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Which Germanic peoples brought the earliest forms of English to Britain?

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Global use of the English language — English language Map showing the use of English as a first language, as an important second language, and as an official language in countries around the world.

The earliest forms of the English language were brought to Britain in the 5th century CE by three Germanic peoples: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes.12

While historical tradition, notably recorded by St. Bede the Venerable, identifies these three groups as the primary migrants from northern Germany, archaeological evidence indicates a more complex migration pattern. This process included settlers from Frisia and other Germanic areas of mainland Europe, with some arrivals predating the Roman withdrawal from Britain around 410 CE.345

These groups established various kingdoms across the region, such as Wessex, Mercia, and Kent, where they spoke distinctive dialects that eventually evolved into Old English. Over time, these dialects merged and were further influenced by later Viking and Norman arrivals to form the basis of the modern English language.32