Crowds to gather for annual Tynwald Day ceremony in St John's
The Captains of the Parish, Coroners and representatives of the island's local authorities also take part in the ceremony, which dates back more than 1,000 years.The reading of the island's newest laws from the hill in both English and Manx - known as the Promulgation of the Acts - remains a crucial part of the proceedings.If an act is not promulgated within 18 months of being given Royal Assent, it falls from the statute book.Ahead of the ceremony, the island's secondary schools will be represented in a processional march to the fair field, led by Onchan Silver Band.The pageantry of the day begins with the arrival of the visiting military band, which this year is the Band of the Royal Air Force College, accompanied by a fanfare team from The Band of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.The musicians are set to lead the Guard of Honour - this year from the King's Colour Squadron - and the standard bearers of all the Manx units and organisations to the ceremonial precinct.
The formalities get under way with the arrival of Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, who will inspect the Guard of Honour following an RAF flypast.After a short wreath-laying ceremony at the island's National War Memorial, Sir John will then take his place in the Royal Chapel of St John's for a short church service.It will include a solo performance by Cleveland Medal winner Ruth Tickle.The procession to the hill will then begin, followed by the ceremony itself, which begins with the fencing of the court.As well as the proclamation of the laws to the people, the proceedings include the ancient right for citizens to hand over petitions for redress of grievance, which are collected by the Clerk of Tynwald at the foot of the hill.The official proceedings are rounded off with the Captioning of the Acts, which takes place in the Royal Chapel and sees the new laws signed by both the President of Tynwald and the Speaker of the House of Keys.
As well as the ceremony, St John's is set to play host to a number of other events to celebrate the island's national day.They include music on Tynwald Green by the Isle of Man Wind Orchestra and Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band.The afternoon will also see performances by Scran, Claasagh and the Lon Dhoo Male Voice Choir in the Royal Chapel.The arboretum will play host to the One World Centre's celebration of cultures from around the world in its Global Village, and there is a chance to visit a replica Viking village encampment at Cooil Y Ree.The Manx Tent, situated adjacent to Tynwald Hill, will offer a variety of activities and information about the island's language, culture and heritage.The day's events will be rounded off by a performance by the Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums from 22:00 BST.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
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Think your family came over with the Normans? This fearsome Viking re-enactor is a reminder that many northern and Scottish surnames trace back to Norse invaders. | Canva This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Think you're pure Scottish? You could be wrong. These 30 surnames still common in Scotland and the north of England may point to Viking ancestry - is yours one of them? Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Think you're pure Scottish? You might be surprised. Many Scots have Viking ancestry woven into their DNA, especially in places like Orkney, Shetland, the Hebrides and Caithness where Norse settlers didn't just raid, they stayed. And it's not just in your blood. It might be in your name. Research from the University of Leicester and the People of the British Isles project found that parts of northern and coastal Scotland have some of the strongest traces of Viking genetics in the UK. Families in these regions often carry surnames with direct Norse origins, passed down through centuries. Want to see if your name is one of them? You can start your Viking ancestry journey with MyHeritage DNA and explore your family tree in minutes. Here are 30 surnames with strong Viking links, all of which still appear commonly across Scotland. 1. Raven From the Old Norse Hrafn, meaning 'raven'. The raven was a powerful symbol for Norse warriors and is often linked to the god Odin. This surname reflects its deep cultural and mythological roots. 2. Gunn Derived from gunnr, the Old Norse word for 'battle' or 'war'. Found widely across northern Scotland and Orkney, it's also the name of an old Highland clan with Viking origins. 3. Harold / Harald A classic Viking name carried by leaders like King Harald Hardrada, who famously died at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. It means 'army ruler' and was popular in both Scandinavian and Anglo-Norse cultures. 4. Ormsby A toponymic name meaning 'Ormr's farm' – Ormr being a Norse personal name meaning serpent or dragon. The suffix -by was used by Vikings to denote a farmstead or settlement and still appears in dozens of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire place names. 5. Thoresen / Thorburn Derived from Þórr, the Norse god of thunder. Names beginning with 'Thor' usually signal a Norse origin and indicate ancestry that honoured or referenced Thor's might and protection. 