Approximately A.D. 1225 Norwegian Poet and Historian Snorri Sturlson (c1179-1241) recorded a book called
Heimskringala or ‘The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway’
Source : Online Medieval and Classical Library; The Heimskringala - omacl.org/Heimskringla/trygvason2.html
Written in Old Norse, he records a collection of sagas concerning the various rulers of Norway from about A.D. 850 to the
year A.D. 1177 the information collected as written in his preface below;
“In this book I have had old stories written down, as I have heard them told by intelligent people, concerning chiefs who have held dominion in the
northern countries, and who spoke the Danish tongue; and also concerning some of their family branches, according to what has been told me. Some of
this is found in ancient family registers, in which the pedigrees of kings and other personages of high birth are reckoned up, and part is written down
after old songs and ballads, which our forefathers had for their amusement. Now, although we cannot just say what truth there may be in these, yet we
have the certainty that old and wise men held them to be true.” Snorri Sturlson c. AD 1225
The excerpts below were taken from transcripts of this Ancient Book and appear to be the earliest recording of the Scard Family Name in it's ancient
variant 'Skerde'.
The Heimskringala References:
Skarde the Viking Norway. A.D. 999 – 1015 (the prisoner)
[Background Research: Earl Eirik was the son of Earl Haakon Sigurdsson. He succeeded to the title of Earl Eirik of Norway in AD 999. He abdicated as Earl
in 1015 A.D when he was succeeded by Earl Svein that year. The reign of Svein lasted one year and he was deposed in 1016 A.D. Eirik died in 1023 A.D.]
Excerpt from the Heimskringala; “Earl Eirik then laid himself alongside of Vagn's ship, and there was a brave defense; but at last this ship too was
cleared, and Vagn and thirty men were taken prisoners, and bound, and brought to land. Then came up Thorkel Leira, and said, "Thou madest a solemn
vow, Vagn, to kill me, but now it seems more likely that I will kill thee." Vagn and his men sat all upon a log of wood together. Thorkel had an axe in
his hands, with which he cut at him who sat outmost on the log. Vagn and the other prisoners were bound so that a rope was fastened on their feet, but
they had their hands free. One of them said, "I will stick this cloak-pin that I have in my hand into the earth, if it be so that I know anything, after my
head is cut off." His head was cut off, but the cloak-pin fell from his hand. There sat also a very handsome man with long hair, who twisted his hair over
his head, put out his neck, and said, "Don't make my hair bloody." A man took the hair in his hands and held it fast. Thorkel hewed with his axe; but the
Viking twitched his head so strongly that he who was holding his hair fell forwards, and the axe cut off both his hands, and stuck fast in the earth. Then
Earl Eirik came up, and asked, "Who is that handsome man?" He replies, "I am called Sigurd, and am Bue's son. But are all the Jomsborg* Vikings
dead?" Eirik says, "Thou art certainly Boe's son. Wilt thou now take life and peace?""That depends," says he, "upon who it is that offers it." "He offers
who has the power to do it -- Earl Eirik." "That will I," says he, "from his hands." And now the rope was loosened from him. Then said Thorkel Leira,
"Although thou should give all these men life and peace, Earl, Vagn Akason shall never come from this with life." And he ran at him with uplifted
axe; but the Viking Skarde swung himself in the rope, and let himself fall just before Thorkel's feet, so that Thorkel ell over him, and Vagn caught the
axe and gave Thorkel a death-wound. Then said the Earl, "Vagn, wilt thou accept life?" "That I will," says he, "if you give it to all of us." "Loose them
from the rope," said the Earl, and it was done. Eighteen were killed, and twelve got their lives.”
[*Johnsborg Vikings: Jomsborg was a legendary Viking settlement in Pomerania by the Baltic Sea. According to the Jomsvikinga Saga, it was inhabited by a guild of
mercenaries known as the Jomsvikings. It was conquered by the disinherited Swedish prince Styrbjörn Starke who later gave it to the Danish king Harold Bluetooth,
who had to take refuge from his son here in the late 900s[Wikipedia]. The Jómsvikings was a Viking Brotherhood of warriors founded by the Danish King Harold
Bluetooth (d.985) as a defense against the Wends in the early 10th century. They lived in community/fort somewhere on the island of Wollin in the estuary of the Oder
River, although the precise location is not known. The fort is thought to be similar to style like Trelleborg and Fyrkat with rules/code of conduct that ensured only the
best came into their ranks.[www.runegame.com/myth]].
A few years later a tiny village of this name was established high in the mountains near Odda Norway.
Skarde is a village in Odda municipality, Norway. The population is 328 (2003)
dda at the base of the mountain where a track leads upward to the Village of Scarde Norway.
