Geats
/ɡiːts/noun
A North Germanic people of southern Sweden, known from early medieval history and Old English literature.
Did you know?The Geats are the people of Beowulf, and their Old English name preserves a real historical group whose homeland in southern Sweden was remembered long after their political power faded.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*Gautōz
“A tribal name likely meaning "the Geats/Gauts," the people associated with southern Scandinavia.”
Old Norse
ON
Gautar
“The Geats or Gauts, a people of southern Sweden.”
Old English
OE
Gēatas
“The Geats, the people ruled by Beowulf in heroic tradition.”
Latin
Latin
Gauti
“A Latinized form used by writers referring to the Geats.”
Modern English
English
Geats
“The historical people of southern Sweden known from early medieval sources.”