thor name origin

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For Dumézil, this is the preservation by peasants of only the side-effect of the god's atmospheric battles: the fertilizing rain. In the poem Völuspá, a dead völva recounts the history of the universe and foretells the future to the disguised god Odin, including the death of Thor. At first, Thor holds his tongue, but Hárbarðr only becomes more aggressive, and the poem soon becomes a flyting match between Thor and Hárbarðr, all the while revealing lore about the two, including Thor's killing of several jötnar in "the east" and berzerk women on Hlesey (now the Danish island of Læsø). From 2015 to 2017, a fictionalised version of Thor was a supporting character in Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, a trilogy[80] of fantasy novels written by American author Rick Riordan and published by Disney-Hyperion, set in the same fictional universe as the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, and The Kane Chronicles series by the same author. Donar, the southern Germanic form of Thor's name. Thursday was named for Thor. Thor closely resembles other Indo-European deities associated with the thunder: the Celtic Taranis, the Estonian Taara (or Tharapita), the Baltic Perkūnas, the Slavic Perun, and particularly the Hindu Indra, whose red hair and thunderbolt weapon the vajra are obvious parallels noted already by Max Müller. 750-1050)-language text, Articles containing Proto-Germanic-language text, Articles containing Icelandic-language text, Articles containing Old Frisian-language text, Articles containing Old Saxon-language text, Articles containing Proto-Celtic-language text, Articles containing North Frisian-language text, Articles containing Lithuanian-language text, Articles containing Sanskrit-language text, Articles containing Southern Sami-language text, Articles containing Armenian-language text, Articles with German-language sources (de), Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 19 March 2021, at 11:56. Examples include Thundersley, from *Thunores hlæw and Thurstable (Old English "Thunor's pillar"). Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum, "Rick Riordan announces 'Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, MyNDIR (My Norse Digital Image Repository), Sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, Mythological Norse people, items and places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thor&oldid=1012986321, Articles containing Swedish-language text, Articles containing Old Norse-language text, Articles containing Norwegian-language text, Articles containing Old English (ca. Loki asks Thor why he is so angry, and comments that Thor will not be so daring to fight "the wolf" (Fenrir) when it eats Odin (a reference to the foretold events of Ragnarök). It is sometimes used as a short form of names of Old Norse origin that begin with the element Tor, which is also a derivative of Þórr. Around 1000 pendants in distinctive shapes representing the hammer of Thor have been unearthed in what are today the Nordic countries, England, northern Germany, the Baltic countries, and Russia. Learn about the name Thor: meaning, origin, popularity, and more! [43], After riding together in Thor's goat-driven chariot, the two, disguised, arrive in Jötunheimr. Name: Thor Gender: Male Usage: Thor, of norse origin, is a popular first name. Hymir tells him to go get some bait from his pasture, which he expects should not be a problem for Thor. We have plenty of different baby name categories to search for special meanings plus popular and unique names, search our database before choosing but also note that baby name categories designed to help you and not to be an influential factor when choosing a name. [1] With Sif, Thor fathered the goddess (and possible valkyrie) Þrúðr; with Járnsaxa, he fathered Magni; with a mother whose name is not recorded, he fathered Móði, and he is the stepfather of the god Ullr. The most Thor families were found in the USA in 1920. [12], According to a near-contemporary account, the Christian missionary Saint Boniface felled an oak tree dedicated to "Jove" in the 8th century, the Donar's Oak in the region of Hesse, Germany. After Thor successfully smashes a crystal goblet by throwing it at Hymir's head on Týr's mother's suggestion, Thor and Týr are given the cauldron. [34], So, after Thor secures his goats at Egil's home, Thor and Týr go to Hymir's hall in search of a cauldron large enough to brew ale for them all. (If you know more meanings of the name and you would like to contribute click here to submit another name meaning). What is the meaning of the name Thor? In Heimskringla, composed in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, Thor or statues of Thor are mentioned in Ynglinga saga, Hákonar saga góða, Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar, and Óláfs saga helga. Scholars have compared Indra's slaying of Vritra with Thor's battle with Jörmungandr. His weapon was the hammer… See definitions of thor. In these sources, Thor bears at least fifteen names, is the husband of