Thanks, Roger. That makes a lot of sense.

The idea that the Normans were descended from the Vikings is well accepted by historians- the vikings settled on the coast of Northern France, as they did Northern England.In fact the name 'norman' is supposed to be derived from 'northman' , or 'norseman'.

I guess that leaves an opening for some imaginative writer to declare that Lief Ericsson's second in command was actually named Darcy the Dangerous......;-)