[gothic-l]Germanic names

[faltin2001]

--- In gothic-l at y..., Ingemar Nordgren <ingemar.nordgren at e...> wrote:
> Dirk wrote:
> 
> > I have no problem with that, yet I still think that the term 
reiks 
> > was used in Gothic/East Germanic from very early on, which is 
> > indicated by the fact that it was so widely used in personal 
names. 
> > 
> 
> Dear Dirk,
> 
> I am sorry to disappoint you, but the fact is that names ending in -
rik 
> are very common names in Scandinavia since very old times e.g. 
Eirikr, 
> Alrikr, Ulrikr - now Erik, Alrik, Ulrik. If these are Gothic - well 
that 
> means I have proved the Goths lived in Scandinavia (and still do). 
You 
> even find them at the Sparlösa rune-stone with the Gothic pictures.
> 
> Kindly
> Ingemar


Dear Ingemar,

there is no dissappointment here. Firstly, you would have to tell us 
when these names are first attested in Scandinavia. I would be very 
supprised if any of these names predates say 300AD or even 400AD. 
Secondly, The Sparloesa stone dates to the 8th century or so and does 
not show any 'Gothic pictures'. Thirdly, names ending in 'ric' 
or 'rich' are also very common in Germanic areas on the continent as 
you known. Consider for example, the Frankish kings 
Hilderic/Childeric (c 470AD), or the Suevian general Ricimer 
(c460AD), or the Thuringian prince Baderich (c510AD) and many more.

The 'ric' ending is probably nothing specific Gothic, but was likely 
first adopted by tribes that came in contact with Celts. From there 
these names spread to other areas. In short, using these names as 
proof for a Scandinavian origin of the Goths leads nowhere I am 
afraid. 

cheers,
Dirk 




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