: an Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman especially : the heir apparent or a prince of the royal family.

Why were all the Saxons called Ethel?

The term is an Old English and Old Saxon compound of aethele, æþele or (a)ethel, meaning "noble family", and -ing, which means "belonging to".

What does Athel mean in Saxon?

Ethel (also æthel) is an Old English word meaning "noble". It is frequently attested as the first element in Anglo-Saxon names, both masculine and feminine, e.g. Æthelhard, Æthelred, Æthelwulf; Æthelburg, Æthelflæd, Æthelthryth (Audrey).