Medieval Naming Guides: Old English

Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

Anglo-Saxon Names, by Ælfwyn æt Gyrwum
A list of given names from a modern translation of Bede. Modern scholarly spellings are used and Latin spellings from the original text are given for many names.

Anglo-Saxon Women's Names from Royal Charters, by Marieke van de Dal.
A list of feminine names collected from a set of charters available online (see below)

Anglo-Saxon Charters, compiled by Sean Miller; also available via the British Academy - Royal Historical Society's Regesta Regum Anglorum.
A collection of Anglo-Saxon charters, in Latin. The lists of signatories and witnesses at the ends of many of the charters are good sources for names; in many charters, each name in these lists is marked with a +. The names are given in documentary forms and some are Latinized, so they do not necessarily reflect the common spoken forms of names. In many cases, removing the ending -us produces the original name, but some are more heavily Latinized. For any particular name, it would be wise to confirm the standard form in another source; you can ask the Academy of Saint Gabriel for help.

PASE Database, part of the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England
A database of individuals mentioned in pre-Conquest English documents. Alphabetized by modern standard form; the "recorded forms" heading gives original spellings. The database is also indexed by status, possessions, occupations, relationships, and more. This database replaces an older list of Anglo-Saxon people recorded in selected reference works.


The Medieval Names Archive is published by the Academy of Saint Gabriel and Joshua Mittleman.
© 1997-2004. Copyright on individual articles belongs to their authors.
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/engoldenglish.shtml