List of early Germanic peoples

The list of early Germanic peoples is a register of ancient Germanic cultures, tribal groups, and other alliances of Germanic tribes and civilisations in ancient times. This information comes from various ancient historical documents, beginning in the 2nd century BC and extending into late antiquity. By the Early Middle Ages, early forms of kingship had begun to have a historical impact across Europe, with the exception of Northern Europe, where influences from the Vendel Period (from AD 550 to 800) and the subsequent Viking Age (until AD 1050) can be seen in the Germanic context.

The associations and locations of the numerous peoples and groups in ancient sources are often subject to heavy uncertainty and speculation, and classifications of ethnicity regarding a common culture or a temporary alliance of heterogeneous groups are disputed. It is uncertain whether certain groups are Germanic in the broader linguistic sense or whether they consisted of speakers of a Germanic language.

The names listed below are not terms for ethnic groups in any modern sense but the names of groups that were perceived in ancient and late antiquity as Germanic. It is essentially an inventory of peoples, groups, alliances and associations stretching from the Barbaricum region east of the Rhine to the north of the Danube (also known as Germania), especially those that arrived during the Migration Period.

Settlement area reconstruction of Germanic tribes in the Provincial Roman Period

In alphabetical order

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The present list is largely based on the list of Germanic tribal names and its spelling variants contained in the first register of the Reallexikons der Germanischen Altertumskunde.[1]

The first column contains the English name and its variants, if one is common, otherwise the traditional ancient name. The second column contains ancient names of Latin and Greek authors, the latter both in transcription and in Greek. The third column gives a brief description followed by a location.

The fifth column gives important sources of tradition for the group in question. The few main ancient sources for names and location of Germanic tribes are not linked. These are:

