- Lundenwic refers to the trading town that existed during the 7th to 9th centuries in what is now the Covent Garden area.
- Lundenburh (literally "London fort") was used in reference to the fortified Roman city when it was reoccupied in the 9th century, especially during Alfred the Great’s reign.
By the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, the name had largely settled into the form London, recognizable in modern English.
Myths and Legends: King Lud
One of the most enduring myths about the name "London" comes from medieval legends, especially as recorded in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s "Historia Regum Britanniae" (The History of the Kings of Britain), written in the 12th century. According to this tale, King Lud, a legendary British king, supposedly rebuilt the city and named it Caer Lud (Lud's Fortress), which eventually evolved into "London".
This tale, while colorful and part of British folklore, is not considered historically accurate by scholars. It reflects medieval efforts to construct a noble and legendary past for the British Isles, much like the tales of King Arthur. Nevertheless, stories like that of King Lud were influential in shaping how later generations imagined the origin of the city’s name. shutdown123