# What's your Medieval English\* epithet?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 20, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013 "2025-11-20T16:27:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/1 "2025-11-20T16:27:30Z")
I love the epithets attributed to some of the major players at the center of the chaotic game of thrones that was Norman England.\*
- Harold Harefoot
- Edmund Ironside
- Hereward the Wake
- Æthylfrith the Twister
- Eadric the Grabber
and my personal favorite
- Æthelred the Unready
What would yours have been?
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/2 "2025-11-20T16:44:56Z")
So we did some family history research, via the records of a famous ancestor (Granville Sharp the abolitionist who is my great xN uncle). We discovered we can trace out ancestry back to the Richard “Scoundrel” Greenville. Which is pretty cool IMO. Apparently he got the epithet because he changed sides so often during the civil war\*, and at one point took it upon himself to lead a bid for Cornish independence…
> **[Sir Richard Grenville |](https://www.cornwallforever.co.uk/people/sir-richard-grenville)**
>
> Read all about Cornwall's history and culture with Cornwall For Ever! Find out more about this remarkable place and its people.
Never mind being remembered for great deeds. There is something cool about being remembered through the ages as a complete bastard 😉
‘\*’ - which technically makes it an early modern epithet not a medieval one.
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/3 "2025-11-20T17:08:42Z")
If you are sticking to actual medieval epithets it’s hard to beat the vikings…
Ivar the Boneless
Eric Bloodaxe
Harald Bluetooth (so named for always lending mobile phone accessories to a friend who needed one 😉 )
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/4 "2025-11-20T17:11:33Z")
Bertha Broadfoot
Mother of Charlemagne by Pepin the Short
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### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/5 "2025-11-20T17:15:49Z")
> [@lissener](#):
>
> Æthelred the Unready
BTW, Æthelred’s epithet “Unready” does not mean “unprepared”, but rather “given poor advice”. It’s a pun on his actual name Æthelræd, which means “noble advice” or “good advice”.
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### Author:  [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/6 "2025-11-20T17:27:08Z")
> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> Harald Bluetooth (so named for always lending mobile phone accessories to a friend who needed one 😉 )
But only if they were close by. Distant friends were just out of luck.
I presume you’re aware of this, but the wireless protocol is actually named after Harald Bluetooth, because one of the project founders had recently read a historical novel or something.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/7 "2025-11-20T17:31:59Z")
My favorite is Ivaylo the Cabbage.
> **[Ivaylo of Bulgaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivaylo_of_Bulgaria)**
>
> Ivaylo (died 1281), also spelled Ivailo (Bulgarian: Ивайло), was a rebel leader who ruled briefly as tsar of Bulgaria. In 1277, he led a peasant uprising and forced the Bulgarian nobility to accept him as emperor. He reigned as emperor from 1278 to 1279, scoring victories against the Byzantines and the Mongols. Beset by foreign and domestic enemies, which included the Bulgarian nobles, he was eventually forced into exile among the Mongols, where he presented himself as a dethroned vassal. The Iv...
He even has an awesome statue.
> He was nicknamed _Bardokva_ (“radish” or “lettuce” in Bulgarian) and _Lakhanas_ (Λαχανᾶς, “cabbage”) in Greek.
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/8 "2025-11-20T17:32:26Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> he wireless protocol is actually named after Harald Bluetooth, because one of the project founders had recently read a historical novel or something
Yeah I think because of the Scandinavian connection with companies like Nokia.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/9 "2025-11-20T19:11:35Z")
The following are listed among Viking names:
Ulf the Squint-Eyed
Eirik Ale-Lover
Eystein Foul-Fart
Ragnar Shaggy-Trousers
Kolbein Butter-Penis
Herjólfr Shriveled Testicle
Skagi the Ruler of Shit.
> **[Ragnar Shaggy-Trousers and Eystein Foul-Fart: the truth behind Viking names](https://theconversation.com/ragnar-shaggy-trousers-and-eystein-foul-fart-the-truth-behind-viking-names-53256)**
>
> With Vikings on trend, it’s high time for a masterclass on the bizarre world of their names.
> **[From Butter Penis to Fairhair: 517 Real Viking Nicknames - Medievalists.net](https://www.medievalists.net/2025/07/real-viking-nicknames/)**
>
> Discover 517 real Viking nicknames from the sagas, including bold, funny, and bizarre names like “Butter Penis” and “Fairhair.” Explore what these names reveal about Norse culture and identity.