Name Ancient name Description Location Sources
A
Adogit Hålogaland, the northernmost Norwegian Petty Kingdom. Between the Namdalen valley in Nord-Trøndelag and the Lyngen fjord in Troms. Jordanes
Adrabaecampi Adrabaikampoi (´Αδραβαικαμποι) See Kampoi North of the Danube, south of Bohemia Ptolemy
Aduatuci, Atuatuci Aduatici, Atouatikoi (Ἀτουατικοί) Left bank of the Rhine in the squad of the Belgian tribes against Caesar In the first century BC in the area of today's Tongeren (Belgium), between the Scheldt and the Meuse Julius Caesar
Aelvaeones, Elouaiones, Elvaiones, Aelvaeones, Ailouaiones, Alouiones, Ailouones Alouiones (Αλουίωνες), Helouaiones ('Ελουαίωνες) See Helveconae Presumably at the middle Oder, today's Silesia Tacitus, Ptolemy
Aglies
Agradingun Saxon tribe Middle course of the Weser
Ahelmil Scandza Jordanes
Alemanni, Alamanni Alamanni From various Elbe Germanic tribes, among them probably Suebian tribes, armies and followers from the 3rd century on population group, which emerged from provincial Roman soil (Agri decumates) Core areas in Baden-Württemberg and Alsace, in Bavarian Swabia, German-speaking Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Vorarlberg
Ambrones, Obrones, Ymbre Ambrones Participation of tribal groups in the calvacade of the Cimbri and the Teutons at the end of the 2nd century BC North Sea Coast
Amoþingas
Ampsivarii, Ampsivari, Amsivarii, Amsivari Ansibarii, Ansivaroi (Ἀνσιβαριοί) Southern neighbours of the Frisii 1st century in the lower Emsland Tacitus
Anartes, Anarti, Anartii, Anartoi Anarti Possibly Germanic tribe in the border area between the Teutons and the Dacians Hungary or Romania Julius Caesar
Angarii See Angrivarii
Angeron
Angisciri Tribe in the wake of Dengizich Jordanes
Angles, Anglians Anglii, Angeiloi (Άγγειλοι), Angiloi (Άγγιλοι) North Germanic people counted among the Ingaevones by Tacitus Originally in Jutland (Schleswig-Holstein), later Mittelelb-Saale area, after 200 emigration to Great Britain Tacitus
Anglevarii, Angleverii, Anglevaries, Angleveries
Anglies
Anglo-Saxons A collection of people from the Angles and Saxons, as well as the Jutes and Franks, who originated on British soil Southeastern England
Angrivarii, Angrevarii, Angrivari, Angrevari, Angarii, Angerii, Angrii, Angari, Angeri, Angri, Aggeri, Angriouarroi, Aggerimenses, Angerienses Angrivarii, Angriouarioi (Αγγριουάριοι) In the 1st century, south of the Chauci, north of the Cherusci, northwest of the Dulgubnii and east of the Ampsivarii On the Weser, mainly on the right bank, from the tributary of the Aller to the Steinhuder Meer
Aringon
Armalausi, Armilausi Probably a part of the Hermunduri, in the 3rd and 4th centuries between the Alemanni and the Marcomanni Possibly in the Upper Palatinate Tabula Peutingeriana
Arochi
Arosaetan
Ascomanni Designation of the Vikings at Adam of Bremen
Astfalon
Atmoni
Auarinoi
Augandxii
Augandzi
Avarpi, Auarpoi, Avarni
Aviones, Auiones, Chaibones Aviones
B
Baemi, Baimoi
Bainaib
Baiuvarii, Bavarii, Baioarii, Baiovarii Bavarii People formed towards the end of the migration of peoples in the 5th century, with a core area in Raetia and Noricum Altbayern, Austria and South Tyrol
Banochaemae, Bainochaimai
Bardes, Bards, Bardi Possibly group of the Lombards, which didn't migrate south South of the Elbe, in the area of Bardowick and Lüneburg
Bardongavenses
Bastarnae, Bastarni, Basternae Bastarnae Fights with the Romans in the 3rd century BC, presumably Germanic tribe predominates East side of the Carpathian Mountains to the mouth of the Danube estuary Polybius
Batavi, Batavii, Batavians Batavi Originally allies of the Romans in the province of Gallia Belgica, 69 Revolt of the Batavi under Gaius Julius Civilis In the 1st century at the mouth of the Rhine
Bateinoi, Batini Batini
Bergio
Betasii, Baetasi Baetasii
Boutones
Brisgavi, Brisigavi Brisgavi, Brisigavi Alemannic tribe in the 5th century Breisgau
Brondings
Bructeri, Boructuari, Boruactii, Borchtii Bructeri, Boructuari, Broukteroi (Βρούκτεροι) In the 1st century, opponents of the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest Between the middle Ems and the upper Lippe
Bructuarii
Bucinobantes Bucinobantes Alemannic tribe in the 4th century Main estuary at Mainz Ammianus Marcellinus
Burgodiones
Burgundians Burgundiones East Germanic people with late antique foundations on the Rhine and later the Rhone
Buri Buri
C
Caemani Caemani, Paemani
Caeroesi, Caerosi Caerosi, Caeroesi, Ceroesi, Cerosi Left Rhine Celto-Germanic tribe In the 1st century BC in the Eifel-Ardennes area Julius Caesar
Calucones
Campsiani
Cananefates, Canninefates, Caninefates, Canenefatae Cannenefates, Canninefates, Cannenafates, Cannefates In the 1st century, western neighbours of the Batavi Around Voorburg in South Holland
