3. In doing this, it generally indicates a relationship of a _personal_ or _political_ character. Thus two _Baningas_ might be connected with each other, and (as such) indicated by the same term from any of the following causes--relationship, subordination to the same chief, origin from the same locality, &c. 4. Of these _personal_ connections, the one which is considered to be the commonest is that of _descent_ from a common ancestor, so that the termination _-ing_ in this case, is a real _patronymic_. 5. Such an ancestor need not be real; indeed, he rarely if ever is so. Like the _eponymus_ of the classical writers, he is the hypothetical, or mythological, progenitor of the clan, sept, or tribe, as the case may be; _i.e._, as Aeolus, Dorus, and Ion to the Aeolians, Dorians, and Ionians. Now, by admitting these facts without limitation, and by applying them freely and boldly to the Germanic population of England, we arrive at the following inferences. 1. That where we meet two (or more) households, families, tribes, clans, or septs of the same name (that name ending in _-ing_), in different parts of England, we may connect them with each other, either directly or indirectly; directly when we look on the second as an offset from the first; indirectly, when we derive both from some third source. 2. That when we find families, tribes, &c., of the same name, both in Britain and in Germany, we may derive the English ones from the continental. Now neither of these views is hypothetical. On the contrary each is a real fact. Thus in respect to divisions of the population, designated by names ending in _-ing_, we have 1. In Essex, Somerset, and Sussex,--_Aestingas_. 2. In Kent, Dorset, Devonshire, and Lincoln,--_Alingas_. {70} 3. In Sussex, Berks, and Northamptonshire,--_Ardingas_. 4. In Devonshire, Gloucestershire, and Sussex,--_Arlingas_. 5. In Herts, Kent, Lincolnshire, and Salop,--_Baningas_. 6. In Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight,--_Beadingas_. 7. In Kent, Devonshire, Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Salop, and Somerset,--_Beringas_. 8. In Bedford, Durham, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Salop, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight,--_Billingas_, &c.--the list being taken from Mr. Kemble, vol. i. p. 64. s. 124. On the other hand, the following Anglo-Saxon names in _-ing_, reappear in different parts of Germany, sometimes in definite geographical localities, as the occupants of particular districts, sometimes as mentioned in poems without further notice. 1. _Waelsingas_,--as the Volsungar of the Iceland, and the Waelsingen of the German heroic legends. 2. _Herelingas_,--mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon poem known by the name of the Traveller's Song, containing a long list of the Gothic tribes, families, nations, &c. 3. _Brentingas._--Ibid. 4. _Scyldingas._--Ibid. 5. _Scylfingas._--Ibid. 6. _Ardingas._ 7. _Baningas_, Traveller's Song, mentioned as the subjects of Becca.