Vortigern

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proper noun

A male given name from Proto-Brythonic, of historical usage, notably borne by Vortigern, a legendary 5th-century British ruler.

OriginLate Latin Vortigernus ← Proto-Brythonic *Gworθɨɣern ← Proto-Celtic *Uɸortigernos →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Vortiger · alternative Vortigan · alternative Voertigern · alternative Vortigen

  1. A male given name from Proto-Brythonic, of historical usage, notably borne by Vortigern, a legendary 5th-century British ruler.

    Among the nobles of Britain was a prince called Vortigern.

    1905, Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall, Our Island Story, page 33

Origin

  1. Proto-Celtic*Uɸortigernos
  2. Proto-Brythonic*Gworθɨɣern
  3. Late LatinVortigernus
  4. EnglishVortigern

Borrowed from Late Latin Vortigernus, from Proto-Brythonic *Gworθɨɣern, from Proto-Celtic *Uɸortigernos, from *uɸor- (“over”) + *tigernos (“lord, ruler”).

More words from Late Latin, Proto-Brythonic, Proto-Celtic

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Latin Vortigernus, Guorthegirnus
  • Vortigernusname
  • Guorthegirnusname
Welsh Gwrtheyrn
  • Gwrtheyrnname
Cite this entry
APA

Vortigern. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Vortigern

MLA

“Vortigern.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Vortigern. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Vortigern,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Vortigern.

Source: Vortigern on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.