Some have considered the story to be chiefly Burgundian; and Sigmund, conquering protection, the name of Sigurdr’s father, was that of the first Catholic king of Burgundy, who was canonized both for the recovery of his kingdom from Arianism, and for the severity of his penance, after having killed his son, Sigeric, on a false stepdame’s calumny. His relics were carried to Prague in the fourteenth century, and the effect of the translation appeared at once in the name of the Bohemian-born Emperor Sigismund, from whom this became European, and formed the feminine Sigismunda. Gismonda is thus an old Lombardic feminine.

English.French.Italian.German.
Sigismund SigismondSigismondoSigmund
SæmundPortuguese.SismondoSigismund
Sigismundo
Norwegian.Polish.Illyrian.Hungarian.
Sigmund ZygmuntSismanZsigmond
SæmundBohemian Zsiga
Zikmund

Some have imagined that the curious correspondence of names, when Sigebert, the Frank, married Brynhild, the Goth, is a sign that the Nibelung referred to the Austrasian court; but the Frank Sigebert would have been a very poor serpent-slayer, and, no doubt, only bore the name as a remembrance of him, as did our East Saxon monarch Sæbert, and the Spanish bishop Siseberto. It has lasted on in Germany and Friesland, to be called Sizo, Sitto, Sibert, and Sidde, and is the English surname Sebright. Sigelind, conquering snake, now and then used by German ladies, has the Eastern-looking abbreviation Zelinde.

Sigridur, or conquering impulse, was a favourite among northern ladies. Sigrid the haughty of Sweden, was wooed by King Olaf Trygvesson, and had accepted him; but on her refusal to be baptized, he struck her on the face with his glove, and said, ‘Why should I have thee, an old faded jade, and a heathen to boot.’ She remembered his discourtesy against him, and stirred up the war, which ended in his fatal battle with Earl Sigvalddr. Sigrid is Sired in Domesday; in the North, she is shortened into Sîri, and then Latinized as Serena.

Sigvalldur, conquering power, curiously ran into Sjovald, from whence we take our surname Shovel, one of the many by which our naval commanders are traceable to the vikings.

Sigeheri, Sigehere, Sighar, conquering warrior, is what on Norman lips was Sagar, and then Saher, the hereditary name of the De Quincys, and as a surname spelt Sayers.[[130]]

The other forms are,

North.
Sigbiorg
Siborg
Siber
} Conguering protectionGer. Sigburg
German.English.Frisian.Italian.
SigebaldSibbaldSibold
Sibel
Sibaldo}Conquering
prince
North. Sigbiorn; Eng. Siborne—Conquering bear
German.Frisian.Spanish.
SigbodSibot
Sibo
Sibbe
Sisebuto} Messenger of victory
Nor.German.Frisian.
SigbrandSigbrandSibrant
Sibbern
}Conquering sword
Nor. Sigfus—Conquering impetuosity
German.English.Frisian.French.
Sighard
Siegert
SigehardSiard
Siade
Sicard}Conquering
firmnesss
Ger. Sighelm—Conquering helmet
Nor. Sighvatr—Conquering swiftness
Nor. Sigmar; Ger. Sigmar—Conquering greatness
Nor. Signy—Conquering freshness
Ger. Sigrad—Conquering advice
Ger. Sigrich—Conquering ruler
Sigtrud—Conquering maid
Nor. Sigtrygge—Conquering security
Nor. Sigulf, Siulf; Eng. Sigewolf—Conquering wolf

[130]. Nibelung; Weber and Jamieson; Kemble, Beowulf; Michaelis; Pott; Butler; Heimskringla.

Section III.—Brynhild.