Anglo-Saxon Names

The Anglo-Saxon language, also known as Old English, was a spoken language used in Britain from 500 to 1050 AD.

The Anglo-Saxons were originally a mixture of Germanic tribes that conquered much of Britain and lowland Scotland in the fifth and sixth centuries. By the time of Alfred the Great, these Germanic peoples were relatively unified in culture.

The Anglo-Saxons were originally a mixture of Germanic tribes that conquered much of Britain and lowland Scotland in the fifth and sixth centuries. By the time of Alfred the Great, these Germanic peoples were relatively unified in culture. After they arrived in Britain from 500 to 1050 AD these peoples developed a unique language later known as Anglo-Saxon or Old-English.

Old English, then, began as a combination of various dialects brought from the North West coast lands of Europe by those invaders who originally settled in the south east corner of the island. Four main early dialects of Old English have been distinguished: that of the Jutes in Kent, the Saxons in the south, the Mercians or South Angles in the Midlands, and the Northumbrians or North Angles north of the Humber river. Even a rough amalgamation of these various languages occurred. Then with the rise of Christianity and the influence of Latin writers, Old English eventually evolved into a written language. At this point Anglo-Saxon names were captured in tales, histories and records.