 Bede 's name reflects West Saxon <unk> ( Northumbrian <unk> , Anglian Bēda ) . It is an Anglo @-@ Saxon short name formed on the root of <unk> " to bid , command " . The name also occurs in the Anglo @-@ Saxon Chronicle , <unk> 501 , as <unk> , one of the sons of the Saxon founder of Portsmouth . The Liber Vitae of Durham Cathedral names two priests with this name , one of whom is presumably Bede himself . Some manuscripts of the Life of Cuthbert , one of Bede 's works , mention that Cuthbert 's own priest was named Bede ; it is possible that this priest is the other name listed in the Liber Vitae . 