Cantware
Caracates. Caeracates Possibly an old Northern German Celtic tribe of the Cimbri or a Vindelician tribe. Location unknown.
Carpi, Carpiani Carpi, Carpiani Southeastern European people, classification as Germanic is controversial End of the 3rd century in Moesia and Dacia
Caritni Ludwigshafen am Rhein Ptolemy
Casuari
Caulci
Chaedini Chaideinoi
Chaemae
Chaetuori Chaituoroi (Χαιτούωροι)
Chaibones, Aviones, Auiones
Chaideinoi
Chali Chali
Chamavi Chamavi, Chamauoi (Χαμαυοί) Neighbours of the Angrivarii and Dulgubnii, eventually went into the Franks In the 1st century on the Lower Rhine Tacitus
Charini, Charinni, Harii Charini, Harii
Charudes See Harudes
Chasuarii See Chattuarii
Chatti, Catti, Cattai, Cathi, Cathai, Chattai, Chatthi, Chatthai Chatti, Catti, Cathi, Chattai (Χάτται), Chattoi (Χάττοι) In the 1st century, neighbours of the Suebi, precursors of the Hesse Valleys of the Eder, Fulda and the upper reaches of the Lahn
Chattuarii, Chasuarii, Hasuarii, Attuarii Atthuarii, Attuarii, Chattouarioi (Χαττουάριοι)
Chatvores, Catvori? Name is Greek or Latin in origin and means "bristle eater" Upper Palatinate Ptolemy
Chaubi Chauboi (Χαῦβοι)
Chauci Chauki, Chauchi, Cauci, Kauchoi (Καῦχοι), Kaukoi (Καῦκοι) Tribe counted Ingaevones by Tacitus On both sides of the lower Weser
Cherusci Cherusci, Cherouskoi (Χεροῦσκοι), Chairouskoi (Χαιρουσκοί) Tribe of Arminius, in the 1st century, opponents of the Romans On both sides of the upper Weser run in East Westphalia and in Lower Saxony to the Elbe
Cilternsaetan, Ciltate/Ciltanati? Possibly a tribe of Etruscan origin or a tribe named after the Roman Plebeian family Cilnii.
Cimbri Combri, Cymbri, Cimbri, Kimbroi (Κίμβροι) Along with the Teutons and Ambrones after 120 BC incidence in Gaul and Italy Originally probably Himmerland, Jutland. Most consider this tribe a confederation of Northern German Celtic tribes before their defeat against the Romans. If Celtic most likely a Q-Celtic speaking people.
Clondicus Kloilios (Κλοίλιος), Claodikus
Cobandi Jutland
Coldui
Condrusi Condrusi Celtic-Germanic mixed culture In the 1st century BC in the left bank of the Middle Rhine region Julius Caesar
Corconti Korkontoi
Crimean Goths Descendants of the Ostrogoths From the middle of the 3rd century on the Crimean peninsula
Cugerni, Cuberni, Guberni Cugerni, Cuberni Tribe of the Rhine-Weser Germanic peoples In the 1st century in the left bank of the Lower Rhine (Kreis Kleve)
Curiones
D
Daliterni
Danduti Dandutoi (Δανδοῦτοι)
Danes Dani, Danoi (Δανοι) From the 6th century in Scania and Jutland Scania and Jutland Procopius, Jordanes
Danube Suebi
Dauciones Daukiones (Δαυκίωνες)
Deanas
Deningei
Derlingun
Diduni Diduni
Doelir
Dorsaetan Dornware
Dounoi Δοῦνοι
Dulgubnii Dulgubnii, Dulgitubini, Dulcubuni In the 1st century, southeast of the Angrivarii and the Chamavi South of Hamburg in the area of the Lüneburg Heath and all around Celle Tacitus
E
East Herules, Ostherules
East Saxons
Eburones Eburones Probably Celtic tribe, counted as Germanic people by Caesar Between the Rhine, Meuse, Rhineland, Northern Ardennes and Eifel
Elbe Germanic peoples Archaeologically defined group of Germanic tribes (including the Semnones, Hermunduri, Quadi, Marcomanni and Lombards) From the Elbe estuary on both sides of the river to Bohemia and Moravia
Elbe Suebi
Elmetsaetan
Elouaiones Ailouaiones (Αἰλουαίωνες), Alouiones (Αλουίωνες), Helouaiones ('Ελουαίωνες), Ailouones (Αἰλούονες), Helouones ('Ελουωνες)
Endoses
Eudoses Eudusii, Eudoses, Eduses, Edures, Eudures
Eunixi
Eutes see Jutes
Evagre
F
Falchovarii
Fariarix
Farodini
Favonae Favonae, Phauonai (Φαυόναι)
Færpingas Feppingas
Fervir
Finnaithae Finnaithae
Firaesi Phrisioi (Φρίσιοι), Phiraisoi (Φιραῖσοι)
Firðir
Firihsetan Virsedi
Fosi, Fosii Fosi Small neighbouring tribe of the Cherusci, who perished with them In the 1st century in the headwaters of the Aller
Franks Large tribal union, which integrated numerous Germanic tribes in late antiquity Right of the Rhine to the mouth of the Rhine estuary, from the 4th century onwards to Roman territory left of the Rhine
Frisiavones Frisiavones, Frisaebones Rhine delta Pliny the Elder, Natural History 4,101; CIL 6, 3260 et al.
Frisii, Frisians Frisii North Sea Germanic tribe, counted as the Ingaevones by Tacitus In the 1st century from the mouth of the Rhine to about the Ems Tacitus
Frugundiones East of the Oder Ptolemy
Frumtingas
Fundusi Jutland
G
Gambrivii Gambrivi Probably near the Weser Strabo, Tacitus
Gautigoths Gautigoth Probably in Västergötland Jordanes
Geats Goutai (Γου̑ται), Geatas, Getae North Germanic people, often identified with the Goths Southern Sweden Ptolemy