6. Haldane From Old Norse Halfdan, meaning 'half Dane'. A real surname still found in Scotland, possibly referring to someone born of mixed Norse and native ancestry. Wondering if your surname could link you to the Vikings? You can trace your family tree and find out with MyHeritage DNA – click here to begin 7. Croft From the Norse kropt or kroft, referring to a small enclosed field or farm. The word became rooted in Scottish and northern English landscapes and eventually surnames. 8. Scarth Likely from the Norse word skarthi, meaning 'notched' or 'hare-lipped'. Common in Orkney and parts of Yorkshire. The Scarth family appears in 16th-century land records tied to Norse-descended farming families. 9. Clegg Believed to be from kleggi, meaning 'haystack' or 'mound'. A stronghold surname in West Yorkshire, especially around Rochdale and Oldham. 10. Birkby A compound of birk (birch) and by (settlement). Still found as both a surname and a place name in North and East Yorkshire, tracing back to Danish or Norwegian farming outposts. 11. Tait Common in the Borders, Shetland and Orkney. Possibly from Old Norse teitr, meaning 'glad' or 'cheerful' – a rare example of a Norse name denoting personality rather than place or lineage. 12. Skene A Scottish surname from Aberdeenshire, sometimes traced back to a Norse word for a blade or dagger. The clan motto is 'Virtutis regia merces' – 'virtue is the reward of valour' – further hinting at a warrior heritage. Your family tree could be bigger than you ever imagined — and DNA testing can help you trace its many branches. | Canva 13. MacAulay A Hebridean and Highland name from the Norse personal name Áleifr, meaning 'ancestor's descendant' or 'heir'. Evidence suggests the MacAulays may descend from Viking settlers who integrated with Gaels. 14. Main Found in northern Scotland, particularly Caithness and Orkney. Possibly derived from mæinn, the Old Norse word for 'strong' or 'forceful'. 15. Ketill This personal name meant 'kettle' or 'cauldron' but was commonly used for a helmet in a poetic or symbolic sense. It appears in Norse sagas and survives in names like Kettlewell or Ketilson. 16. Eirikson / Ericson / Eriksen Means 'son of Erik' – one of the most common Viking naming patterns. Erik comes from Eiríkr, meaning 'eternal ruler'. Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red, is believed to have reached North America centuries before Columbus. 17. Sanderson A northern English patronymic meaning 'son of Sander', itself derived from Sandarr, a Norse personal name related to defender or protector. 18. Foss From Old Norse foss, meaning 'waterfall'. Found in surnames and place names in Yorkshire and Cumbria – often near rivers or rocky outcrops. 19. Thwaite A suffix in dozens of northern English place names like Braithwaite and Micklethwaite. From þveit, meaning 'clearing in the woods' – a sign of Norse agricultural colonisation. 20. Askew Believed to come from askr (ash tree) and skogr (wood), likely referencing a settlement near a wooded area. Found in Lancashire and Yorkshire. 21. Osmond From Old Norse Ásmundr, meaning 'divine protection'. A name passed down by Norse settlers who brought both pagan and Christian influences. 22. Rigg From the Old Norse hryggr, meaning 'ridge'. Found widely in hill-country surnames across Cumbria and the Dales. 23. Rawlinson 'Son of Raoul' – with Raoul or Ralph descending from Ráðulfr, a Norse name meaning 'wise wolf'. A surname common in Lancashire and northern England. 24. Ulf A powerful Norse name meaning 'wolf'. While rare today, it appears in Domesday Book records and some East Anglian settlements in the former Danelaw. 25. Ingerson A patronymic meaning 'son of Inge' or Ingvar, both linked to the Norse god Ing or Yngvi, associated with fertility and prosperity. 26. Janson Means 'son of Jan', with Jan being a Norse adaptation of Johannes. Still common in the Netherlands and northern UK. 27. Colby A compound of Kol (meaning coal or dark) and by (village). Found in Lancashire, Cumbria and parts of Lincolnshire. 28. Halcro Unique to Orkney and Shetland, with deep Norse roots. Believed to derive from a personal name and farm site occupied during the Viking period. 29. Gunnarsen Means 'son of Gunnar', from gunnr (war) and arr (warrior). A classic Norse warrior name that still appears in Scandinavian communities. 30. Leifson Means 'son of Leif'. Leif means 'heir' or 'beloved'. The most famous bearer is Leif Erikson, who explored North America long before the modern age of discovery. Did your name appear? Or maybe one from your extended family? It could be the start of a fascinating journey into Norse ancestry and the Viking history of the North. With MyHeritage, it's free to begin building your family tree. You can also order a DNA kit and discover your genetic connection to Scandinavia, Viking settlements and more – all for just £33. This article was produced with the support of AI tools to assist in sourcing and structuring information. All content has been reviewed, verified and completed by a National World journalist prior to publication. Canva Uncover your family's hidden connections with an exclusive MyHeritage DNA kit £ 29.00 Buy now Buy now Every generation, your family tree branches wider — yet most of your extended relatives are strangers to you. A DNA test can help change that. MyHeritage DNA doesn't just estimate your ethnic makeup; it connects you to real living relatives and uncovers the stories of your ancestors' journeys. From Viking roots in Orkney to Sephardic Jewish heritage, or even surprise half-siblings, your DNA holds the key to discovering the family you never knew you had. 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