What is the differance really between Norse people and Germanic people?

Question

they are both originally from Scandinavia?

why do norse people often times look more gentler than Germans?

and is northwest Germany and Netherlands as well as the English more Nordic than "Germanic" really?

please explain.

also , how about Scotland?

i noticed many Scotts (not so much Irish) look like they are partially atleast Nordic as well as "Celtic" i am imagining.

please explain.

Additional Details

also, how much differant are blonde haired or blue eyed English in looks from the Scottish?

why is this?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

You sound like you know a lot already but I will try and give you some info. (I've written some stuff about genetics at the bottom)

"Germanic" refers mainly to the people who speak that branch of the Indo-European language family. In the iron age they lived in Scandinavia and the coastal plains of what is now Germany. From there some of them spread south into modern Germany and Germanised the indigenous Celtic people (La Tene and Hallstatt). These continental Germanic people became the West Germanic branch of the Germanic family. Those remaining in Scandinavia became the Northern branch of the Germanic family as the West and North differentiated. Much later, during the Middle Ages West Germanic people colonised Slavic lands east of the Elbe river, which is why many towns (including Berlin) have Slavic names. There is therefore quite a big slavic element in the Eastern part of Germany.

"Norse" is an informal name for the North Germanic or Scandinavian people.

Apart from some Scandinavian influence the Scots don't have any connection with Germanic peoples, other than they speak English of course. One giveaway is the high incidence of red hair in Scotland (13%). Contrary to the popular stereotype red hair is quite a rare trait in truly Germanic populations (1% - 2%).

The Dutch are a West Germanic people with less central European influence than Germans (so perhaps more similar to Scandinavians).


Genetics can give some clues: (see gene map source)

The English are like a cross between the Irish, Dutch and Norwegians. Presumably this reflects indigenous British, Anglo Saxon and Viking influence.

North Germans (e.g. from Hamburg) are most closely related to the Danes and Swedes and also Czechs. South Germans are most closely related to Austrians and Swiss and are quite different (probably descended mostly from Germanized Celts) from North Germans.
Being German is about shared language and culture rather than race.

PS. Ignore people who talk about Aryans. As far as I am aware the Aryans (properly- Aryas) have never been anywhere near Germany as they are the Indo-European people who colonised Persia (Iran means Aryan) and India during the iron age. Hiltler said Germans were Aryans but Hitler didn't have a clue.
Although there is no racial basis for any nationality or even ethnicity, you can't argue that there aren't different patterns of genes across Europe and these can help us to understand previous migrations and connections between different populations. @Stuart Y: I don't appreciate you calling my answer "pure utter tripe", everything is cast iron fact. I wouldn't write anything else on what is a potentially controvertial subject area.

Source(s):

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/scienc…

Answer 2

From what I understand the Vikings (Scandinavians) invaded both Ireland and Scotland during a time in history.

I'm not as knowledgeable about Germanic history (without clicking over to wikipedia), but I believe that Scandinavians also invaded Germany and Austria at one time as well, as they were explorers, pillagers, conquerors, sailors, and traders.

Edit: As I'm reading through my answer, and comparing it to wikipedia, I'm seeing my answer is very general. If you really want more specific, accurate data on this topic, visit this and other sites on wikipedia (my favorite site for history); Very interesting stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_expa…

Answer 3

No difference they are all human

Answer 4

norse people and "German" people are vague, or atleast "germans" title is vague.

norway, swedish, and finnish people are mostly gentle types of people, who i find quite reserved , distant a bit, yet friendly to talk to and dont seem as assertive or as bold in manners and quick to anger as many Germans for some reason. however, i think the germans in nortwest area , hamburg and netherlands are more related to Scandinavians and the germans in the south are mixed with french and italians and austrians more which are more closely tied to the slavic tribes, as well as the "Prussians" are more slavic in appearance however they are probably mixed with "nordic" or people who are scandinavians as well.

the english and i am guessing the Scottish (the ones with blonde or blue eyed features are more tied to the nortwestern Germans and Dutch as well as the Scandinavians.


so "Germanic" can mean more "Slavic" than Scandinavians.. however Polish people seem more Scandinavian and Slavic too. so it is mixed up.

