Old English Names after 1300

by Sara L. Uckelman
known in the SCA as Aryanhwy merch Catmael

© 2006, 2014 Sara L. Uckelman; all rights reserved
last updated 21February 2014

The arrival of the Normans in England in 1066 also marks the arrival of a wholly new name pool, which very quickly permeated the native Old English naming stock, in many cases obliterating the native names.

By the end of the 13th century, many traditional Old English names had fallen completely out of use. The few which remained in use were rare. This article is an incomplete survey of post-1300 forms of Old English names. I have not included examples of surnames which arose from OE given names.

Men's Names

1300-1399

Standard Old
English Spelling		Documented
Middle English or
Latin Spelling		DatesSource
??Athelard1332[Ma-1332]
CúðbeorhtCutbertus1378[Ta-York]
EadmundEdmund1332[Ma-1332]
EadmundEdmundo [ablative]1319[Ar-Lo1319]
EadmundEdmundus1378, 1381[Ta-Orm, Ta-York]
ÉadweardEdward1332[Ma-1332]
ÉadweardEdwardo [ablative]1319[Ar-Lo1319]
ÉadweardEdwardus14th C[Ar-Worc]
EastmærEstmaro [ablative]1319[Ar-Lo1319]
GodwineGodwyno [ablative]1319[Ar-Lo1319]
HereweardHereward1332[Ma-1332]
ÓsbeohrtOsbert1332[Ma-1332]
ÓsbeorhtOsberto [ablative]1319[Ar-Lo1319]
ÓsbeorhtOsbertus14th C[Ar-Worc]
ÓsmundOsmundus14th C[Ar-Worc]
SæmannSeman1319, 1332[Ar-Lo1319, Ma-1332]
SæwealdSewel1332[Ma-1332]
SæwealdSewallo [ablative]1319[Ar-Lo1319]
WígmundWimund1332[Ma-1332]
WígmundWymund1319[Ar-Lo1319]
WulfstanWolfstanus14th C[Ar-Worc]

1400-1499

Standard Old
English Spelling		Documented
English or
Latin Spelling		DatesSource
ÆthelthrythEthelred1440[Ju-Brass]
EadmundEdmund1428[Ju-Brass]

