Background
Historically, Lincolnshire has been divided into three regions: Lindsey, Kesteven, and Holland. However, a little-known fourth region appeared on maps from the 14th to 17th centuries, only to disappear again. Intriguingly, the name disappeared from both maps and memory. Aside from appearing on a few maps, hardly any mentions have been found elsewhere.
The name appears on maps predominantly, but not exclusively, towards the Louth area of the county. The expert in all things historical and archaeological for the Louth area of Lincolnshire is Dr Caitlin Green. Dr Green’s page of early Lincolnshire maps is fascinating and features all the known appearances of Ageland, along with references to the appearance of the name in literature. I would highly recommend having a rummage through Dr Caitlin Green’s website.
Dr Green has made some suggestions to the origins of the name, which appear in a Twitter thread regarding Lincolnshire maps, but points out the lack of evidence available and prefers not to speculate. I’m not an academic, so I'm quite happy to consider alternatives.
The name appears between the 14th century and the 17th century. One problem with dating here is that the Gough map (or Bodleian map) has not been accurately dated. Various dates for it are suggested, from 1300 to the mid-16th century. Though the exact dates are difficult to pin down, it would seem safe to say that from 1400 and something to 1600 and something the name was in use and marked on maps. An earlier 14th-century date is possible if the Gough Map dates from then. That is a period of at least 200 years. It was clearly a well-established name. Why it would appear on maps but not be mentioned in other records is definitely a mystery, as is why it disappeared from use.
Origins
We cannot be sure when the name first appeared without better records. It was included on maps when Middle English was the language (post-1066 to late 15th century). But, of course, the name could have an older origin. Lincolnshire was the stronghold of the Vikings, whose language influenced Lincolnshire place names. Before the Vikings were the Anglo-Saxons and, even earlier, the Romans. The roots of Ageland could be from any of these historical periods or even from the pre-Roman Corieltauvi celts that inhabited the region. It is noteworthy that it is not dissimilar to the Hundred name of Aveland near Threekingham. Aveland is thought to have Viking origins, so maybe it is similar here.
The name could be descriptive, named after a feature of the area, or from a person's name - Ag’s land. There is no obvious recorded person it is named after that can be pinpointed. So, what ancient words may be the root of this mysterious name? Let us look at possibilities from each of the main periods of Lincolnshire's history leading up to the 15th century.
The Romans (43 to 410 ish)
Ager - This has several meanings, which are all similar and relate to land - field, farm, land, territory, and country. ONLINE LATIN DICTIONARY - Latin - English (online-latin-dictionary.com)
Ager is a good option from Latin if we choose the meaning of land or territory. Maybe the Romans referred to the eastern part of Lincolnshire as ‘something‘ territory, and over time, the ager part was remembered and teamed with land to get agerland. This, of course, would have a meaning of land-land, which seems ridiculous but may not be impossible.
Another possibility might be that ager was teamed with lanitium or wool. This would then be the land of wool. That seems a possibility for sure. Eventually, ager-lanitium was contracted to Ageland, and the meaning of wool was lost.
Ago - one translation of which is a verb ‘to hunt’ or ‘to stalk’. ONLINE LATIN DICTIONARY - Latin - English (online-latin-dictionary.com) It is possible that the Romans used the Wolds as hunting grounds and that the term Ago stuck with the locals and became Agoland.
The Anglo Saxons (5th century - 1066)
Æg - water, water land, an island Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary online (bosworthtoller.com)
Ǽge - The island Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary online (bosworthtoller.com)
At the time of the Angles, Lindsey was surrounded by marshes, fens, and water. On a map, it did look a bit like an island, albeit attached to the mainland.
The Anglo-Saxons could certainly be said to own the land.
Hügelland is a type of landscape consisting of low rolling hills. The term is German and has no exact equivalent in English, but is often translated as "hill country", "gently undulating", or "rolling countryside". It is derived from Hügel, a low hill or hillock and frequently appears as a proper name for this terrain type.
