KING ARTHUR, WALES AND URSA MAJOR

This newspaper clipping from the Volksblad (circa 2004), a local newspaper in Bloemfontein, South Africa, shows a photograph of the grave of the legendary King Arthur. From the research done by ES Van Bart, he said it is clear that the Arthur-character originates from the Britanic resistance against the Saxions after the volte face of the Romans from England (ca. 449-600). After the Roman period Sir John Rhys (1840-1915) coined the term "Brittone" in re-naming the Roman British citizens of those historical times. The proper noun "Arthur" is especiallyof interest to linguists. Possible ethomologies of the name could be the Welsch form arth=bear and (g) wr= hero. Arthur is associated since ancient times with the Big Bear constellation, Ursa Major. With reference to my previous published blogs on ursus and bear/beer could thus also refer to the bear constellation.

The English surname Beer, could also be associated with the ex Roman British ancestors as explained above. The name went along with the British diaspora into all the British colonies in the proverbial sense of the word that the sun could literally never set over British territory ! Consequently many forms of first and surnames can be traced all over the modern world. In the United States of America, a certain Reinhardt Beer of the North American Space Administration (NASA), is for example managing the Aura satellite to study the interaction between industrial pollution and weather patterns (Volksblad, 17 December, 2004). His name is very interesting to me because my grandson's name is also Reinhardt De Beer. The two names are examples of the English and Dutch formats. However, Reinhardt is of German origin. But in actual fact, they are exactly sharing the same family name !

Dawid De Beer (2000, p.10) also states in his research that there is a definite German connection. Zacharias Ursinus changed his name from Latin to Andreas Beer. He was born in Breslau (1534) and studied from 1550-1557 in Wittenberg under Melanchton. His work was published with a German title "Christlicher Untericht wie der in Kirchen und Schulen der KurFur"rstlichen Pfalz getrieben wird", Heidelberg, 1563. (Cf Grosheide, 1929, as quoted by Dawid De Beer, 2000, p.10.)

Many paterfenalia, crests, icons, images and the like are to be found in Switzerland as well. My next blog will display some examples.