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Peerie Viking Bib from Shetland
Peerie (Little) Viking Bib from a tourist shop in the Shetlands. The tourist industry draws heavily on the Viking heritage of the islands.
Viking replica boat, Unst, Shetland
A replica of a Viking ship in Unst, Shetland
St Sunniva Street in Lerwick, Scotland
This street sign in Lerwick refers to the tenth-century Norwegian Saint Sunniva (ON Sunnifa), who is associated with Selja on the West Coast of Norway, and according to legend fled from Ireland and was persecuted by the pagan Jarl Hákon…
King Harald Street in Lerwick, Shetland
This street sign probably refers to Haraldr Hárfagri (Harald Fairhair), ruler of Norway from c. 872 to 930, who recaptured Shetland and Orkney from his rivals in c. 875. Many streets in central Lerwick are named after Scandinavian Kings, Queens and…
King Haakon Street in Lerwick, Shetland
This street sign probably refers to Hákon Hákonarson, King of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Many streets in central Lerwick are named after Scandinavian Kings, Queens and Saints, particularly from the medieval period.
St Magnus Street in Lerwick, Shetland
This sign refers to the early twelfth century Earl of Orkney, Magnus Erlendsson, who was martyred in 1115 according to Orkneyinga saga. Many streets in central Lerwick are named after Scandinavian Kings, Queens and Saints, particularly from the…
King Erik Street in Lerwick, Shetland
Many streets in central Lerwick are named after Scandinavian Kings, Queens and Saints, particularly from the medieval period. This sign probably refers to the thirteenth century Norwegian king Eiríkr Magnússon, who married princess Margaret of…
Northlink Ferry in Lerwick, Shetland
Photo of Northlink Ferries in Lerwick, Shetland. Their logo features a pointing Viking with flowing hair and a horned helmet. Northlink operates between Scotland and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland.
Welcome to Shetland Sign, featuring a Viking ship and Norse motto
This 'Welcome to Shetland' sign features a version of the Shetland coat of arms, including a Viking ship, and Shetland's motto 'Með lögum skal land byggja'. This is a normalised version of an Old Norse phrase from the Danish Jyske Lov meaning 'with…
Viking Bus Station in Lerwick, Shetland
Lerwick's central bus station is named 'Viking Bus Station', in a very clear nod to the island's Norse heritage.
Seagaet House in Lerwick Shetland
In addition to many streets bearing Norse names, some buildings also have Norse roots. This example of a house named 'Seagate' (or sea street) may reference a road that has changed its name.
Leaflet on Shetland's Norse Placenames
A leaflet produced by Shetland Amenity Trust, giving information about Shetland's Norse place names
Shetland Place Name Elements Reference
A handy guide to Norse place name elements, produced by the Shetland Place Names Project, and available to download on the Shetland Amenity Trust Website.
Photo of Tait's Closs Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Tait is a common Scottish surname derived from the Old Norse 'teitr', meaning cheerful. Many surnames and place names in Shetland have a Norse origin.
Photo of Twageos Road Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Twageos is a place name incorporating the common Norse place name element 'gjá', meaning 'ravine' and rendered in Shetland as 'geo' or 'gjo'. Twageos may refer to the 'two ravines'.
Photo of Copeland Pier Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Copeland is a common placename and surname deriving from Old Norse kaupa land, meaning 'bought land'. This example is from Lerwick in Shetland.
Photo of Midgarth Crescent Sign in Lerwick, Shetland
Midgarth is a common Norse placename, and Anglicisation of Miðgarðr, meaning in this case 'Middle Enclosure / Farm' . Miðgarðr is also the 'Middle Realm', and home of mankind, in Norse Mythology.