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ArchivesWhich came first Norweigan or Danish
I looked up Morten and the database said it was Danish, I was under the impression it was Norweigan (based on the fact it was a Norweigan friend and also the name of he Lead singer of A-ha). How do you find out "when" a name came into use within a certain culture so you can find out where it might actually have been used "first".
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Hi Nica,
Morten is a Danish name which is used is Denmark and Norway (in Sweden the form Mårten, which is pronounced like Morten, is used).
In Scandinavia was spoken an Old Norse language, and between 1100 and 1400 the language began to split up: West Norse, which is the root for Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese, and East Norse, which is the root for Danish and Swedish.
In Norway the official "church language" was Danish from 1500-1800 because Norway was ruled by Danish kings. Norwegian wasn't an official language.
In 1814 Norway became Swedish and got an own Basic Constitutional Law. The union with Sweden ended in 1905.
Today there are two official languages in Norway:
Nynorsk, with Old West Norse roots
Bokmål, with roots in the Danish administration language
The name Martinus / Martin came to Scandinavia as early as in the 13th century. The form Morten was first used in Denmark and because of the strong Danish influence during that period, the other Scandinavian countries took over that form. Today it's seen as a Danish AND Norwegian name because it's used in both countries.
Regards, Satu
Morten is a Danish name which is used is Denmark and Norway (in Sweden the form Mårten, which is pronounced like Morten, is used).
In Scandinavia was spoken an Old Norse language, and between 1100 and 1400 the language began to split up: West Norse, which is the root for Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese, and East Norse, which is the root for Danish and Swedish.
In Norway the official "church language" was Danish from 1500-1800 because Norway was ruled by Danish kings. Norwegian wasn't an official language.
In 1814 Norway became Swedish and got an own Basic Constitutional Law. The union with Sweden ended in 1905.
Today there are two official languages in Norway:
Nynorsk, with Old West Norse roots
Bokmål, with roots in the Danish administration language
The name Martinus / Martin came to Scandinavia as early as in the 13th century. The form Morten was first used in Denmark and because of the strong Danish influence during that period, the other Scandinavian countries took over that form. Today it's seen as a Danish AND Norwegian name because it's used in both countries.
Regards, Satu
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