Angle

Any member of a Germanic people who, with the Jutes and Saxons, invaded England in the 5th century AD. According to Bede, their homeland was Angulus, traditionally identified as the Angeln district in Schleswig. They abandoned this area when they invaded Britain, where they settled in the kingdoms of Mercia, Northumbria, East Anglia, and Middle Anglia. Their language was known, even then, as Englisc, and they gave their name to England.

Find more information on Angle. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Angle.