Geddingas
Gegingas
Gepids Gepidi, Gebidi, Gipedae From the middle of the 5th century, empire-building on the middle Danube, possibly related to the Goths Romania Jordanes, Procopius
Gewisse, Gewissæ Saxon ethnic group in Britain At the end of the 5th century on the Upper Thames in England
Gifle
Gillingas
Glomman
Goths, Gotones, Gutones Gutones Split up during the Migration Period into the Visigoths and Ostrogoths, each with their own imperial formations on Roman soil At the turn of the day, north of the Vistula knee Jordanes
Gotthograikoi
Graioceli
Grannii Granii
Greuthungi, Greuthungs, Greutungi, Greutungs Greothingi, Grutungi, Grauthungi, Greutungi Another name of the Ostrogoths Ammianus Marcellinus, Jordanes
Guddinges
Guiones
Gumeningas
Gutes, Gotlanders
H
Haddingjar
Hadubardes, Heaðobeardan
Háleygir
Hallin Hallin
Halogit
Harii Harii Tribe of the Lugii Between the Vistula and the Oder Tacitus
Harudes, Charudes, Harothes Harudes, Charudes (Χαροῦδες), Arudes In the 1st century BC, allies of the Ariovistus against Caesar According to Ptolemy in the middle of the 2nd century in Hardsyssel, Jutland Julius Caesar, Ptolemy
Hasdingi, Asdingi, Haddingjar Tribe of the Vandals In the 2nd century in Romania and Hungary
Hedeninge
Heinir, Heiðnir
Helisii
Helusii Hellusii
Helveconae, Helvaeonae, Helvecones, Helvaeones, Helouaiones Helvecones Tribe of the Lugii Between the Vistula and the Oder Tacitus
Herefinnas
Herminones, Erminones, Hermiones, Irminones Herminones Large group of Germanic people, occupying the middle between the Ingaevones and the Istvaeones Tacitus, Pliny the Elder, Pomponius Mela
Hermunduri, Ermunduri, Hermanduri, Hermunduli, Hermonduri, Hermonduli Ermunduri, Hermunduri Elbe Germanic tribe Upper reaches of the Elbe
Herules, Erules, Heruli, Eruli Eruli, Erouloi (Ερουλοι) Participants in the parades of the Goths From the middle of the 3rd century on the north coast of the Black Sea
Hilleviones Hilleviones
Holstens, Holcetae
Holtsaeten Holtsati
Hordar
Hreiðgoths
Hringar
Hugones
Hundingas See Hundings Widsith
I
Incriones, Inkriones Inkriones (ιγκριονες) Tribe of the Rhine-Weser Germanic peoples, middle of the 2nd century, neighbours of the Tencteri Between the Rhine and the Taunus Ptolemy
Ingaevones, Ingvaeones, Ingwaeones, Inguaeones, Inguiones, Ingwines, Guiones Ingvaeones, Ingaevones, Ingvaenoes, Inguaeones Large group of Germanic tribes located on the North Sea coast by Tacitus Tacitus, Pliny the Elder
Inguiones
Inguaii, Ingwaii
Intuergi Intouergoi, Intouergoi (Ιντουεργοι) Between the Rhine and the Taunus Ptolemy
Irminones, Herminones, Hermiones
Istvaeones, Istaevones, Istriaones, Istriones, Sthraones Istvaenoes, Istaevones Large group of Germanic tribes located on the Rhine by Tacitus Tacitus
J
Jutes, Eudoses, Eutes, Euthiones Eurii, Eutii, Eucii, Euthiones Originally in Jutland, later in the south of Great Britain Until the 5th century on Jutland
Juthungi Iouthungi, Iuthungi Probably an Alemannic tribe From the 3rd to the 5th century, north of the Danube and Altmühl
K
Kampoi, Campi, Campes Kampoi (Κάμποι) Group of unclear designation north of the Danube and south of Bohemia in the 2nd century Ptolemy
Kvenir, Kvanes
L
Lacringi
Landoudioi, Landi Landi, Landoudioi From the 1st century on the Lahn in Middle Hesse Strabo, Ptolemy
Lemovii, Lemonii Lemovii To Tacitus, neighbours of the Rugii and Goths From the 1st century, southern Baltic Sea coast between the Oder and the Vistula
Lentienses, Linzgau Lentienses Alemannic tribe Mid-3rd century between the Danube in the north, Iller in the east and Lake Constance in the south Ammianus Marcellinus
Levoni
Liothida
Little Goths Gothi minores Group of the Goths, Ulfilas tribe, at the time of the Jordanes in the area of Nicopolis in Moesia South bank of the lower Danube Jordanes
Lombards, Longobards, Langobards, Winili, Winnili, Winnilers Langobardi, Langobardoi (Λαγγοβάρδοι) Part of the Suebi, from the middle of the 6th century founding of the empire in Italy (Kingdom of the Lombards) In the 1st century BC on the lower Elbe
Lugii, Lygii Lugii, Lúgioi
M
Maiates, Maiati
Manimi Manimi Tribe of the Lugii Between the Vistula and the Oder Tacitus
Marcomanni Marcomanni Possibly a tribe of the Suebi, from the middle of the 2nd century, opponents of the Romans in the Marcomannic Wars In the 1st century in Bohemia
Marezaten
Marobudui
Marsaci
Marsi, Marsigni Marsi, Marsoí (Μαρσοί), Marsigni Destroyed after participation in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in the year 14 by Germanicus Between the Rhine, Ruhr and Lippe
Marvingi Marouingoi Lower Saxony/North Rhine-Westphalia Ptolemy
