Cuthberht
Masculine
Anglo-Saxon
Meaning & Origin
Cuthberht is an Old English form of Cuthbert, derived from the elements cuþ "known, familiar" and beorht "bright". The name was borne by a notable figure of 8th-century Mercia, often identified as Cuthberht, a nobleman who may have served as an ealdorman under King Offa. He is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 779 and witnessed several charters. Cuthberht is best remembered as the father of three Mercian kings: Coenwulf (r. 796–821), Cuthred (r. 798–807), and Ceolwulf (r. 821–823). His sons played significant roles in the politics and power struggles of Anglo-Saxon England.
The name's association with the esteemed Saint Cuthbert, a 7th-century hermit and bishop of Lindisfarne, ensured its survival after the Norman Conquest, though the variant Cuthbert superseded the older spelling in general usage. The form Cuthberht remained in use in some contexts, especially in historical records.
Meaning: "Known, bright"
Origin: Old English
Type: Traditional given name
Usage region: Mercia (Anglo-Saxon England)