Ælfgifu (also ''Ælfgyfu''; ''Elfgifa, Elfgiva, Elgiva'') is an Anglo-Saxon feminine personal name, from ''ælf'' "

elf An elf () is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology. They are subsequently mentioned in Snorri Sturluson's Icelandic Prose Edda. He distinguishes "ligh ...

" and ''gifu'' "gift". When

Emma of Normandy Emma of Normandy (referred to as Ælfgifu in royal documents; c. 984 – 6 March 1052) was a Norman-born noblewoman who became the English, Danish, and Norwegian queen through her marriages to the Anglo-Saxon king Æthelred the Unready and the ...

, the later mother of

Edward the Confessor Edward the Confessor ; la, Eduardus Confessor , ; ( 1003 – 5 January 1066) was one of the last Anglo-Saxon English kings. Usually considered the last king of the House of Wessex, he ruled from 1042 to 1066. Edward was the son of Æth ...

, became queen of England in 1002, she was given the native Anglo-Saxon name of ''Ælfgifu'' to be used in formal and official contexts.

Florence of Worcester Florence of Worcester (died 1118), known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the '' Chronicon ex chronicis'', a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140.Keynes, "Flo ...

: ''Emmam, Saxonica Alfgivam vocatam''; see

Bolton Corney Bolton Corney (1784–1870) was an English army officer and official, known as a critic and antiquary. Life Corney was born at Greenwich on 28 April 1784, and baptised in the parish church of St. Alphage. He obtained in 1803 a commission as ensig ...

, ''The Gentleman's Magazine'', July 1839
p. 44
Latinized forms of the name include forms such as ''Aelueua, Alueua, Alueue, Elgiva, Elueua, Aluiua, Aueue'' (etc.). People called Ælfgifu: * Ælfgifu of Exeter, Anglo-Saxon saint *

Ælfgifu of Northampton Ælfgifu of Northampton ( non, Álfífa, 990 – after 1036) was the first wife of Cnut the Great, King of England and Denmark, and mother of Harold Harefoot, King of England. She was regent of Norway from 1030 to 1035. Biography Family b ...

, first wife of King Cnut the Great. Her name became Álfífa in Old Norse. * Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury, wife of King Edmund I of England *

Ælfgifu of York Ælfgifu of York (fl. c. 970 – 1002) was the first wife of Æthelred the Unready, King of the English; as such, she was Queen of the English from their marriage in the 980s until her death in 1002. They had many children together, includin ...

, first wife of

Æthelred the Unready Æthelred II ( ang, Æþelræd, ;Different spellings of this king’s name most commonly found in modern texts are "Ethelred" and "Æthelred" (or "Aethelred"), the latter being closer to the original Old English form . Compare the modern diale ...

* Ælfgifu, wife of Eadwig, king of England ** as ''Elgiva'', the female protagonist of ''Edwy and Elgiva'', a 1790 verse tragedy by

Frances Burney Frances Burney (13 June 1752 – 6 January 1840), also known as Fanny Burney and later Madame d'Arblay, was an English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright. In 1786–1790 she held the post as "Keeper of the Robes" to Charlotte of Mecklen ...

adopted the name Ælfgifu upon her marriage to Æthelred the Unready * Ælfgifu, wife of

Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia Ælfgar (died ) was the son of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, by his famous mother Godgifu (Lady Godiva). He succeeded to his father's title and responsibilities on the latter's death in 1057. He gained the additional title of Earl of East Anglia, but a ...

* Ælfgifu, daughter of

Godwin, Earl of Wessex Godwin of Wessex ( ang, Godwine; – 15 April 1053) was an English nobleman who became one of the most powerful earls in Kingdom of England, England under the Denmark, Danish king Cnut the Great (King of England from 1016 to 1035) and his succ ...

, and sister of King Harold II of England * Ælfgifu, daughter of

and wife of Uhtred, Earl of Northumbria * Ælfgyva, a woman of unknown identity in the Bayeux Tapestry ''Elgiva'' may also refer to: * ''Elgiva'' (fly), a genus of insects

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aelfgifu Old English personal names