Eadgar is the Old English form of the name Edgar. The name comprises the elements ead meaning "wealth, fortune" and gar meaning "spear", thus signifying "wealthy spear" or "fortunate spear." It was notably borne by King Edgar the Peaceful (c. 943–975) of England, who reigned over a period of relative stability and monastic reform. After the Norman Conquest, the Old English form fell out of use, but the name Edgar was revived in the 18th century. Etymology and Linguistic Roots Eadgar derives from the Proto-West Germanic *Audagaiʀ, which combines *aud ("wealth, riches") and *gaiʀ ("spear"), resulting in a meaning akin to "wealthy spearman." Cognates include the Old High German Ōtgēr. In Old English, its pronunciation was /ˈæɑːdˌɡɑːr/. Descendants of the name include the English Edgar, as well as the Old Norse forms *Éatgeirr and Játgeirr, which evolved into the Icelandic name Játgeir. Historical and Cultural Context The most famous historical bearer of the form Eadgar is King Edgar of England (also known as Edgar I), who ruled from 959 to 975. Edgar's reign is noted for its efforts to unify the kingdom and his patronage of the Benedictine Reform. He was crowned at Bath and later canonized as a saint. The name appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. However, after the Norman Conquest, the name largely disappeared from usage, replaced by Norman names like William and Robert. The revival of Edgar in the 18th century was propelled partly by Sir Walter Scott's novel The Bride of Lammermoor (1819), whose protagonist is Edgar Ravenswood. Later notable bearers include the American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), known for his macabre tales, as well as the French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834–1917) and the author Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950), creator of Tarzan. Related Names and Variants Related forms of Eadgar in other languages include the French Edgard and the Portuguese Edgar. Diminutives such as Ed, Eddie, and Eddy are common English short forms. Additionally, the name Ogier, found in the Carolingian cycle of chivalric romances, is cognate through the same Germanic roots. Meaning: "wealthy spearman" (Old English ēad "wealth" + gār "spear") Origin: Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Type: First name Usage Regions: England, limited to the Anglo-Saxon period