Mattiaci Mattiaci, Mattiakoi (Ματτιακοί) Probably a part of the Chatti, Romanised from the 1st century Around Wiesbaden, in the Taunus and in the Wetterau
Menapii, Manapi Menapii Celtic-Germanic mixed people, subjugated by Caesar in the 1st century BC in Gallia Belgica Lower Rhine, Flanders Julius Caesar
Merscware
Mimmas
Mixi Called by Jordanes as residents of Scandza Scandinavia Jordanes
Moselle Franks, Mosellians Subset of the Franks, separated from the Ripuarian Franks in the 5th century Upper Rhine and Moselle
Mugilones Mougilones
Myrgingas East Frisian part of the Frisii, who settled around 700 in Nordfriesland Nordfriesland, Tönnern, Rungholdt Widsith
N
Nahanarvali, Naharvali Nahanarvali, Naharvali Tribe of the Lugii Between the Vistula and the Oder Tacitus
Narisci, Naristi, Varisti, Varasci, Varisci Naristi, Varisti, Varistae Neighbours of the Marcomanni, Quadi and Armalausi Upper Palatinate, Upper Franconia and North Bohemia Tacitus
Neckar Suebi Suebi Nicrenses Romanised tribe of the Suebi In the 1st and 2nd century in the area of Ladenburg
Nemetes Nemetai (Νεμῆται) (Probably Germanic) allies of the Ariovistus In the 1st century BC on the Rhine between Lake Constance and Palatinate Julius Caesar
Nertereanes
Nervii Nervii Celtic tribe. According to Strabo they were originally Germanic and according to Tacitus they claimed Germanic descent.[2][3] In the Gallia Belgica between the Meuse and the Scheldt in the north and the west of today's Belgium Julius Caesar, Tacitus
Nictrenses
Nistresi
Njars
Nordliudi
Normans Collective name for the Northern European Germanic tribes, which undertook raids in the 8th and 11th century to the south (England, Ireland, Francia, Sicily and the Mediterranean, present-day Russia), also synonymous with the Vikings
North Suebi
Nuithones, Nuitones Probably a misprint of Teutones
O
Omanii
Ostrogoths Ostrogothi, Ostrogoti, Ostrogotae, Ostrogothae, Austrogothi Part of the Goths, first in Pannonia, then empire-building in Italy Jordanes
Otingis
P
Paemani, Permani Paemani, Caemani Left Rhine Celto-Germanic people Eifel, Ardennes Julius Caesar
Parmaecampi Parmaikampoi (Παρμαικαμπο) See Kampoi North of the Danube in Bavaria Ptolemy
Peucini Part of the Bastarnae Tacitus
Peucmi
Phalians Constructed tribe as Germanic "natives" of Westphalia and Eastphalia
Pharodini Pharadinoi Mecklenburg
Q
Quadi Quadi Tribe of the Suebi, participants of the Marcomannic Wars Tacitus
Quirounoi? Possibly a mistaken transliteration of the Greek name Ούίρουνοι = Oúírounoi; O and not Q, mistaken O for a Q? Initial Greek Ou = W; Viruni in Latin; possibly a variant of Varini? Ουαρίνοι – Ouarínoi = Warínoi
R
Raetovari Raetobarii Alemannic tribe Probably in Nördlinger Ries
Ragnaricii, Ranii
Raumarici
Reudigni, Reudinges, Reudinges, Reudingi, Holstens Randers
Ripuarian Franks, Ripuarians, Ripuarii, Rhinefranks, Rhine Franks Subset of the Franks in the Middle Rhine
Rosomoni Rosomoni
Routiklioi
Rugii, Rygir, Rugians Rugii Moved in the Migration Period with the Goths to the south Originally between the Vistula and the Oder, later empire-building in Lower Austria
Rus' See Varangians
S
Sabalingioi Sabalingioi Jutland
Sahslingun
Salian Franks, Salians Salii Part of the Franks Originally from the Lower Rhine to the Salland on the IJssel, then in North Brabant and later in the Tournai area
Saxons Saxones West Germanic people's Association of the Chauci, Angrivarii and Cherusci From the 1st century in northwest Germany and the east of the Netherlands
Scopingun
Scordisci Related to the Bastarnae according to Titus Livy Šar Mountains to Singidunum in the Balkans Titus Livy
Scotelingun
Sedusii Sedusii Ally of the Ariovistus, classified by Caesar as Germanic Julius Caesar
Segni Segni
Semnones Semnones (Σεμνόνες) Part of the Suebi, their tribe, according to Tacitus Around 100 between the Elbe and the Oder from the Bohemian border to the Havel Tacitus
Sibini Sibinoer
Sicambri Sugambri
Sidini Western Pomerania
Sidones
Sigambres See Sugambri
Silingi, Silings Silingae Part of the Vandals Silesia, later Andalusia
Singulones Sigulones Jutland
Sitones, Sithones Neighbours of the Suiones Probably Scandinavia Tacitus
Sciri Moved with the Bastarnae to the south, in the 5th century short imperial formation in Pannonia
Steoringun
Sturii Sturii
Sturmarii Sturmera
Suarines, Suardones Suarines, Suarmes, Smarines Tribe of the Suebi Around Lake Schwerin in Mecklenburg
Suebi, Suevi, Suavi, Suevians, Swabians Suebi, Suewi, Sueboi (Σύηβοι) Important Germanic tribal group, to which according to Tacitus the Semnones, Marcomanni, Hermunduri, Quadi and Lombards belonged In the northeast of Germania on the Baltic Sea up to the German Central Uplands Tacitus
Suetides
