Durmstrang in Scandinavia?

[Berit Jakobsen]

No: HPFGUIDX 87555

Geoff wrote:

> Comment has been made in the past that Hogwarts is not a Scottish 
> name and it was pointed out that, although the school is 1000 years 
> old, it was an "imported" foundation and hence has a non-local 
name. 
> This could be true of Durmstrang.

Berit replies:

You might be right about that. Also, I did a little search on the net 
and found that part of the Durmstrang name actually has a nordic 
origin... At http://www.vitalog.net/ (the "What's In Your Name" 
website) it says "Strang" is:
1) Swedish or Norwegian, short war-like name meaning 'firm';
2) English, referred to the original bearer who was uncommonly 
muscular or powerful.

Looks like "strang" is connected to the English word "strong" and the 
Norwegian word "sterk".

The closest name I could find for the first part of Durmstrang 
is "Dur", which according to http://www.last-names.net/surname.asp is:

"Dur: In the Gaelic, signifies dull, stubborn, obstinate; also, 
steady, earnest, persevering." I don't know if that means "Dur" is of 
Gaelic origin, but that was all I could find.

So, it looks like I have to take back what I said about the 
Durmstrang name not being of Scandinavian origin. It looks like half 
the name could have Scandinavian origin then. But I still stand by 
what I said about the name not SOUNDING Norwegian or Scandinavian. I 
still think it sounds German :-)

Berit