1500-1599

Standard Old
English Spelling		Documented
English or
Latin Spelling		DatesSource
Cenhelm or CœnhelmKenelmlate 16th C[Ta-La16]
CúðbeorhtCutbeart1582[Ar-Lo1582]
CúðbeorhtCutberd1582[Ar-Lo1582]
CúðbeorhtCutbert1541, 1582[Ar-Lo1541, Ar-Lo1582]
CúðbeohrtCuthbart1572 (2), 1574, 1582, 1587, 1588, 1589 (2), 1590, 1594[Ar-Orm]
CúðbeohrtCuthbertlate 16th C, 1523, 1559, 1577, 1582[Ar-Lo1582, Ar-Orm, Ka-York, Ma-Fro, Ta-La16]
CúðbeohrtCuthberte1596[Ar-Orm]
CúðbeorhtCuttbertt1582[Ar-Lo1582]
DunstanDunstane1582[Ar-Lo1582]
EadmundEdmon1575[Ma-Dym]
EadmundEdmond1510, 1523, 1539, 1541, 1561, 1561/2, 1563, 1573, 1574, 1577 (3), 1578 (2), 1582, 1583, 1584, 1594, 1595[Ar-Cam, Ar-Lo1541, Ar-Lo1582, Ar-Orm, Ar-Que, Ju-Brass, Ka-York, Ma-Chesh, Ma-Dym, Ma-Fro, Ma-KS]
EadmundEdmonde1541, 1560/1, 1568, 1582[Ar-Lo1541, Ar-Lo1582, Ma-Chesh, Ma-Dym]
EadmundEdmound1541, 1582[Ar-Lo1541, Ar-Lo1582]
EadmundEdmundlate 16th C, 1510, 1541, 1542 (2), 1543, 1558, 1561, 1562, 1566 (2), 1573, 1577, 1578 (2) 1581 (2), 1582, 1586, 1587, 1588, 1593 (2), 1594, 1598, 1599, 1600 (2)[Ar-Ber, Ar-Cha, Ar-Lo1541, Ar-Lo1582, Ar-Mai, Ar-Min, Ar-Orm, Ju-Brass, Ma-Dym, Ma-Fro, Ta-La16]
EadmundEdmunde1540, 1558, 1560, 1569 (2), 1573, 1579, 1582, 1592[Ar-Lo1582, Ar-Min, Ar-Orm, Ar-Que, Ma-Dym]
EadmundEdmundi [genitive]1557[Ar-Mai]
ÉadweardEdvard1567[Ma-Dym]
ÉadweardEduardo [ablative]1571, 1591[Ar-Fro]
ÉadweardEduardus1582, 1592, 1599, 1600[Ar-Fro]
ÉadweardEdwardlate 16th C, 1523, 1539, 1541, 1543 (2), 1573, 1576 (2), 1577 (6), 1578 (13), 1579, 1580, 1580/1, 1581, 1582 (2), 1584, 1585 (2), 1589 (2), 1590 (2), 1591, 1593, 1600 (3)[Ar-Ber, Ar-Cam, Ar-Cha, Ar-Lo1541, Ar-Lo1582, Ar-Min, Ka-York, Ma-Chesh, Ma-Dym, Ma-Fro, Ma-KS, Ta-La16]
ÉadweardEdwarde1541, 1546, 1582[Ar-Lo1541, Ar-Lo1582, Ma-Dym]
ÉadweardEdwardi [genitive]1577[Ar-Mai]
ÉadweardEdwardus1575[Ar-Mai]
EadwineEdwinlate 16th C[Ta-La16]
EadwineEdwyn1582[Ar-Lo1582]
ÓsmundOsmundlate 16th C[Ta-La16]
OswealdOswald1541[Ar-Lo1541]
OswealdOswall1582[Ar-Lo1582]
OswealdOswold1544[Ma-Chesh]
OswealdOswolde1541[Ar-Lo1541]
OswineOswyn16th C[Ch-Fair]
WígmundWymondlate 16th C[Ta-La16]
WilfríðWilfredlate 16th C[Ta-La16]
WilfríðWilfride1523[Ka-York]
WilfríðWylfride1560[Ma-Chesh]
WulfstanWolstane1582[Ar-Lo1582]
WulfstanWoulston1541[Ar-Lo1541]

