Anselms

Anselms is the plural form of the given name Anselm. It is used when referring to more than one person named Anselm, typically in biographical or genealogical writing. In ordinary modern prose, the plural is uncommon and writers usually cite individuals by their full names rather than grouping them as “the Anselms.”

Origin and meaning: The name Anselm derives from Old High German elements meaning “god” (ans) and “helmet” or “protection” (helm), often interpreted as “God-protected.” It entered Latin as Anselmus and spread through Christian Europe, where several saints bore the name. The form gained particular prominence in medieval monastic and ecclesiastical contexts, contributing to its enduring use in various European languages.

Usage and examples: The plural Anselms may appear in discussions that enumerate multiple figures named Anselm, such as biographical lists or genealogies. In contemporary writing, authors typically refer to individuals by their full name rather than aggregated as a group. Notable people named Anselm include Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109), Anselm of Lucca (saint and church figure), the 19th-century painter Anselm Feuerbach (1829–1880), and the 20th-century artist Anselm Kiefer (born 1945). These examples illustrate the name’s long historical presence and cultural reach.

See also: Anselm, a given name with its own article and disambiguation. The term Anselms is primarily a linguistic and biographical plural used in specific contexts to refer to multiple individuals sharing the name Anselm.