi-' in english 'visigoths', I am not sure 
that there is a general scholarly consensus as to what its actual 
form would be in Gothic. It is often thought to mean something like 
'famous/renowned'. I have never seen any references to this element 
being used in germanic languages, personal- or place-names in 
general. It seems isolated, and thus likely the questions about what 
its Gothic form would have been, if it is indeed Gothic. However, I 
noticed that it could be related to the name Visborg on Gutland, 
which is mentioned in Gutasaga and in Gutland inscription #100 
(rundatabase). What struck me here is that the element occurs, of 
all places, on Gutland ;) Now, as is known, Visborg is a major 
historical location on Gutland. Now, it would certainly be 
interesting if the so-called 'visi-goths' of later, continental fame 
had this 'visi-' element due to an historical origin in or around 
Visborg. Judging from the changes into the later Gutlandic, an 
earlier form might have been something like *weisibaurgs in 
Wulfila's spelling. Anyway, the fact that the only other possible 
instance of the 'visi-' element that I could find was on Gutland, 
and then for a major location, really struck me. 

Regards,
Kunjareths.






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