List of early Germanic peoples


The list of early Germanic peoples is a catalog of ancient Germanic cultures, tribal groups, and other alliances of Germanic tribes and civilizations from antiquity. This information is derived from various ancient historical sources, beginning in the 2nd century BC and extending into late antiquity. By the Early Middle Ages, early forms of kingship had started to shape historical developments across Europe, with the exception of Northern Europe. In Northern Europe, influences from the Vendel Period and the subsequent Viking Age played a significant role in the Germanic historical 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, especially those that arrived during the Migration Period.

In alphabetical order

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.
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:
  • Julius Caesar: Commentarii de Bello Gallico
  • Jordanes: De origine actibusque Getarum, short Getica
  • Ptolemy: Geography
  • Tacitus: ''Germania''

    Linguistic predecessors

  • Proto-Indo-European speakers
  • *Proto-Germanic speakers

    Possible ethnolinguistic kinship

[East Germanic peoples] (Vandilians">East Germanic peoples">Vandilians)

  • Avarpi
  • Burgundians / Burgundiones / Burgundes / Burgodiones : Nibelungs / Niflung, clan that was the Burgundian royal house known as Gibichungs or Gjúkings
  • Goths / Gothones / Gutones / Gautae / Geats
  • *Gepids
  • *Goths / Hreidgoths
  • **Gothi Minores
  • **Greuthungi
  • ***Ostrogoths / Hreiðgoths
  • ****Crimean Goths
  • **Thervingi
  • ***Visigoths
  • Herules, East Germanic
  • *East Herules
  • *West Herules
  • Lemovii
  • Lugians
  • *Buri
  • *Diduni / Dunii / Duni
  • *Harii
  • *Helisii / Elysii / Helusii / Hellusii
  • *Manimi / Omani? / Omanii?
  • *Marsigni
  • *Vandals / Vandilii
  • **Asdingi / Astingi / Hasdingi
  • **Helvecones / Helveconae / Aelvaeones / Elouaiones
  • **Lacringes / Lacringi
  • **Nahanarvali
  • **Silingi
  • **Victohali / Victuali / Victabali
  • Rugi / Rugii / / Ulmerugi / Variant Latin name for the Rugians: Rugiclei? / Greek names and variants for the Rugians: Rougíklioi / Routiklioi
  • Sciri
  • *Angisciri
  • Sulones
  • Turcilingi / Torcolingi
  • Vidivarii
  • Visburgi / Visburgii

    [North Germanic peoples] ([Norsemen])

  • East North Germanic
  • *Ahelmil
  • *Aviones / Chaibones / Eowan
  • *Bergio
  • *Brondingas / Brondingar
  • *Danes : Scyldingas clan
  • *Dauciones
  • *Eunixi
  • *Evagreotingis / Evagres
  • *Favonae
  • *Fervir
  • *Finnaithae
  • *Firaesi / Phiraisoi
  • *Gevlegas / Gevlegar
  • *Goths, Scandinavian
  • **Geats / Gautigoths, Scandinavian / Gautae
  • **Ostrogothae, Scandinavian : Wulfings / Ylfings clan
  • **Gutes / Gotlanders / Vagoths / Valagoths
  • *Hallin / Hilleviones?
  • *Hälsingas / Hälsingar
  • *Herules, Scandinavian
  • *Hocings
  • *Levoni / Levonii
  • *Liothida
  • *Mixi
  • *Njars
  • *Otingis
  • *Sitones
  • *Suðrmenn
  • *Suiones / Sviones / Suehans / Suetidi / Suetides : Wægmunding clan; Ynglings / Scylfings clan
  • **Västermännen
  • *Virdar
  • *Theustes
  • *Vinili / Winnili / Vinoviloth : Hundingas / Hundings clan?
  • *Normans – they were formed by the merger and assimilation of a North Germanic-speaking minority and Frankish minority with a Gallo-Roman majority, ethnogenesis of the native people inhabiting Normandy, in France
  • **Anglo-Normans
  • West North Germanic
  • *Adogit / Halogit / Háleygir
  • *Aprochi
  • *Arothi
  • *Augandii / Augandzi / Augandxii
  • *Chaedini / Chaedenoi
  • *Doelir
  • *Filir / Fjalir
  • *Firdir
  • *Granni / Grenir
  • *Haðar
  • *Háleygir
  • *Heinir / Heiðnir
  • *Horðar
  • *Hringar
  • *Lidingar / Lidingas
  • *Jamtr / Jamtar
  • *Ragnaricii / Aeragnaricii
  • *Rani / Ranii / Renir
  • *Raumarici / Raumariciae / Raumar
  • *Rugi, Scandinavian / Rygir
  • *Taetel
  • *Throwenas / Throwenar
  • *Wrosnas
  • *Old Faroese / Old Faroe Islanders
  • *Old Icelanders
  • **Greenland Norsemen
  • *Vikings / Varangians / '''Ascomanni'''