the golden-haired goddess Sif, is the lover of the jötunn Járnsaxa, and is generally described as fierce eyed, red haired and red bearded. However, Týr tells Thor that he may have a solution; east of Élivágar lives Hymir, and he owns such a deep kettle. [10], In Germanic areas occupied by the Roman Empire, coins and votive objects dating from the 2nd and 3rd century AD have been found with Latin inscriptions referring to "Hercules", and so in reality, with varying levels of likelihood, refer to Thor by way of interpretatio romana. [39], In the comedic poem Þrymskviða, Thor again plays a central role. The place name Þórslundr is recorded with particular frequency in Denmark (and has direct cognates in Norse settlements in Ireland, such as Coill Tomair), whereas Þórshof appears particularly often in southern Norway. In Ynglinga saga chapter 5, a heavily euhemerized account of the gods is provided, where Thor is described as having been a gothi—a pagan priest—who was given by Odin (who himself is explained away as having been an exceedingly powerful magic-wielding chieftain from the east) a dwelling in the mythical location of Þrúðvangr, in what is now Sweden. [13], Around the second half of the 8th century, Old English mentions of a figure named Thunor (Þunor) are recorded, a figure who likely refers to a Saxon version of the god. At the modest height of their usage in 1906, 0.012% of baby boys were given Thor- names. Lee and Kirby included Thor as a founding member of their superhero team the Avengers. Neil Gaiman's books American Gods and Norse Mythology also feature Thor. (If you would like to suggest one or more categories for the name, click here). A bronze statue of a seated figure from about AD 1000 that was recovered at the Eyrarland farm in the area of Akureyri, Iceland. The magazine soon added the backup feature "Tales of Asgard" in which Kirby illustrated stories from Norse mythology; eventually, the magazine was retitled Thor. Into the modern period, Thor continued to be acknowledged in rural folklore throughout Germanic-speaking Europe. In Neil Gaiman's Sandman comic, Thor is portrayed as a buffoon who wields a tiny toffee hammer. In other regions of Sweden the name of the beetle appears to have been demonized with Christianization, where the insect came to be known as Thordedjefvul or Thordyfvel (both meaning "Thor-devil"). In connection, the lack of trolls and ettins in modern Scandinavia is explained as a result of the "accuracy and efficiency of the lightning strokes". [65] Although in the past it was suggested that Thor was an indigenous sky god or a Viking Age import into Scandinavia, these Indo-European parallels make him generally accepted today as ultimately derived from a Proto-Indo-European deity.[65][68][69][70]. Artists have also depicted Thor in painting and sculpture, including Henry Fuseli's 1780 painting Thor Battering the Midgard Serpent; H. E. Freund's 1821–1822 statue Thor; B. E. Fogelberg's 1844 marble statue Thor; Mårten Eskil Winge's 1872 painting Thor's Fight with the Giants; K. Ehrenberg's 1883 drawing Odin, Thor und Magni; several illustrations by E. Doepler published in Wilhelm Ranisch's 1901 Walhall (Thor; Thor und die Midgardschlange; Thor den Hrungnir bekämpfend; Thor bei dem Riesen Þrym als Braut verkleidet; Thor bei Hymir; Thor bei Skrymir; Thor den Fluß Wimur durchwatend); J. C. Dollman's 1909 drawings Thor and the Mountain and Sif and Thor; G. Poppe's painting Thor; E. Pottner's 1914 drawing Thors Schatten; H. Natter's marble statue Thor; and U. Brember's 1977 illustrations to Die Heimholung des Hammers by H. C. Thor (whose name goes back to a Proto-Germanic root that means “Thunder” [2]) was the god of the storm, and thunder was perceived as being the sound of his hammer crashing down on his foes. The name Thor is of Norse origin, and is used in more than one countries and different languages of the world, especially Danish speaking countries, English speaking countries among others. Thor has inspired numerous works of art and references to Thor appear in modern popular culture. Thor again tells him to be silent, threatening to break every bone in Loki's body. [57], Drawing of a silver-gilted Thor's hammer found in Scania, Sweden, Drawing of a 4.6 cm gold-plated silver Mjölnir pendant found at Bredsätra on Öland, Sweden, Drawing of a silver Thor's hammer amulet found in Fitjar, Hordaland, Norway, Drawing of Thor's hammer amulet from Mandemark, Møn, Denmark. [60], In as late as the 19th century in Iceland, a specific breed of fox was known as holtaþórr ("Thor of the holt"), likely due to the red coat of the breed. Thor comments that the wedding agreement was made among the gods while Thor was gone, and that the dwarf must seek his consent. Grimm comments that, at times, Scandinavians often "no longer liked to utter the god's real name, or they wished to extol his fatherly goodness". Swastikas appear on various Germanic objects stretching from the Migration Period to the Viking Age, such as the 3rd century Værløse Fibula (DR EM85;123) from Zealand, Denmark; the Gothic spearhead from Brest-Litovsk, Belarus; numerous