A Mountain Climbers Diary:
A brief exerpt; We made the ferry from Vangsnes at 2000, and started hiking from Hella around 2030. A nice trail headed up the hillside, the Rud farm with big white buildings, old
apple trees and no road about 250 meter above the fjord - fabulous views, but the manual labor required to establish a farm up here is beyond imagination. As we climbed higher,
suddenly there were voices and music, the surprise of the evening. A local school had established camp with big tents, a fire, guitar music and generally good spirit.
We continued to Skarde, with old buildings and a nice place to camp just before hitting the snow. Skarde is at 515 meter elevation.
Full transcript; www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/1000mtn - Mountain Info - Search - Stav - last entry.
A few years later........
Thorgaut & Asgaut [the Bailiff] Skarde (brothers).
AD1016 - Emissaries of King Olaf – King of Sweden
[ Prelude: Excerpts from the Heimskringala relevant to the Story; “King Olaf the Swede had so great a hatred of Olaf Haraldson, that no man dared to
call him by his right name in the king's hearing. They called him the thick man; and never named him without some hard by-name.” “King Olaf was a
good and very gentle man, of little speech, and open-handed although greedy of money.” ]
Excerpt 57; from the Heimskringala “KING OLAF'S MESSENGERS. The same winter (A.D. 1016) came messengers from the Swedish king, Olaf the
Swede, out of Svithjod: and their leaders were two brothers, Thorgaut Skarde and Asgaut the bailiff; and they, had twenty-four men with them, when they
came from the eastward, over the ridge of the country down into Veradal, they summoned a Thing of the bondes, talked to them, and demanded of them
scat and duties upon account of the king of Sweden. But the bondes, after consulting with each other, determined only to pay the scat which the Swedish
king required in so far as King Olaf required none upon his account, but refused to pay scat to both. The messengers proceeded farther down the valley;
but received at every Thing they held the same answer, and no money. They went forward to Skaun, held a Thing there, and demanded scat; but it went
there as before. Then they came to Stjoradal, and summoned a Thing, but the bondes would not come to it. Now the messengers saw that their business
was a failure; and Thorgaut proposed that they should turn about, and go eastward again. "I do not think," says Asgaut, "that we have performed the
king's errand unless we go to King Olaf the Thick, since the bondes refer the matter to him." He was their commander; so they proceeded to the town
(Nidaros), and took lodging there.
The day after they presented themselves to the king, just as he was seated at table, saluted him, and said they came with a message of the Swedish king.
The king told them to come to him next day. Next day the king, having heard mass, went to his Thing-house, ordered the messengers of the Swedish king
to be called, and told them to produce their message. Then Thorgaut spoke, and told first what his errand was, and next how the Throndhjem people of the
interior had replied to it; and asked the king's decision on the business, that they might know what result their errand there was to have. The king
answers, "While the earls ruled over the country, it was not to be wondered at if the country people thought themselves bound to obey them, as they were
at least of the royal race of the kingdom. But it would have been more just if those earls had given assistance and service to the kings who had a right
to the country, rather than to foreign kings, or to stir up opposition to their lawful kings, depriving them of their land and kingdom. With regard to Olaf
the Swede, who calls himself entitled to the kingdom of Norway, I, who in fact am so entitled, can see no ground for his claim; but well remember the
skaith and damage we have suffered from him and his relations."
Then says Asgaut. "It is not wonderful that thou art called Olaf the Thick, seeing thou answerest so haughtily to such a prince's message, and canst not
see clearly how heavy the king's wrath will be for thee to support, as many have experienced who had greater strength than thou appearest to have. But if
thou wishest to keep hold of thy kingdom, it will be best for thee to come to the king, and be his man; and we shall beg him to give thee this kingdom in
fief under him." The king replies with all gentleness, "I will give thee an advice, Asgaut,” in return. Go back to the east again to thy king, and tell him
that early in spring I will make myself ready, and will proceed eastward to the ancient frontier that divided formerly the kingdom of the kings of Norway
from Sweden. There he may come if he likes, that we may conclude a peace with each other; and each of us will retain the kingdom to which he is born."
Now the messengers turned back to their lodging, and prepared for their departure, and the king went to table. The messengers came back soon after to
the king's house; but the doorkeepers saw it, and reported it to the king, who told them not to let the messengers in. "I will not speak with them," said
he. Then the messengers went off, and Thorgaut said he would now return home with his men; but Asgaut insisted still that he would go forward with
the king's errand: so they separated. Thorgaut proceeded accordingly through Strind; but Asgaut went into Gaulardal and Orkadal, and intended
proceeding southwards to More, to deliver his king's message. When King Olaf came to the knowledge of this he sent out his pursuivants after them,
who found them at the ness in Stein, bound their hands behind their backs, and led them down to the point called Gaularas, where they raised a gallows,
and hanged them so that they could be seen by those who traveled the usual sea-way out of the fjord.
