[Keeper of Dol Guldur]

You just salvaged this forum, yes there is definitely a connection between the two, of course I always found the Beornings to be a bit more symbolic of the Norsemen, as they were huge axe-wielding berserkers like vikings, but anyway, they are indeed related to those men of Dale. Of course, not all norsemen were huge berserkers with bristling beards and massive arms and the like.

The people of Dale were definitely the eastern Europe variety of people though, as far as I can see. They are all connected, but more closely the Rohirrim (who are germanic of course, and nordic types, but lived a bit further south, then the Beornings, who were also large nordic types, more symbolic of the farther northern tribes, and so that does put those people of Dale in a similar position as the eastern European's near the Black Sea. Like Romania and the regions north of it. It's kind of amusing to think that Bard could be somehow related to the infamous Vlad Tepes (Dracula to the lay man, although I don't suppose I have to point that out). But it makes sense, dark haired men, grim and tall. Of course, this could also associate them with the Huns, who were expert marksmen (if I recall correctly). I wonder, Attila, son of Grimbard, son of Bard II, son of Brand? It could be likely. Well, not really, since they have a title for Attila the Hun's father anyway, but after the world grew wild once more, it isn't unlikely that those people became nomadic. Especially after some of the more recent events of this very age.