Page:Origin of the Anglo-Saxon Race.djvu/302

288 Suevi, a tribe of, or closely connected with, the Saxons. The significant old place-name Wynter-worda occurs in the early records of Ely, and may possibly be a survival of a Norrena or Northern Gothic name for a worth that was the home of a man named Winthr—i.e., a Wend.

Among the Domesday places mentioned in Suffolk are Wellingaham, Humbresfelda, Scadena, Scadenafella, and Elga. The name Wellingaham denotes the home of a community known as Wellings, and the only known people of this name are the Weletabi or Wilte. Humbresfelda apparently refers to settlers of the tribal Ambrones or Old Saxons from the country along the ancient Ambra or Ems. The Scadena name may point to Scandians, and Elga probably to a clan or ga different from those near it. Most of these names so closely resemble tribal names that it is very difficult to see what their origin could have been other than tribal. The English race in all parts of the country appears to have resulted from the blending of people of the same nations or tribes, but in varying proportions. In the eastern counties the later Danes formed a large proportion, and the racial characters of the English of Norfolk and Suffolk must have been modified greatly by the later Danish admixture. In the old record known as the ‘Liber de Hyda’ we find what is apparently a reference to this. The writer says that Offa first reigned in East Anglia, the people of which ‘were called Offingas, but now they are called Fykeys.’ A fusion of race had apparently occurred.

As regards old customs of inheritance in the eastern counties, that which prevailed in Ipswich was the partible custom between all the children, male and female. The old book called ‘The Domus Day of Gippeswich’ says: ‘Alle tenementz in the foreseid toun ben partable as weel betwixen heires male, as betwixen heyres female,