Thorgaut heard this news before he had travelled far on his way home through the Throndhjem country; and he hastened on his journey until he came to
the Swedish king, and told him how it had gone with them. The king was highly enraged when he heard the account of it; and he had no lack of high
words.”
A year later…
The Death of Thorgaut Skarde AD 1017.
Excerpt 64; “FALL OF GUDLEIK AND THORGAUT. There was a man called Gudleik Gerske, who came originally from Agder. He was a great merchant,
who went far and wide by sea, was very rich, and drove a trade with various countries. He often went east to Gardarike (Russia), and therefore was called
Gudleik Gerske (the Russian). This spring (A.D. 1017) Gudleik fitted out his ship, and intended to go east in summer to Russia. King Olaf sent a message
to him that he wanted to speak to him; and when Gudleik came to the king he told him he would go in partnership with him, and told him to purchase some
costly articles which were difficult to be had in this country. Gudleik said that it should be according to the king's desire. The king ordered as much money
to be delivered to Gudleik as he thought sufficient, and then Gudleik set out for the Baltic. They lay in a sound in Gotland; and there it happened, as it
often does, that people cannot keep their own secrets, and the people of the country came to know that in this ship was Olaf the Thick's partner. Gudleik
went in summer eastwards to Novgorod, where he bought fine and costly clothes, which he intended for the king as a state dress; and also precious furs,
and remarkably splendid table utensils. In autumn (A.D. 1017), as Gudleik was returning from the east, he met a contrary wind, and lay for a long time at
the island Eyland. There came Thorgaut Skarde, who in autumn had heard of Gudleik's course, in a long-ship against him, and gave him battle. They
fought long, and Gudleik and his people defended themselves for a long time; but the numbers against them were great, and Gudleik and many of his
ship's crew fell, and a great many of them were wounded. Thorgaut took all their goods, and King Olaf's, and he and his comrades divided the booty
among them equally; but he said the Swedish king ought to have the precious articles of King Olaf, as these, he said, should be considered as part of the
scat due to him from Norway. Thereafter Thorgaut proceeded east to Svithjod. These tidings were soon known; and as Eyvind Urarhorn came soon after
to Eyland, he heard the news, and sailed east after Thorgaut and his troop, and overtook them among the Swedish isles on the coast, and gave battle.
There Thorgaut and the most of his men were killed, and the rest sprang overboard. Eyvind took all the goods and all the costly articles of King Olaf
which they had captured from Gudleik, and went with these back to Norway in autumn, and delivered to King Olaf his precious wares. The king thanked
him in the most friendly way for his proceeding, and promised him anew his favour and friendship. At this time Olaf had been three years king over
Norway (A.D. 1015-1017).
Comments and Research
It was a little under fifty years after Asgaut’s death to the date of the Norman Conquest of England in AD 1066.
That any of part of Asgaut’s line appeared in Norway in the interim, offered allegiance to William and made their way to England through this gateway,
although seemingly unrealistic in view that the family held positions of note in Sweden, it is however possible that the politics of the time could have
warranted this family’s shift in loyalty and renegade Family Strays are always possible. There is evidence of this variation 'Skerde' repeated
frequently throughout early documents in England dating back to just a half a century after the Conquest. In all documents they held positions of some
affluence akin to their Scandanavian predecessors. A search of the Domesday Book was commenced and the Name was not found amongst those of
William’s most favoured Knights. The Leases and Sub-Leases issued by these Norman Knights from these ‘gift Estates’ during this Period are still being
investigated although it is considered that the Skerde Family Name entered England about three decades later. In any event whether they arrived
at the time of the Conquest or through any of the portals listed below, these Scandanavian Skerde ancestors did reach England's shores and settled.
In Summary:- The Origin of this Proud Family Name appears to have found its cradle, nestled amongst the Lands nearest the Norwegian, Northern and
Baltic Seas, it's roots set deeply eons ago in Ancient Kingdoms of Scandanavia.
Other Gateways of Early Migration to England
Various Family Legends imply very early migration from Scandanavia to Ireland, Holland and France as a earlier portal to their appearance in England;
Ireland: Viking raids on the coast of Ireland occurred well before AD 800 and were continued intermittently till after the turn of the millennium.
Although The Annals of the Four Masters, as comprehensive as it is, the number possible variations of this Scandanavian Name in the Gaelic tongue
proved too difficult to research.
Holland: Links to Holland in the suggested variant Scaad were not found.
France: Connections in France can be found on the link at www.geneanet.org. Written in French the references are far beyond the writer's capablities
and was left to a more intrepid researcher in the future.
Note: Although a subsequent migration to France after the Norman Invasion and entry into Britain at the time of the Huguenot’s Flight in the 16th and
17th Century is to be considered, much earlier references in England have been discovered prior to this period, any one of which could have arrived from
'any' of the above portals.