Migration Period bracteates; cremation urns from early Anglo-Saxon England; the 8th century Sæbø sword from Sogn, Norway; and the 9th century Snoldelev Stone (DR 248) from Ramsø, Denmark. A fifth appearance may possibly occur on a runestone found in Södermanland, Sweden (Sö 140), but the reading is contested. People who like the name Thor also like the names: Axel, Atticus, Loki, Benjamin, Thaddeus, Oliver, Gunnar, Aurora, Freya, Elsa, Violet, Fiona, Beatrice, Iris The Eyrarland Statue, a copper alloy figure found near Akureyri, Iceland dating from around the 11th century, may depict Thor seated and gripping his hammer. This included the fruitfulness of the fields, and Thor, although pictured primarily as a storm god in the myths, was also concerned with the fertility and preservation of the seasonal round. At Thor's final threat, Loki gives in, commenting that only for Thor will he leave the hall, for "I know alone that you do strike", and the poem continues. Regional distribution of Thor (m) in Sweden in the year 1880. Þrymr says that he has hidden Mjölnir eight leagues beneath the earth, from which it will be retrieved, but only if Freyja is brought to him as his wife. Similarly, meteorites may be considered memorials to Thor in folk tradition due to their sheer weight. [44], Early in the evening, the disguised Loki and Thor meet with Þrymr and the assembled jötnar. [50] After Olaf's death, his cult had spread quickly all over Scandinavia, where many churches were dedicated to him, as well as to other parts of Northern Europe. Odin is a remote descendant of Thor, removed by twelve generations, who led an expedition across Germany, Denmark and Sweden to Norway. Dumézil notes that as a result of displacements, he does not lead armies; most of the functions of Indra have been in effect taken over by Odin. Loki states that it was indeed an effort, and also a success, for he has discovered that Þrymr has the hammer, but that it cannot be retrieved unless Freyja is brought to Þrymr as his wife. Turville-Petre (1964:99–100); variant texts in mss. [63], Thor closely resembles other Indo-European deities associated with the thunder: the Celtic Taranis,[64][65] the Estonian Taara (or Tharapita), the Baltic Perkūnas, the Slavic Perun,[66] and particularly the Hindu Indra, whose red hair and thunderbolt weapon the vajra are obvious parallels noted already by Max Müller. The name Thor means Thunder and is of Scandinavian origin. In Georges Dumézil's trifunctional hypothesis of Indo-European religion, Thor represents the second function, that of strength. Although in the past it was suggested that Thor was an indigenous sky god or a Viking Age import into Scandinavia, these Indo-Eur… He was the paragon to which Vikings aspired. [60] F. M. Stenton noted that such placenames were apparently restricted to Saxon and Jutish territory and not found in Anglian areas. [46], However, the question and answer session turns out to be a ploy by Thor, as, although Thor comments that he has truly never seen anyone with more wisdom in their breast, Thor has managed to delay the dwarf enough for the Sun to turn him to stone; "day dawns on you now, dwarf, now sun shines on the hall". [42], As a result, the gods and goddesses meet and hold a thing to discuss and debate the matter. Týr cannot lift it, but Thor manages to roll it, and so with it they leave. Thor as a boy's name is pronounced thor. Then comes the mighty son of Hlôdyn: ("let red-haired thunder see to that!"). bowed by the serpent, who feared no foe. Searching for a name is a very important and fun process as it’s the very first gift you will give to your baby. As the poem starts, Thor meets a dwarf who talks about getting married. He was armed with a hammer called Mjolnir, and wore an enchanted belt that doubled his strength. [28], Henry Adams Bellows translation: [7], The earliest records of the Germanic peoples were recorded by the Romans, and in these works Thor is frequently referred to – via a process known as interpretatio romana (where characteristics perceived to be similar by Romans result in identification of a non-Roman god as a Roman deity) – as either the Roman god Jupiter (also known as Jove) or the Greco-Roman god Hercules. At the thing, the god Heimdallr puts forth the suggestion that, in place of Freyja, Thor should be dressed as the bride, complete with jewels, women's clothing down to his knees, a bridal head-dress, and the necklace Brísingamen. Anders Hultgård has argued that this is the face of Thor. Hither there comes the son of Hlothyn, By employing a practice known as interpretatio germanica during the Roman Empire period, the Germanic peoples adopted the Roman weekly calendar, and replaced the names of Roman gods with their own. In the end, Thor ends up walking instead. Adam details that the people of Uppsala had appointed priests to each of the gods, and that the priests were to offer up sacrifices. Norse god of thunder. In Germanic mythology, Thor (/θɔːr/; from Old Norse: Þórr) is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of mankind and also hallowing and fertility. [22], Pictorial