Sugambri, Sigambri, Sugambi, Sigambri Sugambri, Sygambri, Sugambroi (Σύγαμβροι), Sugumbri, Sucambri, Sycambres, Sugameri 7 BC defeated by Tiberius and settled on the left of the Rhine In the 1st century left-bank areas on the Meuse
Suiones, Suones, Sueones, Suehans, Sweones, Swiones, Sviones Suiones Northern European sea people described by Tacitus Possibly Scandinavia
Sulones
Sunuci, Sinuci, Sunici Sunuci Possibly precursors of the Ubii In the 1st and 2nd century in the Rhineland between Aachen and Jülich
Swedes, Svear Svea North Germanic tribe Svealand in the region of the Mälaren river valley as well as Uppland, Gästrikland, Västmanland and Södermanland
T
Taetel
Taifals Taifali, Taifalae, Theifali Probably a Germanic tribe in the group of the Visigoths From the 3rd century in Dacia and Moesia
Tencteri, Tenchteri, Tenctheri Tencteri, Toncteri, Tenkteroi (Τέγκτηροι) Northern neighbours of the Usipetes, opponents of Caesar In the 1st century BC on the Lower Rhine
Thervingi, Tervingi, Teruingi Tervingi See Visigoths
Thelir Thilir, Þilir, teler, telar The Migration Period and the Viking Age The region now known as Upper Telemark in modern Norway
Teuriochaimai
Teutonoari Unterelbe (Lower Elbe)
Teutons Teutoni, Teutones Together with the Cimbri and the Ambrones after the 120 BC invasion of Gaul and Italy Originally Thy, Jutland, south of the Cimbri
Texuandri
Theustes
Thiadmariska Thiadmariski
Thuringii, Thuringians, Turingi, Toringi Thueringi, Tueringi, Thuringin, Turingi In the 3rd or 4th century from the Angles, Warini and other originating tribal groups Between the Thuringian Forest, Werra, Harz and the Elbe
Texandri, Texuandri, Taxandri, Toxandrians Between the rivers Meuse and Scheldt in the Belgian-Dutch border region[4]
Treveri, Treviri Treverii, Treviri, Treveri Celtic tribe that claimed Germanic descent.[5][3] From the Rhine[6] to the land of the Remi Julius Caesar, Tacitus
Triboci, Tribocci Triboces, Triboci, Tribocci, Tribochi, Tribocchoi (Τριβόκχοι) In the 1st century BC, allies of the Ariovistus On the Rhine around Strasbourg and Haguenau Julius Caesar, Ptolemy
Tubantes, Tubanti Tubanti, Tubantes, Toubantoi (Τούβαντοι) In the 1st century, opponents of Germanicus End of the migration period in the eastern Netherlands in the Twente region Tacitus
Tulingi Possibly Celto-Germanic tribe Julius Caesar
Tungri, Tungrians, Tungrii, Tongri Tungri, Tongri Opponents of Caesar in the 1st century BC Left side of the Rhine around Tongeren Julius Caesar, Tacitus
Turcilingi, Torcilingi, Thorcilingi Turcilingae
Turones, Turoni Turoni Possibly Celto-Germanic tribe, south and later southeast of the Chatti (see Thuringii above) Ptolemy
Twihanti, Twihantes, Tuihanti, Tuihantes Tuihanti
Tylangii
U
Ubii Ubii Originally east of the Rhine, subjected to Caesar and from the early imperial period on the west bank of the Rhine and Romanised Originally from the Sieg over the Lahn to the lower Main, later in the area of Bonn and Cologne
Ulmerugi
Urugundes Incursions around 256 into the Roman Empire Lower Danube Zosimus
Usipetes, Usipii Usipetes, Usipii, Ousipetai (Ουσιπέται), Ousipioi (Ουσίπιοι) In the 1st century BC, opponents of Caesar On the right bank of the Lower Rhine
V
Vagoths Probably on Gotland
Valagoths
Vandals Vandali, Vanduli, Vandaloi (Οὐανδαλοί), Wandeloi (Βανδῆλοι), Wandiloi (Βανδίλοι) Originally in the northeastern Germania, during the Migration Period in Spain and North Africa, plunder of Rome 455 Probably Vendsyssel
Vangiones Vangiones Affiliation to Celts or Germanic peoples uncertain Area around Worms, Germany (Civitas Vangionum)
Varangians Similar to the Vikings' and Normans' name for the northern European Germanic people, who came on their journeys into contact with Slavic peoples (there also as Rus') and over the Volga and the Black Sea to Byzantium
Varini See Warini
Varisci
Victophalians
Vidivarii Vidivarii According to Jordanes, a mixed people At the mouth of the Vistula Jordanes
Vinoviloth
Viruni Mecklenburg
Visburgii Wisburgi Between the Upper Oder and the Vistula[7]
Visigoths, Thervingi Visigothi, Wisigothae, Tervingi Part of the Goths, plunder of Rome 410, Visigothic Kingdom in southwestern Gaul and Spain Jordanes
Vispi South of Caritner
Vistula Veneti, Baltic Veneti, Veneti Venedi, Venetae, Venedae Possibly Germanic people in eastern Germania
W
Waledungun
Warini, Varini Varini, Varinae, Ouarinoi (Ουαρίνοι) Smaller, according to Tacitus, unwarlike tribe Northern Germany, Warnemünde Tacitus
West Herules, Westherules Independent group of the Herules on the Black Sea, which looks like Roman auxiliary troops and in the 5th century like pirates in appearance
Winnilers, Winnili, Winili See Lombards
X
Y
Z
Zumi

