We’ve had a lot of people asking about the story behind our name, "Winterfell Management," so we are here to tell the origin story behind it. Ready to nerd out a bit…?
If you’re not a huge A Song of Ice and Fire fan like us, chances are you’ve at least heard of it as the book series was adapted into a popular tv show Game of Thrones. Created by George R.R. Martin, Winterfell is a fictional stronghold and the ancestral home of House Stark in the popular television series and fantasy novels.
While the term "Winterfell" itself doesn't have a specific meaning outside of establishing a locale in the series our president, Jeff Stark, thought it would be a neat premise to base his business name off of. Jeff said he felt it was fun amalgamation; paying homage to his favorite book series. Winterfell is the ancestral home to the Stark family who shares his last name, a parallel to the northern geographic location of Winterfell in relation to Jeff’s hometown of Duluth, MN, and the name conjures strong imagery and creates a sense of place.
In the world of Game of Thrones, Winterfell is situated in the North of the fictional continent of Westeros, similarly to how Duluth is considered, “up north,” in the state of Minnesota. Winterfell is known for its strong walls, honorable people, and its role as the traditional seat of the Warden of the North. The name implies a connection to the winters that affect the northern regions in the Game of Thrones story, just like those we experience as northerners.
Jeff first read the book series in 2005 when he was living in Sweden and traveling through Europe. The books were a constant companion in airports, train stations and hostels during that time. The television series brought the characters into the main stream, but Jeff thinks that the hype has faded a bit and only the die hard fans (and blog readers) will pick up on the name elements of Winterfell.
Winterfell Management has associations with strength, tradition, and resilience; all aspects that align with our brand. Our team values these traits and hopes to infuse them into the business as we establish our own relationships and history.
Until next time,
The Winterfell Team
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