Answer 5

The term Germanic refers to the people of several northern European countries. Nordic is a less technical term. The English are a (mostly) Germanic race. Although Celtic, many Scottish people share their genes with Norwegians and Anglo-Saxons, hence their Germanic looks. Terms like Viking, Saxon, Anglo, and Norman are used for groups of people. However, all these people are of Germanic origin. A blond, blue-eyed English person (Anglo-Saxon) looks different to a darker-haired, brown-eyed Scots person (Celt). The Irish are almost completely Celtic (similar to the Welsh).

Answer 6

Great question and if I was truthfull than I would asked the same question when lived there as the Norweigan language has changed several times and there are 3 versions as (I f memory serves me right but will stand corrected) There is Olde Norsk which is Scandisk- but similar to polish-or a Baltic region then German then new Norsk which is a cross between the old Norsk and the Baltic language with Scandinavian thrown in for best measure.

As for the Scots well the only thing I can I understand is that where people land they develope to and that is because the human body and nature is naturally adapting. If we needed gills we get them if we need wings then we get them, oh good I am beinging to sound like the bible.

Answer 7

They are both Aryan people, one settled in the Germanic forests while the other settled more up north ( Norsemen means men of North)

Now about the people in Britain. Modern Britain where originally inhabited by Britons and Pictish people. Then the Romans came and settled in England. After that the Anglo Saxons ( Germanic people from Angleln, Lower Saxony and Juteland.) conquered England. Then, the Anglo Saxon kings them selves where conquered by Normans (Norsemen who moved into Normandy and adapted French as their language.)

So after all the background information, here is your answer:

The Scots are the decedents of Picts and Britons who got pushed out of England by the Anglo Saxons.

The English are decedents of Romans, Anglo Saxons, and Normans combined.


So you see, the reason why Scots and English are so different is because the Scots are decedents of the original Island inhabitants, and the English are decedents of main land European people. So they are entirely a different race.

Answer 8

Norsemen (or vikings) followed the cult of SIN and worshipped their God (I think SETI) the enlightened one, who had his home on Helgoland. The viking never fought on Helgoland! This belief came from UR in the chaldees where Abraham came from. The germanic races seem to be more catholic down south and the further north the more evangelical. The language varies greatly and not even some germans understand deutsch spoken in allgau! And the fresian islands, schleswig holstein, have a language all their own.Budelsdorf near Keil has the remains of the largest Stoneage settlement running along a hill by the North sea east sea passage for about three kilometers. You can just bend down and pick up flint arrowheads. As for peaceful, well the vikings could hardly be called that., ask a saxon!

Source(s):

Know the whole area having lived there.

Answer 9

Questions like these should be asked in a more detailed manner.. Norsemen or Scandinavians (Finland excluded) belong to what nowadays is known as the Northern germanic tribe, but the delimitation of what's germanic and what's e.g. celtic can not be answered as the denomination are based on records of historians etc.. who weren't that precise. The physical traits of a certain population is not only genetic inherent to that population, as other people moving to or living in similar environments tend to develop the same traits..
Concerning the UK, recent DNA analysis shows that the Anglo-Saxon invasion didn't in the least lessen the aboriginals (celts -whatever that means) and that through the so called anglo saxon and viking invasion no influential change of nature of the population has taken place.
In fact, your question isn't a question 'cause you mingle two different things; looks and culture.

Answer 10

agree with above.

Answer 11

Thank goodness for Jayofftee!!! There is some truly awful rubbish written down here, and the only one you should take any notice of is Jay's. These ideas of race and differences and origins is so very divisive. We simply don't know, is the simple answer. People have always moved, ever since the distant dawn of mankind! Huge movements of people, from Africa, through to Asia and Europe...most of this cause racists massive problems ad they do everything they can to dismiss or disprove our origins. But they can't. We are what we are because we're human and we move around and we mix. We take on new cultures, new ideas, and we evolve intellectually. Please, do some proper research. Read. Don't come on here trying to get easy answers, because what you will mostly get is pure, utter tripe.