Linguistic predecessors

Map 1: Indo-European migrations as described in The Horse, the Wheel, and Language by David W. Anthony

Possible ethnolinguistic kinship

Expansion of early Germanic tribes into previously mostly Celtic Central Europe:[8]
   Settlements before 750 BC
   New settlements by 500 BC
   New settlements by 250 BC
   New settlements by AD 1
Some sources also give a date of 750 BC for the earliest expansion out of southern Scandinavia and northern Germany along the North Sea coast towards the mouth of the Rhine.[9]
Map 3: One proposed theory for approximate distribution of the primary Germanic dialect groups, and matching peoples, in Europe around the year 1 AD:
North Germanic peoples:
  North Germanic – Norsemen: Suiones/Swedes, Geats/Scandinavian Goths, Gutes, Danes, Raumarici, Arothi, Adogit, others
West Germanic peoples:
  North Sea Germanic – Ingvaeonic peoples – Jutes, Angles, Saxons, Chauci, Frisians, others
  Weser–Rhine Germanic – Istvaeonic peoples: Franks, others
  Elbe Germanic – Herminonic/Irminonic peoples: Suebes/Alemanni, Swabians, Hermunduri/Thuringians, Marcomanni, Quadi, Bavarians, others
East Germanic peoples:
  East Germanic – Vandilic peoples: Goths, Burgundians, Vandals, Gepids, Rugii, Buri, Herules, others

East Germanic peoples (Vandilians)

Map 4: Gothic associated regions and archaeological cultures
  Götaland
  the island of Gotland
  Wielbark culture in the early 3rd century
  Chernyakhov culture, in the early 4th century
  Roman Empire

North Germanic peoples (Norsemen)

Map 5: Possible map of Scandza, with a selection of tribes
Map 6: Relief map of the Faroe Islands
Map 7: Travels of the first Scandinavians in Iceland during the ninth century AD or CE, Settlement of Iceland time
Map 8: A map of the Eastern Settlement on Greenland, covering approximately the modern municipality of Kujalleq. Eiriksfjord (Erik's fjord) and his farm Brattahlid are shown, as is the location of the bishopric at Garðar, Greenland.

West Germanic peoples

Map 9: Depiction of Magna Germania in the early 2nd century including the location of many ancient Germanic peoples and tribes (by Alexander George Findlay 1849)
Map 10: Early Roman Empire with some ethnic names in and around Germania
Map 11: Suebic migrations across Europe
Map 12: Lombard migration from Scandinavia
Map 13: Old Saxony. The later stem duchy of Saxony (circa 1000 AD), which was based in the Saxons' traditional homeland bounded by the rivers Ems, Eider and Elbe. Saxon tribes (after later Saxon expansion) and their lands are also shown.
Map 14: Migration of Angles, Saxons and Jutes towards Britannia, today's England, and their settlement in the 5th and 6th centuries AD
insert description of map hereElmetHatfield ChaseKingdom of LindseyPecsaetanMerciaSpaldingNorth & South GyrwaWreocensæteSweordoraMagonsæteKingdom of East AngliaArosæteRiver IvelHitchinHwicceCharlburyCilternsæteKingdom of EssexKingdom of KentWessexKingdom of SussexIsle of Wight
Map 15: The tribes of the Tribal Hidage. Where an appropriate article exists, it can be found by clicking on the name.
Map 16: Subdivisions of Mercia, almost all of them matched Middle Anglian individual tribes or groups of tribes, except for the Middle Saxons; see Tribal Hidage
Map 17: Approximate location of the original Frankish tribes in the 3rd century (in green)
Map 18: Salian settlement in Toxandria in 358 where Julian the Apostate made them dediticii
  Roman Empire
  Salian Franks
  Germanic tribes east of the Rhine

Germanic peoples or tribes of unknown ethnolinguistic kinship

Eight tribes or peoples are only mentioned by the Old Mainland Saxon wandering bard, of the Myrgingas tribe, named Widsith – Aenenes; Baningas; Deanas (they are differentiated from the Danes); Frumtingas; Herefaran; Hronas or Hronan; Mofdingas and Sycgas (not to be confused with Secgan, short name for the work in Old English called On the Resting-Places of the Saints about saints' resting places in England).

