First time I've ever ran to the bookstore. -.-
Anyways OP, bottom line - Watch the movies. Grab a few books. It's worth it
The fauna of various worlds has been transplanted over the millenniums in the SW universe. Lots of things exist on multiple planets. Nerfs especially, being the primary domesticated meat species of the stories, are everywhere. You see them on Alderaan because you see a lot of farmland on Alderaan. Calling someone a "Nerf-herder" is like calling the a "Sheepherder" on earth, it's just an indication of someone from a backwater who isn't familiar with cities and more advanced civilization.
If you read the post-movie books you'll actually hear a bit about Dormund Kaas, but it's completely abandoned by the time of the movies. Luke and his son go there in one of the more recent books, actually. Some of the creatures that live there have been transplanted to other planet though. Gundarks are around in various places that are strong in the dark side of the force.
According to Lucas everything is cannon. In the event of a discrepancy the order of "most cannon" is the movies, the radio play (yes, there was a radio play), the books, then the games. Lucas never acknowledged the couple of SW related TV shows that came out in the 70's (thank God). I imagine the new Clone Wars cartoon is probably somewhere between the books and the games. (I've never heard of Lucas saying anything about it though).
Last edited by DrgnDancer; 2012-01-09 at 04:11 PM.
In all fairness at that point its just a name from the character we've seen in the movies. The British royal family can trace its bloodline accurately and with near unquestioned certainty back 1000 years and in many cases its believed they go back as far as 1500 years. Name by Name to a direct ancestor. They only Difference is the name changed, they still say its the same blood and family all those years.
Someone else mentioned the name Fett. Thats a different animal all together as Fett is a clan name. A good historical equivalent would be the tribes of Israel, whom for a very long time take their name from the 12 sons of Jacob. These people would likely share a common ancestor but not necessarily a name. The only major difference in the SWTOR lore is being mandalorian wasnt a genetic connection. You didnt even have to be the Taung race to be a mandalorian by the time KoTOR 1 came along. You could be adopted and brought into a clan or you could join and by some means you were in a clan.