The Aliases of the Polar Bear

For avid wildlife lovers, whether it’s the Grizzly, Brown or Polar Bear you want to see in its natural habitat, specialised bear watching holidays will help you realise your dream. Many people have a fascination with Polar Bears, and they certainly are one of the most magnificent animals on our planet, but how many people know they have been referenced over the centuries by several different names?

The Scientific Name

The scientists of our world refer to the animals as Ursus Maritimus, which literally translates to Sea Bear. This name was first used in 1774, when C.J Phipps, an officer in the British navy used it in his novel, A Voyage Towards The North Pole. In later years the scientific name change to Thalarctos, which is derived from the Greek for sea (thalasso), and the Greek for ‘Bear of the North’ (arctos), however, in 1971, scientists once again began to use the original scientific name, Ursus Maritimus.

Other Cultures, Other Names

The Inuit people have their own name for the animal, and if you are going on one of the bear watching holidays in the Arctic you may well hear it. Nanuq is the word used by the Inuits; it refers to an animal that commands huge respect, but when they talk of it in their poetry they also refer to it as Pihoqahiak, which means ‘the ever-wandering one’.

The Russians' name for these majestic creatures is ‘beliy medved’, meaning 'white bear', while in Norway and Denmark it's known as the Ice Bear, or the Isbjorn. The animal has featured extensively in Norse poetry and has been referred to as the White Sea Deer, the Seal’s Dread, the Whale’s Bane, the Rider of Icebergs and, somewhat romantically, the Sailor of the Floe. They were believed to have the wit of eleven men and the strength of twelve.

The Sami people bestowed the name of 'God’s Dog' or 'Old Man in the Fur Cloak', not wanting to call the animal by its real name for fear of offence. It is known as the 'Master of Helping Spirits', or Tornassuk, in Greenland, and the 'Grandfather', by the Ket, a Siberian tribe. Whalers of the 19th century called the Polar Bear the 'Farmer' in affectionate reference to the way it walks with a slight pigeon-toed lilt.

To those embarking on Polar Bear watching holidays, these mighty creatures might only be known by one name, but it's fascinating to know they have been so revered and referred to in such diverse ways over the centuries.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If you’re looking for bear watching holidays, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to polar expeditions and tours to other spectacular regions on Earth.

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