> **[QI - Quite Interesting](https://www.facebook.com/OfficialQI/posts/documented-viking-nicknames-include-eysteinn-foul-fart-herj%C3%B3lfr-shriveled-testic/3608172112530632/)**
>
> Documented Viking nicknames include Eysteinn Foul-Fart, Herjólfr Shriveled Testicle, and Skagi the Ruler of Shit.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/10 "2025-11-20T19:14:09Z")
A few more:
1. Audun Thin-Hair
2. Gunnstein Berserks’-Killer
3. Herjolf Bent-Arse
4. Audun Thorolfsson the Rotten
5. Eystein Foul-Fart
6. Asbjorn Muscle of Orrastead
7. Thorir the Troll-Burster
8. Thurid the Sound-Filler (I’m guessing she was a loquacious woman.)
9. Thorbjorg Ship-Breast
10. Ljot the Unwashed
> **[Top Ten Viking Nicknames - Sarah Albee, Writer of History and Science Books...](https://sarahalbeebooks.com/top-ten-viking-nicknames/)**
>
> The subject of today’s hilarity will be nicknames from the Viking Age. (I did a post awhile back about some of my favorite royal nicknames.) As with most people living in medieval times, the Norse had no last names (surnames), outside of patronyms...
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### Author:  [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/11 "2025-11-20T20:02:26Z")
A little further east we have Constantine V of Byzantium, who had the misfortune to soil the font at his baptism and was known ever after as Constantine Copronymus, or Constantine the Pisser.
ETA: Sorry, not English. But still interesting.
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### Author:  [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)
#### Post date: [November 20, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/12 "2025-11-20T20:40:35Z")
Don’t forget his less accomplished brother, Æthelwill the Unwilling.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/13 "2025-11-21T13:28:13Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#):
>
> A little further east we have Constantine V of Byzantium, who had the misfortune to soil the font at his baptism and was known ever after as Constantine Copronymus, or Constantine the Pisser.
You’re cleaning it up a bit. Greek _kopros_ means “dung” or “shit”, as I know from too many combinatorial forms. His nickname means “named after dung”, not “pisser”
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [November 21, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/14 "2025-11-21T20:17:45Z")
Constatine Crapper
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### Author:  [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/15 "2025-11-22T01:46:41Z")
Hairy Hari
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### Author:  [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/16 "2025-11-22T02:36:45Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#):
>
> I presume you’re aware of this, but the wireless protocol is actually named after Harald Bluetooth, because one of the project founders had recently read a historical novel or something.
IIRC it had something to do with Harald having big get togethers where everyone shared.
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### Author:  [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/17 "2025-11-22T04:05:01Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#):
>
> IIRC it had something to do with Harald having big get togethers where everyone shared.
At least I am pretty sure it is not the following
> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> because of the Scandinavian connection with companies like Nokia.
because what does Finland have to do with Scandinavia? Bluetooth’s kingdom was nowhere near there, although, e.g., some of his silver coinage has been found in Finland.
Also, what is the connection with English epithets? Were they influenced by Viking epithets, or perhaps they are both instances of the same idea…
Re. general, non-English epithets, how about Charles The Hammer (grandfather of Charles the Great)? I always thought “The Hammer” was pretty cool, especially compared to ones like Pepin The Short.
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/18 "2025-11-22T05:20:49Z")
> [@DPRK](#):
>
> because what does Finland have to do with Scandinavia?
Ok technically Nordic not Scandanavian.
> [@DPRK](#):
>
> what is the connection with English epithets?
Well they ruled significant chunks of England in the early medieval period, so “Boneless”, “Bloodaxe”, etc. are English medieval epithets.
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### Author:  [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/19 "2025-11-22T10:03:35Z")
[Roger Fuckbythenavele](https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-historian-just-found-the-oldest-use-of-fuck-920/) of Chester is generally assumed to have gotten his name due to his being ignorant of the correct way to perform the reproductive act.
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### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-medieval-english-epithet/1025013/20 "2025-11-22T16:46:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#):
>
> [Roger Fuckbythenavele](https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-historian-just-found-the-oldest-use-of-fuck-920/) of Chester is generally assumed to have gotten his name due to his being ignorant of the correct way to perform the reproductive act
I will remind you the OP asks what _your_ medieval epithet would be 😉
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