Ælfric Modercope

Ælfric Modercope (Old English: Ælfrīc Mōdercoppe; Old Norse: *Alfrīkr Mōðirkoppr), sometimes known as Alfric de Modercope in modern English, was an Anglo-Norse thegn from East Anglia.

While Ælfric is an Old English name, his nickname Modercope or Modercoppe is Norse.^{[citation needed]} This would exemplify the time when there was a strong Anglo-Danish movement and three successive Danish kings had held the throne until Edward the Confessor succeeded in 1042. Ælfric had a strong connection at court, but his role and status are unusual. There is a theory that Ælfric was the dapifer (steward or seneschal) to Queen Emma of Normandy (d. 1052), wife of King Cnut and prior to that, second wife of Æthelred the Unready (d. 1016). This would potentially explain his position.

Ælfric is credited as the first person to record the name of 'Lodne' or Loddon, a small town in South Norfolk. This he did in his will.

References

• Ælfric Modercope

Further reading

Primary sources

• Anglo-Saxon charters:
  • S 1490 (probably AD 1042 x 1043), will of Ælfric Modercope.
  • S 1081 (1050s), writ of King Edward.
  • S 1082 (1050s), writ of King Edward.

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Name	Aelfric Modercope
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