The Visigoths were never called Visigoths, only Goths, until Cassiodorus used the term, when referring to their loss against Clovis I in 507. Cassiodorus apparently invented the term based on the model of the "Ostrogoths", but using the older name of the Vesi, one of the tribal names which the fifth-century poet Sidonius Apollinaris, had already used when referring to the Visigoths. The first part of the Ostrogoth name is related to the word "east", and Jordanes, the medieval writer, later clearly contrasted them in his Getica, stating that "Visigoths were the Goths of the western country." According to Wolfram, Cassiodorus created this east–west understanding of the Goths, which was a simplification and literary device, while political realities were more complex. Cassiodorus used the term "Goths" to refer to only the Ostrogoths, whom he served, and reserved the geographic reference "Visigoths" for the Gallo-Spanish Goths. The term "Visigoths" was later used by the Visigoths themselves in their communications with the Byzantine Empire, and was still in use in the 7th century. thumb|upright=1.35|Europe in 305 AD Two older tribal names from outside the Roman empire are associated with Visigoths who formed within the empire. The first references to any Gothic tribes by Roman and Greek authors were in the third century, notably including the Thervingi, who were once referred to as Goths by Ammianus Marcellinus. Much less is known of the "Vesi" or "Visi", from whom the term "Visigoth" was derived. Before Sidonius Apollinaris, the Vesi were first mentioned in the , a late-4th- or early-5th-century list of Roman military forces. This list also contains the last mention of the "Thervingi" in a classical source.
the visigoths were never called visigoths only goths until cassiodorus used the term when referring to their loss against clovis i in 507 cassiodorus apparently invented the term based on the model of the "ostrogoths" but using the older name of the vesi one of the tribal names which the fifth-century poet sidonius apollinaris had already used when referring to the visigoths the first part of the ostrogoth name is related to the word "east" and jordanes the medieval writer later clearly contrasted them in his getica stating that "visigoths were the goths of the western country" according to wolfram cassiodorus created this east–west understanding of the goths which was a simplification and literary device while political realities were more complex cassiodorus used the term "goths" to refer to only the ostrogoths whom he served and reserved the geographic reference "visigoths" for the gallo-spanish goths the term "visigoths" was later used by the visigoths themselves in their communications with the byzantine empire and was still in use in the 7th century thumb|upright=135|europe in 305 ad two older tribal names from outside the roman empire are associated with visigoths who formed within the empire the first references to any gothic tribes by roman and greek authors were in the third century notably including the thervingi who were once referred to as goths by ammianus marcellinus much less is known of the "vesi" or "visi" from whom the term "visigoth" was derived before sidonius apollinaris the vesi were first mentioned in the  a late-4th- or early-5th-century list of roman military forces this list also contains the last mention of the "thervingi" in a classical source