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Ludvig Wimmer

1839 – 1920

Danish linguist and runologist

Linguist Philologist Runologist
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About Ludvig Wimmer

Lived 1839 – 1920 (aged 81). Ludvig Wimmer was a Danish linguist, philologist, runologist and author.

Ludvig Frands Adalbert Wimmer (7 February 1839, Ringkøbing29 April 1920, Copenhagen) was a Danish linguist and runologist. He was the first modern runic scholar, publishing his work Runeskriftens oprindelse og udvikling i Norden in 1874. He proved that all runic alphabets went back to one basic futhark of 24 signs, which was known and used by all the Germanic tribes.

In the introduction to the second edition of his work Oldnordisk læsebog (1877), Wimmer discussed the issue of the normalisation of Old Icelandic and suggested a standard based on the language in the Old Icelandic Homily Book (c. 1200). This standard has been very influential and is the most used standard of normalisation today.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Positions held
Rector
Employers
University of Copenhagen
Awards
Order of the Dannebrog; Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog; Decoration of the Cross of Honour of the Dannebrog; Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog; Medal of Merit in Gold; Knight Grand Officer of the Order of the Dannebrog; Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog; Honorary doctor of the Leipzig University; Honorary doctorate of the University of Oslo
Also known as
Ludvig Frands Adalbert Wimmer

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ludvig Wimmer's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ludvig Wimmer?

Danish linguist and runologist (1839–1920)

When was Ludvig Wimmer born?

Ludvig Wimmer was born on 7 February 1839 in Ringkøbing.

When did Ludvig Wimmer die?

Ludvig Wimmer died on 29 April 1920 in Copenhagen.

What was Ludvig Wimmer's occupation?

Ludvig Wimmer was a linguist, philologist, runologist and author.

What nationality was Ludvig Wimmer?

Ludvig Wimmer was Danish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ludvig Wimmer

· Wikidata: Q1593034

· DBpedia: Ludvig Wimmer

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ludvig Wimmer. https://biography.guide/ludvig-wimmer/

MLA: "Ludvig Wimmer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ludvig-wimmer/.

Chicago: "Ludvig Wimmer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ludvig-wimmer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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