Wessex etymology

Etymology:

The name "Wessex" is derived from Old English. It is composed of two words:

• West: Meaning "western" or "towards the setting sun"
• Seax: The name of a Germanic people known as the Saxons

Meaning and Origin:

Wessex therefore means "the western land of the Saxons." It was the name given to one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established in England after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Origin:

The Saxons were a West Germanic tribe who migrated to Britain during the 5th and 6th centuries. They established several kingdoms in different parts of England, including Wessex in the southwest.

Geographical Extent:

Wessex initially covered the counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. Over time, it expanded to include the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, and Cornwall.

Historical Significance:

Wessex played a pivotal role in the history of England. It was the dominant kingdom during the reign of King Alfred the Great (871-899), who played a key role in unifying the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms against the Viking invasions. Wessex eventually evolved into the Kingdom of England and later the United Kingdom.

Wessex relate terms

• Saxon

  Etymology Saxon is a term derived from the Old English word Seaxe which referred to th

• frank

  Etymology The name Frank originates from the Frankish word franc which means free

• Lombard

  Etymology Lombard is derived from the Latin Langobardi or Longobardi Meaning and

• Sassenach

  Etymology The word Sassenach is the Scottish Gaelic word for Englishman It is deriv

• Essex

  Etymology The name Essex is derived from the Old English words East and Seaxe mean

• Sussex

  Etymology The name Sussex is derived from the Old English word Sūðseaxe which mean

• Middlesex

  Middlesex Etymology The name Middlesex is derived from the Old English words Middel and

• west

  Etymology The word west comes from the Old English word west which in turn derives

• vesper

  Etymology and Origin The word vesper comes from the Latin word vesper which means

• Middlesex

  Middlesex Etymology The name Middlesex is derived from the Old English words Middel and

• Essex

  Etymology The name Essex is derived from the Old English words East and Seaxe mean

• Wessex

  Etymology The name Wessex is derived from Old English It is composed of two words

• middle

  Etymology The word middle comes from the Old English word middel which in turn is d

• Saxon

  Etymology Saxon is a term derived from the Old English word Seaxe which referred to th

• Anglo Saxon

  Anglo Saxon Etymology Originally known as Old English or Anglish Derived from Angl

• England

  Etymology The name England comes from the Old English word Engla land which means l

• pound

  Etymology The word pound comes from the Old English pund or pundt which itself

• hearse

  Etymology The word hearse originates from the Middle English word herse which itsel

• cologne

  Etymology The word cologne comes from the Latin word aqua colonia which means water

• python

  Etymology The word python has its roots in Greek mythology It is derived from the name

• Munchkin

  Etymology The word munchkin is a blend of the following Munich German city kin d

• defiance

  Etymology Defiance comes from the Old French word defiance which itself is derived

• countenance

  Etymology From Old French contenance appearance from Medieval Latin continentia