Thor Longus

Thor Longus or Thor the Long (fl. c. 1113×1124) was an early 12th-century Anglo-Saxon noble associated with Roxburghshire, a culturally Northumbrian and Brythonic Cumbric Celtic (Carvetii, Brigantes, Selgovae) territory ruled by the Scottish king from the 11th-century onwards. A charter dating between 1107×1113 and 1124 claims that Thor the Long founded Ednam, previously a deserted waste granted to him by King Edgar of Scotland.[1]

Thor's Seal; it depicts him, seated with a sword, and the Latin inscription "Thor me mittet amico," i.e. "Thor gave me to a friend."

Ednam lies close to the Northumberland border with Roxburghshire. The charter states that he repopulated the settlement with his own followers and built a church.[1] The charter grants the church to the monks of St Cuthbert.[1] There survives the notice of this grant given by Thor to his lord Earl David (future David I of Scotland), as well as Earl David's confirmation of the same grant.[2]

Thor had a brother named Leofwine, mentioned in Thor's charter as requiring "redemption".[3] Leofwine "the monk" was commemorated in the Martyrology of the Durham Cantor's book for June 2 (day of death), and in the same source Thor Longus was commemorated for May 14.[4] The year of his death and descendants are not known, but Ednam appears to have been transferred into the Crown's hands by 1136,[5] so he can be presumed dead by that date.

Several Scottish families/clans claim either lineage or name-sake of Thor Longus (Longus is Latin for 'Long/Laing/Lang meaning 'Tall' in Anglish/German/Scots/etc):

  • Stirling
  • Crawford
  • Nisbet
  • Swinton

See also

Notes
  1. Howlett, Caledonian Craftsmen, pp. 10–11; Lawrie (ed.), Early Scottish Charters, no. 24
  2. See Howlett, Caledonian Craftsmen, pp. 10–14 for text, translation and commentary; Lawrie (ed.), Early Scottish Charters, nos. 24, 33, 34
  3. Howlett, Caledonian Craftsmen, pp. 10–11; Lawrie (ed.), Early Scottish Charters, p. 259, suggests he had been a prisoner in the Crusades
  4. Barrow, "Scots in the Durham Liber Vitae", p. 111
  5. Lawrie (ed.), Early Scottish Charters, pp. 259–60, and no. 86

References
  • Barrow, G. W. S. (2004), "Scots in the Durham Liber Vitae", in Rollason, David (ed.), The Durham Liber Vitae and Its Context, Woodbridge: Boydell Press, pp. 109–18, ISBN 1-84383-060-4
  • Howlett, David (2005), Caledonian Craftsmanship: The Scottish Latin Tradition, Four Courts Press, ISBN 1-85182-485-5
  • Lawrie, Archibald Campbell, ed. (1905), Early Scottish Charters : Prior to A.D. 1153, Glasgow: J. MacLehose and sons
  • (1970). Burke's peerage and baronetage. London, Burke's Peerage.
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