Most of my books say that
OLIVER has nothing to do with olives, but rather is of Germanic origin. btn presumes, it’s from ALFIHARI, Hanks & Hodges suggest
OLAF as the original name. The reason for assuming it’s Germanic usually is: Oliver’s comrades all bear Germanic names. I’ve tried to check this – but I didn’t get very far. So maybe we can gather our pieces of information to get a clearer picture. Thank you!
ACELIN (Engl: Acolin): ???
ANSEÏS (Engl: Anseis): ???
BASAN (one of the two counts, that
Charles sent as messengers and that were beheaded by Masilie)
> bibl. Bashan?
BASILIE (dto) > Greek Basilius?
BERENGIER: „Bär“ + „Ger“
ENGELIER: Something with angel or angle?
GANELON (Engl. Guenes) ???
GEBUÏN: ???
GERARD =
GerhardGERIER (engl: Gerers): something with GER
GERIN (engl.: Gerins): dito
GUINEMAN Heinemann? Engl: GUNMAN („gun“ is probably from Nord. Gunna >
Gunhild)
HEINRICHIVE =
IvoIVORIE: smells French (originally Lat: ebur, eboris, evory;); another possibility like
IGOR =
IVOR, „yew bow warrier“
LORANT: sounds like
LaurenceMILON (Engl: Milun)
NAIMES: Reaney &
Wilson: it’s from
Naim: > Old French „nain“ = „dwarf“ (same today) > Lat. nanus
OGIER: ogre??????!!!???
OLIVIER (Engl:
Oliver)
OTES: reminds me of
OttoRABEL: maybe „raven“
RICHARDROLAND:
SANSON (Engl: Sansun): reminds me of the biblical
Samson; R&W: maybe biblical, maybe Celtic
TEDBALT (Engl: Tedbald)
TURPIN: Old High
German „thurfan“ = dürfen??? R & W: „
Thor“ + „Finnr“ (the Fins)