How Did Erik The Red Get His Name?

Here’s a fun experiment: try pronouncing the name Eirikr rauði Þorvaldsson. We’ll even make it easier, by rendering those Nordic letters into their Roman equivalents: Erik Thorvaldsson. If that’s still quite a mouthful for you, you can go for the even simpler appellation that’s been attached to him for more than a thousand years: Erik the Red.

Having been born and then living during a time when it was common for a person to be remembered by some sort of epithet rather than their actual name, such as Charles the Bald a century before him, it’s hardly surprising that the Viking explorer, settler, and hell-raiser would get such a nickname. However, history has remembered him not as Erik the Discoverer (because he discovered Greenland, according to Visit Greenland), or Erik the Trickster (because he tricked settlers into settling the barren — and decidedly not green — island he discovered), nor as Eric the Murderer (because he did plenty of murdering). Rather, he’s known as the much more mundane Erik the Red.

Erik the red was probably named for his hair color

maradon 333/Shutterstock

According to Britannica, Erik the Red got his nickname in much the same way that an adult today may have gotten a nickname on the elementary school playground that has stuck with them — for his red hair color. He likely had the nickname since childhood.

However, that may not be the end of the story. Visit Greenland claims that while the red hair is a possibility, there may also be an alternate reason: his temper. The explorer certainly had a short fuse — one that he inherited from his father. Erik and his family left Norway for Iceland when the future explorer was a young boy, because his father had been convicted of manslaughter, according to Britannica. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and soon enough, Erik was facing murder charges himself and this time needed a reason to leave Iceland. It was by fleeing the long arm of the law that Erik discovered Greenland and, later, tried to convince other settlers to populate the island.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

The Reason Jehovah's Witnesses Don't Celebrate Birthdays

Jehovah's Witnesses live by some rules that outsiders may find unusual. One of those guidelines is

Facts,History / 2021-10

Here's Who Inherited Bob Marley's Fortune After His Death

On May 11, 1981, reggae icon Bob Marley died after battling cancer for years. Most celebrities who

Entertainment,Facts / 2021-09

How Historically Accurate Is 1963's Cleopatra?

Cleopatra is perhaps one of history's most famous (or infamous) female rulers. On the one hand, she

Entertainment,History / 2021-08

Here's What Would Happen If You Touched Lava

There's just something about lava, isn't there? It's so smooth and almost silky-looking, especially

Facts / 2021-08

Francisco Lazaro: The Truth About The Runner Who Died At The Olympics

It is not the place or the time you'd think someone could die but it's happened several times. As

Facts,History,Sports / 2021-07

The Untold Truth Of The Dragon Man, Homo Longi

In 1933, a construction worker building a bridge in the provincial city of Harbin, China, stumbled

Facts / 2021-07

The Scary Weapon People Can Create With 3D Printers

As anyone who has one will likely tell you, 3D printers are great. With people printing everything

Facts / 2021-06

Here's What Might Have Caused The Extinction Of Neanderthals

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) had a long run as the dominant species, starting as far back

Facts,History / 2021-06

What We Know About The Witnesses To Tupac's Murder

The 1990s rap scene was dominated by an iconic rivalry that was part friendly competition, part

Entertainment,History / 2021-05

What You Didn't Know About Aikido

Aikido is a really neat martial art. As far as fighting arts go, Aikido is the only one known to

Facts,Sports / 2020-09

The Skin of the World’s Fastest Shark Could Be Used in Aviation

The United States Army has provided a fund for research on the skin of the mako shark to help build

The Nine Worlds Of Norse Mythology Explained

Of all the mythical traditions, there is something about the Norse that is evocative and deep. Why

How Much It Costs To Be Buried Near Marilyn Monroe

On August 5, 1962, international superstar and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe died in her Los Angeles

The Scary Thing That Happened To Billy Idol's Eyes

In 1983, spike-haired and sneering Billy Idol had his first top-ten hit in the U.S. with the

The Sad Discovery Made In Poltergeist Star Heather O'Rourke's Autopsy Report

For a lot of Generation X kids, the 1982 movie "Poltergeist" was an introduction to horror films.

A Look At Brandon Lee's Rebellious Teenage Years

It can be difficult following in the footsteps of a famous father, but that is what Brandon Lee,

The Mystery Of The Umbrella Man At JFK's Assassination

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy — a tragic and dramatic moment in American

A Look At Wild Bill Hickok's Early Years

Wild Bill Hickok. Just the mention of his name, and you can almost feel the grit on your face and

Who Was History's Richest President?

Of the men who have served as President of the United States, the majority of them have been

The Untold Truth Of Wallis Simpson

Wallis Simpson was, and may still be, the ultimate antihero of the Windsor family and the modern

The Reason Richard Dawson Kissed Female Contestants On Family Feud

Richard Dawson was the first host of the game show "Family Feud," which premiered in 1976.

The Untold Truth Of Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is some of the most hallowed land in America. Thousands

The Wrestling Feud That Landed Macho Man Randy Savage In The Hospital

"Macho Man" Randy Savage may not have been the most physically imposing WWE Superstar in an era

How Old Angus Young Really Was When AC/DC Wrote Back In Black

Lead guitarist and songwriter Angus Young of the legendary metal band AC/DC has been duck-walking

Virtual Family Vacation Ideas

With the risks of health hazards during the pandemic, many people have opted to go with a virtual

Here's How Much Super Bowl Refs Really Get Paid

Football referees don't typically draw a lot of attention to themselves. It's not thought of as a

Why Edge Ultimately Decided To Leave The Ring

Edge took over the WWE with style, confidence, and flair, the way a rock star dominates the stage

Creepy Tales Of The Shipwrecks In The Great Lakes

It's hard to over-stress the importance of the Great Lakes when it comes to America's history and

Here's Why Exploding Rats Were Invented During WWII

You just don't hear about organizations like the Special Operations Executive anymore. If you're

Scientists Discovered An Animal That Doesn't Breathe

In a discovery which undoubtedly turns the zoological sciences upside down, scientists have

Erik the red was probably named for his hair color

Leave a Reply