England and Anglo-Saxon Lands In early medieval England, Anglo-Saxon names were common. Names often began with elements like Æthel- (“noble”), Os- (“god”), or Beorht (“bright”). Examples include Æthelstan, Oswald, and Beowulf. After the Norman Co

Early in the Middle Ages, surnames were not commonly used. Most people were known by a single given name. However, as populations grew, especially in towns and cities, the need to distinguish between individuals with the same first name arose. By the 12th and 13th centuries, surnames began to dev

The Middle Ages—often defined as the period between roughly 500 and 1500 AD—was a time of vast social, cultural, and linguistic transformation across Europe. One of the fascinating aspects of medieval life is the names people bore, which offer insights into their identities, social statu

Richard III’s reign was short and tumultuous. The Lancastrian claimant Henry Tudor (later Henry VII), with support from disaffected Yorkists and foreign allies, challenged Richard at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Richard was killed in battle, marking the end of the Plantagenet dynasty&