Athelstan

Athelstan, usually rendered Æthelstan in Old English, is a male given name of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name combines æthel, meaning noble, with stan, meaning stone or rock. It has been borne by several figures in early medieval England, most notably Æthelstan (c. 894/895–939), king of Wessex from about 924 to 939, and ruler of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

He is often considered the first king to rule a united England after defeating a coalition at the Battle of Brunanburh in 937. His reign saw the consolidation of territories, strengthening of royal government, and the development of laws and coinage; his law codes and support for the church contributed to administrative modernization. He died in 939 in Gloucester and is traditionally believed to be buried at Malmesbury Abbey in Wiltshire.

The name continued to be used in medieval England, borne by other saints, bishops, and nobles of the period. After the Norman Conquest, usage declined but was revived in later centuries. In modern times, Athelstan is primarily used as a given name rather than a title, appearing in biographies, literature, and discussions of early medieval England. The English variant Æthelstan remains common in scholarly works on the period.