Women's Names

1300-1399

Standard Old
English Spelling		Documented
Middle English or
Latin Spelling		DatesSource
Æthelthryth or EtheldredaAudrey1391[Ju-Brass]
ÆðelðrýðAudrey1355[Ta-RW]
ÆðelðrýðEtheldreda1304, 1328, 1348, 1381[Ta-RW]
ÆðelgifuAliua1395[Ta-RW]
ÆðelgifuAliva1301[Ta-RW]
ÆðelgýðAyleth1332[Ta-RW]
ÆðelhildAylyld1325[Ta-RW]
ÆlfgifuAlveva1303, 1315[Ta-RW]
ÆlfgifuElueua1308, 1327, 1332[Ta-RW]
ÆlfgifuEluiua1308, 1332, 1340[Ta-RW]
ÆlfgifuEluyua1332[Ta-RW]
ÆlfgifuElviva1325[Ta-RW]
ÆlfgifuHelueua1327[Ta-RW]
ÆlfwynnHelvynya1359[Ta-RW]
BóhildBotild1327, 1332[Ta-RW]
CwénhildQuenilda1332[Ta-RW]
*CymmeKemma1311[Ta-RW]
ÉadgýðEda1327[Ta-RW]
ÉadgýðEdda1379[Ta-RW]
ÉadgýðEdith1300, 1304-53, 1327, 1332, 1338[Ar-Exeter, Ta-RW]
ÉadgýðEditha1311, 1327, 1346[Ta-RW]
ÉadgýðEdytha1327[Ta-RW]
EaldgýðAldietha1327[Ta-RW]
EaldgýðAldith1327[Ta-RW]
EaldgýðAlditha1300, 1313[Ta-RW]
EaldgýðAldiytha1327[Ta-RW]
ÉstorhildEstrild1327[Ta-RW]
ÉstorhildEstrilda1313, 1327[Ta-RW]
ÉstorhildEstrill'1332[Ta-RW]
ÉstorhildEstrilld'1332[Ta-RW]
GodeGoda1327[Ta-RW]
GodgifuGodyf1317[Ta-RW]
GodgýðGoditha1317, 1339-40[Ta-RW]
GodgýðGudytha1379[Ta-RW]
*GodléofuGodeleva1343[Ta-RW]
*GodwynnGodwyna1332[Ta-RW]
HringwaruRingwar1332[Ta-RW]
HringwaruRyngewar'1332[Ta-RW]
*HúnhildHounilda1317[Ta-RW]
??Gylda1304-53[Ar-Exeter]
LéofdægLoueday1327[Ta-RW]
LéofdægLouedey1332[Ta-RW]
LéofdægLovedaia1302[Ta-RW]
LéofdægLoveday1381[Ta-RW]
LéofdægLovedaya1303[Ta-RW]
Léofgifu or LéfgeofuLeueua1332[Ta-RW]
LéofgýðLivid14th C[Ta-RW]
LéofgýðLivith14th C[Ta-RW]
LéofrúnLeuerun1332[Ta-RW]
LufuLeva1332[Ma-1332]
LufuLoua1332[Ma-1332]
LufuLove1315, 1332[Ma-1332, Ta-RW]
LufuLovia1332[Ma-1332]
*MærhildMerild'1332[Ta-RW]
MærwynnMerwenna1321[Ta-RW]
ÓsgýðOsitha1381[Ta-RW]
SægiefuSaieua1381[Ta-RW]
SægiefuSayeua1327, 1346[Ta-RW]
SægiefuSeyua1332[Ta-RW]
sæligSely1327[Ta-RW]
*SælufuSeloua1327, 1332[Ta-RW]
SeaxburgSexburgc. 1300[Ta-RW]
*SétgifuSwethyna1329[Ta-RW]
Wulfgifu or WulfgeofuWluiua1327, 1332[Ta-RW]
Wulfgifu or WulfgeofuWolueua1315[Ta-RW]
Wulfgifu or WulfgeofuWulveva1314[Ta-RW]
??Wymarda1350-51[Æl-Kent]

1400-1499

Standard Old
English Spelling		Documented Middle
English Spelling		DatesSource
ÉadgýðEdith1435[Ju-Brass]
FrithuswithFryswyde1450[Withy]
*GodléofuGodleue1442[Ta-RW]
MildthrythMildred1488[Ju-Brass]

1500-1599

Standard Old
English Spelling		Documented Middle
English Spelling		DatesSource
Æthelthryth or EtheldredaEtheldredalate 16th C[Ta-La16]
Æthelthryth or EtheldredaEthelredalate 16th C[Ta-La16]
Æthelthryth or EtheldredaEthelredelate 16th C[Ta-La16]
CyneburhKinborow1590[Ar-Min]
CyneburhKinborowe1590[Ar-Min]
CyneburhKynborough1592[Ta-RW]
CyneburhKynborow1541[Ar-Lo1541]
ÉadgifuAedie1589[Ar-Min]
ÉadgifuEdilate 16th C[Ta-La16]
ÉadgifuEdy1587[Ar-Que]
ÉadgýðEdeithe1585[Ar-Orm]
ÉadgýðEdithlate 16th C, 1569?, 1573, 1575, 1576, 1579, 1580, 1581, 1590 (2), 1591, 1592, 1593, 1594, 1599[Ar-Cam, Ar-Min, Ma-KS, Ta-La16]
ÉadgýðEditha1561, 1582, 1588, 1589, 1590, 1593[Ar-Fro]
ÉadgýðEdithe1575[Ar-Min]
ÉadgýðEdyth1583[Ma-KS]
ÉadgýðEideth1560, 1568, 1571, 1573, 1577, 1582, 1585, 1589, 1592, 1596, 1599[Ar-Orm]
ÉadgýðIdeth1580[Ar-Orm]
ÉadgýðJdeth1560, 1562, 1564[Ar-Orm]
ÉadgýðYedythe1599[Ju-Brass]
FriðuswiðFridaysweede1553[Bard]
FriðuswiðFrisewide1560[Ma-Chesh]
FriðuswiðFryswyde1561[Bard]
GodgythGooddyth1541[Ar-Lo1541]
*GodléofuGodlefe1508[Ta-RW]
LéofdægLovdie1578[Ta-RW]
MildburhMilberowe1577[Ma-Dym]
MildburhMylberowe1576[Ma-Dym]
MildthrythMildredlate 16th C[Ta-La16]

