I truly believe "AMERICA" got it's name from the VIKINGS?

Question

The Scandinvian word "OMMERIKA" means the farthest away place. Lumber found( in Iceland or Greenland) in an old ship can be dated way before Columbus and Amerigo. Since it was 250 miles to land in North America and way farther to Europe it can be concluded that the wood came from the North American Continent. SO, THE VIKINGS were here first and the sailors LINGO at the time referred to a land they called 'OMMERIKA". What do you think?? Be Fair,,not predjudice.

Answer 1

I've never heard about this but this is an interesting argument. I would love to see some proof or outside texts that would support this.

Very interesting...

Answer 2

Interesting, but you offer no proof other than your own conjecture. Contemporary evidence from the time tells us that the continent was named for Amerigo Vespucci, according to the man who named it--the map maker. No doubt the Vikings did visit the continent long before Columbus, but did the original cartographer know that? If he did, and knew that the word was OMMERIKA, you've got yourself an argument. Otherwise, you've got yourself an intriguing coincidence.

Answer 3

It's possible. I saw a story about this on the Discovery Channel. It was said that possibly Leif Ericsson who was a viking explorer, and the son of Eric the Red, was the first European to discover America. Eric the Red was the first European to settle in Greenland.

Answer 4

America was named by Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer

Answer 5

America - Welsh I tell you boyo innit?

Here's the theory putting forward Richard Americke as the chap after whom America was named. He was a wealthy Bristol merchant who had paid for Cabot's expedition but was originally from an old Welsh family with the name of Ap Meurig, Anglicised to Americke.

In addition, it is claimed that the Stars and Stripes were taken from Americke's coat of arms.

Here's the website- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/americaname_01.shtml

Well I guess you pays your money and takes your choice...

Answer 6

Interesting coincidence, but since the Europeans were the ones who popularized the name, it is unlikely that an obscure source like the Vikings were responsible.

Answer 7

enable me answer the final question first - i do no longer think I particularly have never met a Wiccan that believes in the Christian hell. needless to say I particularly have not met each Wiccan available (no longer even close), yet this style of perception could be extremely opposite to our ideals so as that would desire to be a stupid perception for a Wiccan to have. As to something of the questions, for me individually, i think the gods are very genuine. they do no longer represent something else (which incorporate archetypes). I extremely have faith that gods different than those I honor exist. i think that one and all gods exist and that i honor those that I particularly have individually experienced in my lifestyles.

Answer 8

yeah. vikings rocked. greenland is cold and iceland is nice. weeeee

but what about amerigo vespucci

Answer 9

hmm, i think thats a pretty good idea, and could probably find more on that if it was looked into, im not too much of a historian haha, but i like history and being open minded, and ive never heard of this before, and will probably make for a good discussion with my friends tonight

Answer 10

Except that the Vikings called it Vinland