by Merriment MacAlpin (guest)
7/4/2003, 8:17 AM
that it is German/Austrian?
Because it looks Welsh.
In fact, I'm fairly sure there's a similar name in my thesis.
The name would be Gwasnerth, from gwas 'lad' + nerth 'strength'.
Nerth appears in other early Welsh names such as Idnerth, Dyfnerth; so does gwas - Gwasdewi, Tegwas etc.
Celtic studies were (and still are) very popular in Germany - perhaps that could be the origin of your name.