Germanic Names, Vernacular Sounds, and Latin Spellings in Early Anglo-Saxon and Alemannic Charters

Early Anglo-Saxon and Alemannic charters reveal that the representation of Germanic names reflects distinct communicative purposes. Latinized spellings and case endings dominate in dispositive sections, while vernacular forms prevail in witness lists and drafts at St Gall Abbey. Social status also influences spelling choices, with names of high-ranking individuals more likely to be Latinized than those of ordinary witnesses. Place-names exhibit greater vernacular features compared to personal names. This graphemic variation suggests a functional distinction in how names were used across different sections of charters.

Seiler, A. (2020). Germanic Names, Vernacular Sounds, and Latin Spellings in Early Anglo-Saxon and Alemannic Charters. The Languages of Early Medieval Charters, 117–153. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004432338_005