Thurid
THOO-rid
Thurid combines the thunder god Thor with 'fridr' or 'frid', Old Norse for peace or fair one, though some scholars link it to 'hridr' meaning storm or turmoil, giving the name a dual resonance of divine peace and divine storm.
At a glance
A genuine Viking-age feminine name carried by women of the Icelandic sagas including a daughter of the celebrated poet Egil Skallagrimsson.
Etymology & History
Thurid is the anglicized form of Old Norse Thoridhr or Thuridr, a compound of the god-name Thor and a second element that scholars have debated. The most widely accepted analysis connects it to 'fridr' meaning peace or beautiful, a common feminine name element seen in Ingrid, Sigrid, and Gudrid. This interpretation gives Thurid the sense of one who is fair or at peace under Thor's protection.
An alternative analysis links the second element to 'hridr', meaning storm, tumult, or attack, which would make the name mean Thor's storm or divine tempest. This reading is consistent with the thunder god's primary attributes and would make Thurid a name of fierce energy rather than peaceful beauty. The ambiguity itself is characteristic of Old Norse name elements, which often carried layered meanings.
The name was used throughout Viking-age Scandinavia and appears with particular frequency in Icelandic sources, where it is recorded in Landnamabok, Egils Saga, and several other texts. In modern times it is rare but recognized in Iceland and Norway. The modern Scandinavian form Turid drops the aspirated 'Th' in keeping with later sound changes in the Scandinavian languages.
Cultural Significance
Thurid Egilsdottir, daughter of the great skald Egil Skallagrimsson, appears in Egils Saga as a child of one of the most celebrated figures in Norse literary history. Egil was simultaneously a fearsome warrior, a devoted father, and one of the most accomplished poets of the Viking Age. His daughter bearing the name Thurid placed her within a family that embodied the full range of Norse aristocratic values, and the saga's record of her existence ensures that the name is attached to some of the richest material in Old Norse literature.
Thurid Sundafyllir, whose epithet means 'filler of the sound' and refers to her large household or fleet, represents the independent and commanding Norse women who appear throughout Landnamabok. These women were recognized as settlers in their own right, not merely as wives. The name Thurid thus carries the prestige of the saga tradition and the specific dignity of women who played active roles in the founding of Iceland.
Famous people named Thurid
Thurid Sundafyllir
Thurid Egilsdottir
Frequently Asked Questions
Names like Thurid
Astrid
“Divinely beautiful”
Astrid derives from the Old Norse elements 'ass' (god, divinity) and 'fridr' (beautiful, beloved), creating a name that carries the graceful meaning of divine beauty or beloved of the gods.
Gudrid
“Divine counsel or god's wisdom”
Gudrid joins the Old Norse elements gud, meaning god or divine, and rid, derived from rad meaning counsel, advice, or wisdom. The name means one who receives divine counsel or possesses godly wisdom, evoking a woman guided by sacred insight and inner understanding. It was borne by one of the most extraordinary women in Viking Age history.
Ingrid
“Beautiful, beloved”
Ingrid combines 'Ing', the name of an ancient Norse fertility god, with 'fridr', meaning beautiful or beloved. It is a name that evokes divine beauty and favour.
Sigrid
“Beautiful victory or victorious wisdom”
Sigrid is rooted in the Old Norse and Germanic elements 'sigr' meaning 'victory' and 'fríðr' meaning 'beautiful' or 'fair'. The name carries the dual sense of triumphant beauty, evoking a woman who is both elegant and formidable. It was borne by legendary queens and aristocrats throughout Scandinavia and Germany, cementing its association with noble bearing.
Thorny
“Thor's new strength”
Thorny is derived from the Old Norse name Thorny or Thornyr, combining Thor with 'ny' meaning new or waxing, evoking the image of fresh divine power much as the new moon signals a cycle of renewed energy.
Thorunn
“Thor's beloved”
Thorunn unites the thunder god Thor with 'unnr' or 'unna', Old Norse words meaning to love or to be beloved, creating a name that identifies its bearer as one held dear under the protection of the mightiest of the Norse gods.
Where you'll find Thurid
Thurid shows up in these curated collections across Namekin.