    [West Germanic peoples]

  • Elbe Germani
  • *Baemi-Baenochaemae
  • **Baemi / Baimoi
  • **Baenochaemae / Banochaemae
  • *Bateinoi
  • *Calucones
  • *Caritni / Carini
  • *Chatti-Mattiaci
  • **Chatti / Hatti
  • **Mattiaci
  • **Batavi-Cananefates
  • ***Batavi
  • ***Cananefates / Canninefates
  • *Chasuarii / Hasuarii
  • *Chattuarii / Attoarii / Hattuarii / Hetware
  • *Chatvores
  • *Cherusci
  • *Fosi
  • *Marvingi / Marouingoi
  • *Suebes / Suebi or Alemanni
  • **Brisgavi
  • **Bucinobantes
  • **Butones / Boutones
  • **Corconti
  • **Hermunduri
  • ***Armalausi
  • ***Campi
  • ****Adrabaecampi / Campi
  • ****Parmaecampi
  • ***Curiones
  • ***Danduti
  • ***Vangiones / Vargiones / Woingas
  • ***Thuringians
  • ****Graffelti
  • **Lentienses
  • **Lombards / Langobards / Longobards
  • ***Bardes
  • ***Heaðobards / Hadubardes / Heaðubeardan
  • **Marcomanni
  • ***Baiuvarii
  • **Mugilones
  • **Nertereanes
  • **Quadi / Coldui / Danube Suebi
  • ***Old Swabians
  • ***Suebi, Gallaecian
  • **Racatriae / Racatae
  • **Raetovari
  • **Scotingi
  • **Sedusii
  • **Semnones
  • ***Iuthungi / Juthungi
  • **Sibini
  • **Sidini
  • **Suarines / Suardones
  • **Suebi Nicrenses / Suebi, Neckar / Nictrenses / Upper Alemanni : Ahalolfings or Alaholfings
  • **Sudini
  • **Teuriochaemae / Teuriochaimai
  • **Triboci
  • **Varisti / Varisci / Narisci / Naristi
  • **Victophalians / Victofalians / Victophali / Victofali
  • **Zumi
  • *Teutonari / Teutonoari
  • *Varini / Warini / Auarinoi / Viruni / Quirounoi? or Oúírounoi / Warni / Viruni / Pharodini? / Farodini?
  • North Sea Germani
  • *Ambrones
  • *Ampsivarii / Amsivarii
  • *Angles / Anglies
  • **Island Angles / Insular Angles
  • **Mainland Angles / Continental Angles
  • *Anglevarii / Angrivarii
  • *Angrivarii
  • *Caulci
  • *Chali / Hallinger
  • *Charudes / Harudes / Arochi
  • *Chaubi
  • *Chauci
  • **Chauci Maiores
  • **Chauci Minores / Hugas
  • *Cherusci
  • *Cobandi
  • *Cimbri / Cymbri
  • *Dulgibini / Dulgubnii
  • *Eudoses / Eutes / Euthiones
  • **Jutes
  • ***Island Jutes
  • ***Mainland Jutes
  • *Frisii
  • **Frisiavones / Frisiabones
  • **Frisii
  • ***Old Frisians
  • *Fundusi
  • *Guiones
  • *Hæleþan
  • *Nuithones / Nuitones
  • *Sabalingioi / Sabalingi
  • *Saxons
  • **Island Saxons / Insular Saxons
  • **Mainland Saxons / Continental Saxons
  • ***Agradingun
  • ***Myrgingas / Myrgings
  • ***Later Saxons
  • ****Nordalbingi / Nordliudi / Transalbingians
  • *****Holtsaetan / Holtsaeten / Holtsati / Holsatians / Holcetae