Sources

[Æl-Kent] Ælfwyn æt Gyrwum, "Feminine Given Names from Kent, 1302-1363" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/aelfwyn/kentfemnames.html.

[Ar-Ber] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names found in the Berkeley Hundred Court Rolls" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/berkeley100.html.

[Ar-Cam] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names found in Cam, Gloucestershire, Marriage Registers 1569-1600" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/cam.html.

[Ar-Cha] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names found in Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire Marriage Registers 1538-1600" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/kings.html.

[Ar-Exeter] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Feminine names from 14th C Exeter" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/exeterfem14thc.html.

[Ar-Fro] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names found in Frocester, Gloucestershire Marriage Registers 1559-1600" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/frocester.html.

[Ar-Lo1319] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Index of Names in the 1319 Subsidy Roll of London" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/london1319.html.

[AR-Lo1541] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Index of Names in the 1541 Subsidy Roll of London" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/london1541.html.

[AR-Lo1582] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Index of Names in the 1582 Subsidy Roll of London" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/london1582.html.

[Ar-Mai] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names found in Maisemore, Gloucestershire Registers 1538-1600" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/maisemore.html.

[Ar-Min] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names found in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire Marriage Registers 1566-1600" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/minchinhampton.html.

[Ar-Orm] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "16th Century Names from Ormskirk Parish Registers" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/ormskirk/.

[Ar-Que] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Names found in Quedgeley, Gloucestershire Marriage Registers 1559-1600" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/quedgeley.html.

[Ar-Worc] Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "14th Century Worcestershire Names" http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/english/worc14.html.

[Bard] Bardsley, Charles, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980), s.n. Friswid.

[Ch-Fair] Christian de Holacombe, "Faire Names for English Folk: Late Sixteenth Century English Names" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/.

[Ju-Brass] Julian Goodwyn, "English Names from Pre-1600 Brass Inscriptions" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/brasses/.

[Ka-York] Karen Larsdatter, "An Index to the 1523 Subsidy Roll for York and Ainsty, England" http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/york16/.

[Ma-1332] Mari neyn Brian, "An Index to the 1332 Lay Subsidy Rolls for Lincolnshire, England" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/LincLSR/.

[Ma-Chesh] Mari neyn Brian, "Names in Chesham, 1538-1600/1" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/chesham/.

[Ma-Dym] Mari neyn Brian, "Names and Naming Practices in the Registers of the Church of St. Mary's, Dymock" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/dymock/.

[Ma-Fro] Mari neyn Brian, "Names of Members of the Frobisher Voyages, 1576-1578" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/frobisher/.

[Ma-KS] Mari neyn Brian, "Name Distribution in King's Stanley Marriages: 1573-1600" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/kingsstanley/.

[Ta-La16] Talan Gwynek, " Late Sixteenth Century English Given Names" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/eng16/.

[Ta-Orm] Talan Gwynek, "Names from Ormskirk Parish, Lancashire: The Poll Tax of 1381" http://my.stratos.net/~bmscott/Ormskirk_1381.html.

[Ta-RW] Talan Gwynek, "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/.

[Ta-York] Talan Gwynek, "Yorkshire Given Names from 1379" http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/yorkshire/.

[Withy] Withycombe, E.G. Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, 3rd. ed.