eide

Eide is a surname of Norwegian origin and a common Norwegian place-name element. It is derived from the Old Norse eið, meaning an isthmus, land bridge, or ford, and was originally used to describe people from a place characterized by such a geographic feature. As a surname, Eide is found in Norway and in communities with Norwegian heritage, and it appears in various spellings in other countries.

Geography: In Norway, Eide is the name of a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county. It existed until 2020, when it merged with Fræna Municipality to form Hustadvika Municipality. The name Eide is also used for villages in several other municipalities, reflecting its function as a geographic place-name element.

Other uses: In German, Eide is the plural of Eid, meaning “oaths,” and it appears in legal or formal contexts. In Norwegian and related languages, Eide continues to function as a surname and as a toponym, sometimes appearing in compound place names or as a standalone village name.

Overview: The term Eide thus covers both a hereditary surname of Norwegian origin and multiple geographic usages in Norway, including administrative and local-level place names. Its etymology ties back to ancient terms for landforms that served as connective or passage points, a pattern common in Scandinavian toponymy.