Tyke/Tyge/Tycho?
Is Tyke a cognate of Tycho? I have an 11th great-grandfather from Norway named Tyke. Tycho is a Greek word but popularized by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. Additionally, how do you pronounce Tyke? I've heard Tycho is pronounced TOO-koo. And is Tyge related to these names?
Replies
Hi Lars,
Originally in Scandinavia Tycho/Tyko has got nothing to do with the Greek/Latin name Tycho but it is a latinized form of Tyke, an Old Danish name (older form: Tyki). Tyki was a Danish variant form of the Old Norse name Toki, which derives from the word "tok" (fool, jerk). Toki was used as a short form of Torkel/Torkettil (god Tor "thunder" + helmet) as well.
A Norwegian y-sound is quite similar to a French u-sound and a German ü-sound. You can listen to a Danish y-sound here (which is very close to the Norwegian y-sound, I couldn't find a Norwegian sound...):
http://www.speakdanish.dk/html/pronunciation_alphabet_wxyz.htm
Click on the word "ny" to hear the "Tycho/Tyke-y"
So Tycho is pronounced ty-koh and Tyke is pronounced ty-keh (for the right e-sound click on the word "tale" on this site:
http://www.speakdanish.dk/html/pronunciation_alphabet_ef.htm )
The stress is on the first syllable.
Yes, Tyge is another Danish variant of Tyke.
Regards, Satu
Originally in Scandinavia Tycho/Tyko has got nothing to do with the Greek/Latin name Tycho but it is a latinized form of Tyke, an Old Danish name (older form: Tyki). Tyki was a Danish variant form of the Old Norse name Toki, which derives from the word "tok" (fool, jerk). Toki was used as a short form of Torkel/Torkettil (god Tor "thunder" + helmet) as well.
A Norwegian y-sound is quite similar to a French u-sound and a German ü-sound. You can listen to a Danish y-sound here (which is very close to the Norwegian y-sound, I couldn't find a Norwegian sound...):
http://www.speakdanish.dk/html/pronunciation_alphabet_wxyz.htm
Click on the word "ny" to hear the "Tycho/Tyke-y"
So Tycho is pronounced ty-koh and Tyke is pronounced ty-keh (for the right e-sound click on the word "tale" on this site:
http://www.speakdanish.dk/html/pronunciation_alphabet_ef.htm )
The stress is on the first syllable.
Yes, Tyge is another Danish variant of Tyke.
Regards, Satu