History of the      Farthing Surname

"It will be clear that the modern spelling of a name is more often than not of little value indicating the original meaning of a name..."                - Kenneth Cameron

ca 600 A.D.     Farthegn - chieftain that ruled the Norwegian island of Karmoy.  This thegn became  King after slaying King Augvald in a bloody battle over the sovereignty of the island. At right: To this day Norwegian school children still draw pictures of the fight between Farthegn and King Augvald.

The Viking Age Begins

ca 800          Farthegn - a descendant of King Farthegn.  He rebuilt Farthegn's Castle on Karmoy.  Proof that the name Farthegn had become hereditary is shown by the fact that this man was named for an ancestor that lived 200 years earlier!   He wears a replica of the only complete Viking Age helmet found to date.  It is a rounded iron cap with a spectacle-like attachment designed to guard the nose and eyes.  Previous Page......Next Page