The earliest mention of the Wrekin (pronounced locally as REE-KIN) occurs in a charter of 855, as entered in a late 11th century Worcester cartulary, spelled Wreocensetun. Its modern form is believed to have come into modern English by way of Mercian, and that is likely to have been taken from the early Celtic Wrikon-. The minor Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the Wreocensæte existed in the area prior to Mercian reign. For several centuries the hill was known as Mount Gilbert, a name given to it by the Normans after a hermit who lived there.