Among the Northmen who lived between Mirkwood and the Iron Hills, there were also men who in the Third Age were known as the Bardings.

Previously those men were known as the Men of Dale and had inhabited that city. But when the dragon Smaug came to the Lonely Mountain they fled from the city and took refuge with the Lake-men of Esgaroth for almost two centuries.

But Bard, the heir to the king, shot and killed Smaug and the Men of Dale once again returned to their town and proudly bore the name of Bardings after their king and liberator.