  • *****Thietmaresca / Thiadmariska / Men of Ditmarsch
  • *****Sturmarians
  • *****Bardi / Bardongavenses
  • ****Angarians / Angrians
  • *****Agradingun / Agradine
  • *****Almangas
  • *****Ammeri
  • *****Bursibani
  • *****Bucki
  • *****Dersi
  • *****Derve
  • *****Heilungun
  • *****Hessi
  • *****Hlisgas
  • *****Hostingabi / Hostinga
  • *****Huettas
  • *****Lagni
  • *****Lara
  • *****Lidbeke
  • *****Lohingi
  • *****Moronas
  • *****Mosde
  • *****Netga / Nete
  • *****Pathergi / Padergi
  • *****Sturmi
  • *****Tilithi
  • *****Waldseti / Waldseton
  • *****Wehsige
  • *****Wigmodia / Wihmodi
  • ****Phalians
  • *****Eastphalians
  • ******Derlinas
  • ******Flutwide
  • ******Frisonovel
  • ******Gretingun / Gretingas
  • ******Guottingi / Guddinges / Gotingi
  • ******Hartinas
  • ******Hasi
  • ******Hastfalon / Astfalon
  • ******Maerstem
  • ******Nordsuavi
  • ******Nortthuringun
  • ******Salthgas
  • *****Westphalians
  • ******Angeron
  • ******Auas
  • ******Dreini
  • ******Grainas
  • ******Hama
  • ******Hasi
  • ******Lerige
  • ******Nihthersi
  • ******Scopingun
  • ******Sudergo
  • ******Theotmalli
  • ******Threcwiti
  • ******Westfalon proper
  • ****Aringon
  • ****Firihsetan / Virsedi
  • ****Sahslingun
  • ****Scotelingun
  • ****Steoringun
  • ****Thiadmthora
  • ****Waledungun
  • *Reudigni / Rendingi / Randingi / Rondingas / Rondings / Reudignes / Reudingi / Reudinges
  • *Singulones / Sigulones
  • *Sturii
  • *Teutones
  • *Anglo-Jutes-Saxons
  • **Angles
  • ***Northumbrians
  • ****Amoþingas / Amothingas
  • ****Beodarsæte
  • ****Elmedsætan / Elmetsaete
  • ****Loidis
  • ***Southumbrians
  • ****East Angles / East Anglians
  • *****Herstingas
  • *****Ikelgas
  • *****Norfolk
  • *****Suffolk
  • ****Middle Angles / Midlanders
  • *****East Middle Angles / Middle Angles Proper
  • ******Bilmingas / Bilmigas
  • ******Cilternsæte / Cilternsætan
  • ******Dornwaras
  • ******Færpingas / Feppingas / Faerpinga in Middelenglum
  • ******Giflas / Gifle
  • ******Gyrwas / Gyrwe
  • *******North Gyrwas / North Gyrwe
  • *******Suth Gyrwas / Suth Gyrwe
  • ********Elge
  • ******Hiccas / Hicce
  • ******Hurstingas
  • ******Spaldas / Spaldingas
  • ******Sweordoras
  • ******Wideringas
  • ******Wigestas
  • ******Willas / Wille
  • *******East Willas / East Wille
  • *******West Willas / West Wille
  • ******Wixnas
  • *******East Wixnas
  • *******West Wixnas
  • *****Lindisfaras
  • ******Gaininingas / Gaini
  • ******Lindisfarningas