Ancient peoples with partially Germanic background

Germano-Celtic

Germano-Slavic

Ancient peoples of uncertain origin with possible Germanic or partially Germanic background

Mixed peoples that had some Germanic component

Celtic–Germanic–Iranian

Possible Germanic or non-Germanic peoples

Germanic or Slavic

Germanic or Celtic

Germanic or Dacian

Germanic or Iranian

Germanic or Balto-Finnic

Mythical founders

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Further information: Eponymous ancestor

Many of the authors relating ethnic names of Germanic peoples speculated concerning their origin, from the earliest writers to approximately the Renaissance. One cross-cultural approach over this more than a millennium of historical speculation was to assign an eponymous ancestor of the same name as, or reconstructed from, the name of the people. For example, Hellen was the founder of the Hellenes.

Although some Enlightenment historians continued to repeat these ancient stories as though fact, today they are recognised as manifestly mythological. There was, for example, no Franko, or Francio, ancestor of the Franks. The convergence of data from history, linguistics and archaeology have made this conclusion inevitable. A list of the mythical founders of Germanic peoples follows.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Heinrich Beck et al. (editor): Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde. volume 36/37 (register volume 1 and 2): Authors, keywords, subject index, abbreviations, 2nd edition. de Gruyter, Berlin 2008, ISBN 978-3-11-019146-2, p. 20 ff.; "PDF; 499 kB" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-21.. In: degruyter.com, Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. ^ Tacitus, Germania 28; Strabo 4, 3, 4.
  3. ^ a b Cornelius Tacitus: Germania. Transmitted and explained by Arno Mauersberger. VMA-Verlag, Wiesbaden [1981?], p. 142, DNB-IDN 810365324 (Latin, German; licensed edition of Dieterich's publishing house accountant, Leipzig).
  4. ^ Maurits Gysseling: Toponymisch Woordenboek van België, Nederland, Luxemburg, Noord-Frankrijk en West-Duitsland. Ghent 1960, DNB-IDN 560536216, p. 956 (kantl.be, Retrieved 5 December 2017; Dutch).
  5. ^ Tacitus, Germania 28.
  6. ^ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico book III, 11: […] Treveros, qui proximi flumini Rheno sunt. ("The Treveri who live near the Rhine.")
  7. ^ L. S.: Visbu´rgii. In: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. 2 volumes. Edited by William Smith. Walton and Maberly, John Murray, London 1854, OCLC 1000689106 (perseus.tufts.edu, Retrieved 5 December 2017).
  8. ^ Kinder, Hermann (1988), Penguin Atlas of World History, vol. I, London: Penguin, p. 108, ISBN 0-14-051054-0.
  9. ^ "Languages of the World: Germanic languages". The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago, IL, United States: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1993. ISBN 0-85229-571-5.
  10. ^ a b c Muir, Bernard James (1989). Leođ: Six Old English Poems : A Handbook. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9782881243578.
  11. ^ a b c Jedin, Hubert; Dolan, John Patrick, eds. (1969). "Handbook of Church History". Burns & Oates. p. 12.
  12. ^ Aubenas, Joseph Adolphe (1845). "Revue de bibliographie analytique: Ou Compte rendu des ouvrages scientifiques et de haute litterature".
  13. ^ James Westfall-Thompson, Feudal Germany (1928), p. 167ff. ("Old Saxony" chapter).
  14. ^ "For the Saxon “nation” was really a loose collection of clans of kindred stock." in James Westfall-Thompson, Feudal Germany (1928), p. 167ff. ("Old Saxony" chapter).
  15. ^ James Westfall-Thompson, Feudal Germany (1928), p. 167ff. ("Old Saxony" chapter).
  16. ^ James Westfall-Thompson, Feudal Germany (1928), p. 167ff. ("Old Saxony" chapter).
  17. ^ "For the Saxon “nation” was really a loose collection of clans of kindred stock. For example, the Nordalbingians alone were divided into lesser groups: Holsteiners, Sturmarii, Bardi, and the men of Ditmarsch." in James Westfall-Thompson, Feudal Germany (1928), p. 167ff. ("Old Saxony" chapter).
  18. ^ Johnson, Charles F. (1899). English Words. Harper & Brothers – via Internet Archive.
  19. ^ Wyatt, Louise (15 February 2018). Secret Hayes. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445672212.
  20. ^ Hazlitt, William (1851). "The Classical Gazetteer: A Dictionary of Ancient Geography, Sacred and Profane".
  21. ^ Livy. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, 21:38.
  22. ^ a b Jones, Gwyn (2001). A History of the Vikings. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192801340.

References