HARLINGA ~ comrades-in-arms

Port of Harlingen on map 1664

Harlingen in Wiarda 1786

Harlinga in Hettema 1832

Hettema (1832) seems to have been the last Old Frisian dictionary that had the word Harlinga (translated as bondgenoten: allies), referring to Wiarda (1786), who spelled Harlingen, referring to a quote of unclear origin: Ws gemene Vrienden en Harlingen (he translates: our communal friends and allies).

Oera Linda has ÁTHA* for allies, suggesting this was what Athens (ÁTHENJA, used 14 times) was named after (see ch. L2).

*plural ÁTHA was used 5 times (quasi-dative ÁTHUM twice), singular ÁTHE 6 times, compound ÁTHSKIP (allience) 5 times and male name ÁTHARIK (ally-rich) once.

HARLINGA is used twice, in the context of conflict and its meaning seems to be less formal than ally: comrades-in-arms? (Dutch: strijdmakker, wapenbroeder?):

HJA WRDON HJARA HARLINGA

[050/13] VSA WÉIBRITNE WRDON VRDELGEN JEFTA HJA WRDON HJARA HARLINGA.

 ch. J. our dispersed people were either destroyed or joined their ranks. 

(lit.: they became their comrades-in-arms)

Ottema 1872: ... of zij werden hunne bondgenooten (allies)

Sandbach 1876: ... or made slaves

 

[071/08] WILST THUS VSA HARLINGA BILÍWA. SÁ MOT J THINA SLÁVONA FRY LÉTA.

 ch. L2. Thus, if you wish that we should fight together, you must set your slaves free.

(lit.: to remain our comrades-in-arms) 

Ottema 1872: ... wilt gij dus onze bondgenooten (allies) blijven

Sandbach 1876: ... to remain our allies

scene from War of the Spanish Succession 1707

HARLINGA seems related to HÉR (army), from which several other words are derived (e.g. HÉRMAN, HÉRTOGA), compare:

hæria (Old Swedish) - to attack with an army, to destroy

herja (Old Norse) - to go harrying or freebooting, (transitive, with accusative:) to despoil, waste

hergian (Old English) - to pillage, plunder

Heer, heir (archaic German/Dutch) - army

If the word HARLINGA would still exist in Dutch, it would now be heerling.

Possibly related: Heruli/ Heruls (wikipedia: probably an honorific military title): HÊRLJUD?, Dutch: heerlui/ heerlieden?

The origin of the place name Harlingen is unknown:

Harlingen was first mentioned in 1228 as Herlinge (...) The name Harlingen is probably derived from the estate Harlinga. In 1311 "Harlingen" appeared in English port registers.

If, when its name originated, it meant something like allies, and if Oera Linda's explanation of Athens is correct, that would mean both port towns have something in common.