<P> Henry Sweet , a philologist and early linguist specializing in Germanic languages , proposed that the name Bēowulf literally means in Old English `` bee - wolf '' or `` bee - hunter '' and that it is a kenning for `` bear '' . This etymology is mirrored in recorded instances of similar names . Biuuuwulf is recorded as a name in the AD 1031 Liber Vitae . The name is attested to a monk from Durham and literally means bee wolf in Northumbrian . The 11th century English Domesday Book contains a recorded instance of the name Beulf . A scholar named Sarrazin also suggested that the name Beowulf was derived from a mistranslation of Böðvarr where - varr was interpreted as vargr meaning `` wolf '' . However , this etymology was questioned by Sophus Bugge , who instead suggested that the personage Böðvarr Bjarki was derived from Beowulf . </P>
<P> Henry Sweet , a philologist and early linguist specializing in Germanic languages , proposed that the name Bēowulf literally means in Old English `` bee - wolf '' or `` bee - hunter '' and that it is a kenning for `` bear '' . This etymology is mirrored in recorded instances of similar names . Biuuuwulf is recorded as a name in the AD 1031 Liber Vitae . The name is attested to a monk from Durham and literally means bee wolf in Northumbrian . The 11th century English Domesday Book contains a recorded instance of the name Beulf . A scholar named Sarrazin also suggested that the name Beowulf was derived from a mistranslation of Böðvarr where - varr was interpreted as vargr meaning `` wolf '' . However , this etymology was questioned by Sophus Bugge , who instead suggested that the personage Böðvarr Bjarki was derived from Beowulf . </P>
what is the meaning of the word beowulf
what is the meaning of the word beowulf
`` bee - wolf '' or `` bee - hunter ''
`` bee - wolf '' or `` bee - hunter ''