  • *****Mercians / Mercians Proper
  • ******North Mercians
  • *******Reagesate
  • *******Snotingas
  • ******South Mercians
  • *******Beormingas
  • *******Bilsaete
  • *******Pencersaete
  • *******Tomsaete
  • ******Outer Mercians
  • *******Undalas
  • *******Wideriggas
  • *****Pecsæte / Pecsætan
  • ******Herefinnas
  • *****Hwiccians / Hwincas
  • ******Arosæte / Arosaetan
  • ******Duddensaete
  • ******Husmerae
  • ******Stoppingas
  • ******Weorgoran
  • *****Westernas
  • ******Magonsæte / Magonsætan
  • *******Hahlsæte
  • *******Temersæte
  • ******Wreocensæte
  • *******Meresæte
  • *******Rhiwsæte
  • ******Tribes of the Land Between Ribble and Mersey
  • **Jutes
  • ***Cantwara / Centingas
  • ****Andredes Leag
  • ****Boroware
  • ****Ceasterware
  • ****Eastorege
  • ****Limenwara
  • ****Merscware
  • ***Wihtwara
  • ****Meonwara / Meonware / Meonsæte
  • ****Ytenesæte
  • **Saxons
  • ***East Saxons
  • ****Brahhingas
  • ****Dæningas / Daenningas / Deningei / Deningel
  • ****Gegingas
  • ****Haeringas
  • ****Haueringas
  • ****Hroðingas
  • ****Tewingas
  • ****Tota
  • ****Waeclingas
  • ***Middle Saxons
  • ****Bedingas
  • ****Geddingas-Gillingas-Mimmas
  • *****Geddingas
  • *****Gillingas
  • *****Mimmas
  • ****Gumeningas
  • ****Hakas
  • ****Noxgaga / Noxga gā
  • *****Æbbingas / Aebbingas
  • *****Braccingas
  • *****Readingas
  • *****Sunningas
  • *****Woccingas
  • ****Padendene
  • ****Suther-ge
  • *****Ælffingas
  • *****Godhelmingas
  • *****Ohtgaga / Ohtga gā
  • *****Totingas
  • *****Wochingas
  • ***South Saxons
  • ****Haestingas
  • ***West Saxons
  • ****Basingas
  • ****Eorlingas
  • ****Glasteningas / Glestingas
  • ****Dornsaete / Dorsætan
  • ****Gewisse
  • ****Hendricas
  • ****Sumortūnsǣte / Sumorsǣte / Sumorsætan
  • ****Unecunga / Unecung
  • ****Wilsætan
  • Weser-Rhine Germani
  • *Baetasii / Betasii
  • *Bructeri / Bructeres / Bructuarii / Borthari?
  • *Chamavi / Hamavi
  • *Cugerni
  • *Falchovarii
  • *Gamabrivii / Gambrivii
  • *Incriones
  • *Landoudioi / Landi
  • *Sicambri / Sigambres / Sugambri
  • **Marsi
  • **Marsaci / Marsacii
  • *Salii / Salians
  • *Sunici / Sunuci
  • *Tencteri
  • *Tubantes / Tuihanti
  • *Ubii
  • *Usipetes / Usipii / Vispi
  • *Franks / Hugones
  • **Ripuarian Franks
  • ***Hessian Franks / Hessians
  • ***Lognai
  • ***Moselle Franks
  • ***Nistresi
  • ***Suduodi
  • ***Upper Franconia Franks
  • ***Wedrecii
  • **Salian Franks
  • ***Low Rhine Franks
  • ***Western Austrasian Franks
  • ***Neustrian Franks