The Eastern parts of the German region of Schleswig-Holstein comprise extensive areas of hügelland.
The Northern part of the hügelland of Schleswig-Holstein is known as Anglia (or Angeln / Angel).
This is the land of the Angles, who left their homelands to establish new homes in Britain and, along with the Saxons, became the Anglo-Saxon rulers of their new lands.
The Lincolnshire Wolds would seem to fit well with the definition of hügelland - rolling countryside - and maybe it reminded the Angles of their homeland. Over time, the pronunciation may have changed, and the original meaning was forgotten.
The Vikings (800 - 1150 ish)
There is a place in Norway called Hægeland - Wikipedia The first element of the name means "holy" (Old Norse: heilagr and Norwegian: hellig), and the last element (Old Norse: land) is identical to the English word land. This area was important to ancient Norse pagan worship.
Maybe the Vikings believed that this area of Lincolnshire was a holy land and gave it the name Hægeland. More research would be needed to find evidence of significant Norse pagan worship in the region or to justify why the Vikings thought of the area as holy. The name would easily transform into Ageland, which is a very tempting possibility.
The Normans (1066 and all that)
Domesday is an excellent source of information. Ageland is not mentioned. However, further South in Lincolnshire is a Hundred of Aveland, situated roughly between Threekingham and Bourne. Interestingly, it is recorded in Domesday that a person called Alsi, son of Godram, was a Lord, before the conquest, of lands in both Aveland and Louthesk (Louth area).
In Aveland, he was Lord of Newton, Oseby, Pointon, Spanby, Swaton, and Threekingham. In Louthesk, he was Lord of Little Carlton, North and South Elkington, and South Carlton.
It is tantalising that he was Lord in Aveland and Lord in the area identified as Ageland. Is there a connection here? Is Ageland a corruption of Aveland or vice versa?
Who was Alsi? In Swaton, Alsi, son of Godram, and Aethelstan, son of Godram, had one carucate of land taxable and land for ten oxen. Aelfric, son of Godram, their brother, had jurisdiction over them in Haceby but only in the King's service. I have also seen a reference to another brother named Aluric. So, Alsi had at least three brothers, who must have been from a high-ranking family. It is not inconceivable that the area was known as Alsi Godram's Land. Ultimately losing the name and being reduced to AG'sLand. Whether there are any connections between this family and Aveland and Ageland's names will require further research.
Another potential Norman source, or at least a French romance language source, might be suggested by the evocatively named Occitan town of Aigues-Mortes. In the 13th century, the town's name was Latinized as Aquae Mortuae: dead water or stagnant water. The point of note here is that the French language translated Aquae to Aigues, meaning water. French-speaking Normans may have used the Occitan term Terra Aigues, meaning Wetlands, to describe Lincolnshire's vast fenlands and marshes. Or maybe they even reused the name Aigues-Mortes. If Ageland were a name used to describe the Southern parts of the county, then it certainly would fit.
Middle English (roughly 1100 - 1500)
The 1621 Johannus map shows Agland positioned further South than the other maps in what was the East Fen. The breedlings of the East Fen were known to suffer terribly from the Ague or what we call Malaria. They were often very sick and resorted to opium to ease their suffering.
The East Fens and the fenlands across the South of Lincolnshire and marshlands up the county's coast could easily have been known as the Ague Lands.
Conclusions
Without more documentary evidence, it will not be possible to be 100% certain of the origins of the name Ageland or Agland. My personal favourites are Hügelland, because the descriptive term fits the landscape so well and Agueland because of the endemic sickness in the fens, except the name appears more frequently on the Wolds. On the most modern map, the name Agland appears in the fens. There is a possibility that the name was already falling from favour, and the map maker was not sure where it should be applied. Maybe he applied the same logic as myself and assumed it should be a name for the fens.
The connection between Aveland and Ageland with the sons of Godram is intriguing and deserves more research. It seems too much of a similarity to be ignored. This post is one to keep checking back on. As I get more information, I will post updates.
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