Normans and Celts

[JohnAlister]

Is there any proof that support the claims that the Normans were Celts and/or had Celtic origins?

[Edited by JohnAlister on 25th February 2005 at 23:47]

[Scottish_Republican]

All the indigenous peoples of Europe are distantly related, and both would have some of the same elements in them.

[JohnAlister]

Thanks.


[Edited by JohnAlister on 25th February 2005 at 23:47]

[Skyelander]

No, that is misleading. All of Europe (well, western Europe) had Celts in their lands at one time. But that is over 2000 years ago. The Normans are of Frankish-Norse ancestry. They were mostly 'Vikings' who'd been granted lands in Normandy by the French king, (land of the Northman) in return for keeping the entrance to France safe from other Danish and Norwegian plunderers. Rollo was the Viking who was given the land and he and his followers came en masse to Normandy to settle. They adopted French language and culture (especially the use of cavalry) but were mostly of Norse origins. When they came to England in 1066 AD under William, they were a mix of Norse and French genes...very little 'Celt' would have remained.

Check:

Vikings! "Fury fromm the North" (first 3 chapters)
http://members.aol.com/skyelander/menu15.html

[JohnAlister]

Thanks for the answer. I'm glad you cleared that up.

[Scottish_Republican]

Untrue Skyelander, since the Normans brought a number of people from neighbouring Brittany with them. The "Norman" ancestors of the Stewart dynasty were apparently Breton in origin.

Harvey, for example is a Breton name originally.

The vast majority of Bretons were speakers of a Celtic language at the time.

[ANDY-J2]

The Normans were the descendents of Norse settlers so they were a Germanic not a Celtic people although Bretons,Flemings and Franks were all present in the Norman army which invaded England in 1066.