representations of Thor's hammer appear on a total of five runestones found in Denmark (DR 26 and DR 48) and in the Swedish counties of Västergötland (VG 113) and Södermanland (Sö 86 and Sö 111). Also note the spelling and the pronunciation of the name Thor and check the initials of the name with your last name to discover how it looks and sounds. There, Grímnir says, Thor sits as judge at the immense cosmological world tree, Yggdrasil. [37], In the poem Lokasenna, the half-god Loki angrily flites with the gods in the sea entity Ægir's hall. Thor, she foretells, will do battle with the great serpent during the immense mythic war waged at Ragnarök, and there he will slay the monstrous snake, yet after he will only be able to take nine steps before succumbing to the venom of the beast: Benjamin Thorpe translation: Search comprehensively and find the name meaning of Thor and its name origin or of any other name in our database. (Compare Thunderstones.) ; A user from Serbia says the name Thor is of Scandinavian origin and means "Norse mythology god of thunder". When the beetle is found turned upside down and one flips it over, Thor's favor may be gained. By continuing to browse or by clicking “Accept Cookies,” you agree to the storing of first- and third-party cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Thor research. It was not used as a personal name until the 18th century. Old Norse Þórr, Old English Þunor and Old High German Donar are cognates within Germanic, descending from a Common Germanic *þonaroz or *þunraz, meaning "thunder". The Thor family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. [23] At least three stones depict Thor fishing for the serpent Jörmungandr: the Hørdum stone in Thy, Denmark, the Altuna Runestone in Altuna, Sweden and the Gosforth Cross in Gosforth, England. Thor picks both the boat and the whales up, and carries it all back to Hymir's farm. Early History of the Thor family. They "sh[ake] the twigs" and interpret what they say. Thor's marriage with Sif of the golden hair, about which we hear little in the myths, seems to be a memory of the ancient symbol of divine marriage between sky god and earth goddess, when he comes to earth in the thunderstorm and the storm brings the rain which makes the fields fertile. Thor was the Norse god of strength, thunder and war; the son of the god Odin. Like other Germanic deities, veneration of Thor is revived in the modern period in Heathenry. The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. The name Thor is in the following categories: Danish Names, Mythological Names, Nordic Names, Norwegian Names, Scandinavian Names. Thor also appears in many placenames in Uppland. When his irresponsible and impetuous behavior reignited a conflict between Asgard and Jotunheim, Thor was denied the right to become king, stripped of his power, and banished to Earth by Odin. Thor Origin and Meaning The name Thor is a boy's name of Norse origin meaning "thunder". Hammer-wielding Germanic god associated with thunder, "Donar" redirects here. By employing a practice known as interpretatio germanica during the Roman Empire period… [79] The team named the shrew after Thor due to the god's association with strength.[79]. Similarly, coins featuring depictions of the hammer have also been discovered. It is of Old Norse origin, and the meaning of Thor is "thunder". inscription, A runestone from Södermanland, Sweden bearing a depiction of Thor's hammer, The Altuna stone from Sweden, one of four stones depicting Thor's fishing trip. [58] Scholar Hilda Ellis Davidson (1965) comments on the usage of the swastika as a symbol of Thor: The protective sign of the hammer was worn by women, as we know from the fact that it has been found in women's graves. While exiled on Earth, Thor learned humility, finding love with Jane … [16], The Kentish royal legend, probably 11th-century, contains the story of a villainous reeve of Ecgberht of Kent called Thunor, who is swallowed up by the earth at a place from then on known as þunores hlæwe (Old English 'Thunor's mound'). Thor wields the hammer, Mjölnir, wears the belt Megingjörð and the iron gloves Járngreipr, and owns the staff Gríðarvölr. Evidence of Thor's popularity and status as a role model can be seen clearly in Iceland, where more than a quarter of the founding population had some form of his name in theirs (i.e., Thorkill, Thorgest, etc. Around 100 have more advanced designs with ornaments. Origin story: Thor is one of the great problematic characters in comic book history. And, slain by the serpent, fearless he sinks. Modern Scandinavian form of Þórr (see THOR). [73] Scholar Hilda Ellis Davidson summarizes: The cult of Thor was linked up with men's habitation and possessions, and with well-being of the family and community. The name of the Gaulish god of thunder, Toran or Taran and the Irishgod Tuireann are also related. If Thor were a mortal, every Viking would have wanted to raise an ale horn with him. [30], In the poem Grímnismál, the god Odin, in disguise as Grímnir, and tortured, starved and thirsty, imparts in the young Agnar cosmological