Beorn (son of Heden)

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This article is about the uncle of Eriol. For the skin-changer, see Beorn.
Beorn
Angle
Biographical Information
Other namesVeran, Verain (Q)
Beren (G)
Bernus (Go)
Bera(n) (OE)[1]
LocationPresumably Anglia[2]
LanguageOld English
Death5th century AD[2]
Family
ParentageHeden
SiblingsEoh
Physical Description
GenderMale

Beorn was a son of a Man named Heden, according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.[2]

Beorn was noted for the murder of his brother Eoh, the father of Eriol,[2] who died either "in the siege" of his town or "in a great battle".[3]

Many years later, Beorn himself was killed by Hengest and Horsa, Eoh's grandsons, in an act of vengeance.[3]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name Beorn is in Old English. It means "warrior", but its original meaning was "bear".[2]

Other names[edit | edit source]

Another variation of his name was (Gothic) Bernus, which was probably intended as a form of baírnus, a Gothic equivalent of the name, with Tolkien changing the spelling from to e.

In Qenya he was called Veran or Verain, with the name Beren being its Gnomish cognate.[1][note 1]

The name Veran itself was changed from Verus, an earlier name.[4]

Another (Old English) name for the character was Hasen of Isenóra ("iron shore").[5]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
Wóden[2]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heden
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tulkastor
 
 
 
Valwë
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BEORN
d. 5th century
 
Eoh
d. 5th century
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
unknown
sibling
 
Vairë
 
Lindo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cwén
fl. 5th century
 
Eriol
fl. 5th century
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Naimi*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hengest
fl. 5th century
 
Horsa
fl. 5th century
 
Heorrenda
fl. 5th century
 
Hendwine*
fl. 5th century
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

* The name of Hendwine's mother is not Naimi but Nelmir in the text on which the basis of his inclusion is founded upon - neither is her relation to Lindo and Vairë elaborated on.[4]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In an early, rejected sketch, a more elaborate version of events is given, in which Beorn attacked his brother's castle and killed him, and took Eriol captive - from which Eriol eventually escaped.[6]

Notes

  1. The reading of Beren is uncertain. An alternative reading might be Berin instead.

References