What is the difference between Vikings, Norsemen, Northmen, and Normans?

by Culecks
EyeStache

Well, it depends on who's using the words and when. In the original sources, it goes like this:

víkingar: Pirates, raiders, and generally unpleasantly violent people on a ship who owe no allegiance to anyone outside of their particular group

Norman: Inhabitants of northern France, after Charles the Simple gave Hrólfr Rögnvaldsson control of the territory between the Seine and Eure valleys to the sea in 911.

Northman: Anyone from the north. It's worth noting that in the Elucidarius of King Alfred, a Norwegian is referred to as a 'northman' by other Norwegians because he comes from the north of the country.

Norseman: A relatively newer term, meaning anyone who spoke a Norse language (Old Norse, Old West Norse, Old East Norse, West Norse, or East Norse) before it mutated into the contemporary languages of Scandinavia.