Norwegian Background
All ancient references to Kvenland and Kvens seem to be from Old English and Icelandic sources (9th to 13th centuries). Furthermore, most of them seem to have been connected to a certain geographical area in Norway in one way or another:
- Ottar, the source used by King Alfred of Wessex, was from Hålogaland
- Orkneyinga saga described how Nór travelled from Kvenland to Trondheim
- Egil's saga described how Thorolf travelled from Namdalen (north of Trondheim) to Kvenland
- Writer of the publication mentioning Terra Feminarum was especially familiar with Trondheim and also mentioned Hålogaland
- Kvens were mentioned 1271 to have pillaged Hålogaland
This might indicate that the term "Kven" was originally used in Norwegian dialects around a rather compact area ranging from Trondheim to Hålogaland.
Read more about this topic: Origin Of The Name Kven
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