lore, including that Thor resides in Þrúðheimr, and that, every day, Thor wades through the rivers Körmt and Örmt, and the two Kerlaugar. Due to the nature of the Germanic corpus, narratives featuring Thor are only attested in Old Norse, where Thor appears throughout Norse mythology. The gods search but find no such cauldron anywhere. Loki says that this is because "Freyja" has not slept for eight nights in her eagerness. Thor- names for baby boys, with 74 entries. The history and meaning of the name Thor is fascinating, learn more about it. The name of the æsir is explained as "men from Asia", Asgard being the "Asian city" (i.e., Troy). In Thor's case, the identification with the god Hercules is likely at least in part due to similarities between Thor's hammer and Hercules' club. See Lindow (1978:89), but noted as early as Thorpe (1851:154) who states, "The dread entertained by the Trolls for thunder dates from the time of paganism, Thor, the god of thunder, being the deadly foe of their race.". Terrifying eyes stare back at him, seemingly burning with fire. Loki flies off, the feather cloak whistling, away from Jötunheimr and back to the court of the gods. It may have been on account of Thor's association with lightning that this sign was used as an alternative to the hammer, for it is found on memorial stones in Scandinavia besides inscriptions to Thor. In our own times, little stone axes from the distant past have been used as fertility symbols and placed by the farmer in the holes made by the drill to receive the first seed of spring. From Thor, he inherited the quick temper, physical strength and merits as a giant-slayer. Although one of his goats is lame in the leg, the two manage to bring the cauldron back, have plenty of ale, and so, from then on, return to Týr's for more every winter. [49], Around the 12th century, folk traditions and iconography of the Christianizing king Olaf II of Norway (Saint Olaf; c. 995 – 1030) absorbed elements of both Thor and Freyr. [33], Thor is again the main character in the poem Hymiskviða, where, after the gods have been hunting and have eaten their prey, they have an urge to drink. Thor's exploits, including his relentless slaughter of his foes and fierce battles with the monstrous serpent Jörmungandr—and their foretold mutual deaths during the events of Ragnarök—are recorded throughout sources for Norse mythology. Nine feet will go Fiörgyn's son, Thor, also known as Tror, is said to have married the prophetess Sibyl (identified with Sif). Plural of Singular of Past tense of Present tense of Verb for Adjective for Adverb for Noun for. In a long question and answer session, Alvíss does exactly that; he describes natural features as they are known in the languages of various races of beings in the world, and gives an amount of cosmological lore. According to a user from the United Kingdom, the name Thor is of Scandinavian origin and means "God of Thunder". ; A submission from Virginia, U.S. says the name Thor means "Handsome and cute god". [41], Thor asks Loki if his efforts were successful, and that Loki should tell him while he is still in the air as "tales often escape a sitting man, and the man lying down often barks out lies." [11], The first recorded instance of the name of the god appears in the Migration Period, where a piece of jewelry (a fibula), the Nordendorf fibula, dating from the 7th century AD and found in Bavaria, bears an Elder Futhark inscription that contains the name Þonar, i.e. [32], Thor is the main character of Hárbarðsljóð, where, after traveling "from the east", he comes to an inlet where he encounters a ferryman who gives his name as Hárbarðr (Odin, again in disguise), and attempts to hail a ride from him. Towards the end of the poem, the flyting turns to Sif, Thor's wife, whom Loki then claims to have slept with. [45], In the poem Alvíssmál, Thor tricks a dwarf, Alvíss, to his doom upon finding that he seeks to wed his daughter (unnamed, possibly Þrúðr). After becoming a doctor, Blake witnesses the arrival of an alien scouting party while he is on vacation in Norway. Thor. A Scandinavian name, meaning: The great thunder god in that tongue, and therefore corresponding to our own title for the one deity. The first clear example of this occurs in the Roman historian Tacitus's late first-century work Germania, where, writing about the religion of the Suebi (a confederation of Germanic peoples), he comments that "among the gods Mercury is the one they principally worship. In modern times, Thor continues to be referred to in art and fiction. [4] According to scholar Peter Jackson, those theonyms may have originally emerged as the result of the fossilization of an original epithet (or epiclesis) of the Proto-Indo-European thunder-god *Perkwunos. [54], Thor remained pictured as a red-bearded figure, as evident by the Danish rhyme that yet referred to him as Thor med sit lange skæg ("Thor with the long beard") and the North-Frisian curse diis ruadhiiret donner regiir! Gabriel Turville-Petre saw this as an invented origin for the placename demonstrating loss of memory that Thunor had been a god's name.