--- In cybalist@..., "Piotr Gasiorowski" <gpiotr@...> wrote:
> You're right, the -ing formation is more general and can refer to a
place of origin, though I'm not sure how old this usage. So maybe the
Helsings were "people from the Hals" rather
than "descendants/servants of Hals".
>
> Silesia is supposed to be the land of the Silings (Polish S'la,sk <
*sIle~z^-Isk-U < *siling-isk-), one of the major "Vandalic" tribes of
the Lugian union. They are usually mentioned together with the
Hasdings, as in Tacitus. The name is no doubt Germanic but I don't
know how to etymologise it. Sall- in Salling doesn't look too
promising as a match for Sil-. Give me some time to think it over.
>
> Piotr
>
Alfred the Great's "Sillende" comes to mind. Bomhard has a "water"
root *s-l-, cf Danish <sile> "pour down steadily (esp. of rain)"
Torsten