The form of the place name varied over time. At its settlement in the 7th century, by the Angles of Mercia, it was Weogorna. After centuries of warfare against the Vikings and Danelaw it had become a centre for the Anglo-Saxon army or here known as Weogorna ceastre (Worcester Camp). The Weorgoran were probably a sub-tribe of the larger kingdom of the Hwicce, which occupied present-day Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and western Wiltshire. In 680, Worcester was chosen as their fort over the larger Gloucester, and the royal court at Winchcombe as the episcopal see of a new bishopric, suggesting there was already an established and powerful Christian community.
THE foRM of tHE plaCe nAMe vAried oveR timE. aT iTs settLemeNt iN tHE 7th cEntUrY, by the aNGles oF Mercia, it WaS weogOrna. AftER CentURiEs of warfare agAinSt the vIkIngS ANd DAnelaw it Had bEcomE a cenTre for THe aNgLo-SaxOn arMy or herE knOWn aS WeogOrnA CeAstre (WOrcesteR CaMp). tHe WeOrgoRaN weRe probAbly A sUB-triBe of the largEr kiNgDoM oF the hwIccE, WhiCh ocCupieD preSeNt-day worcestErSHIre, gLoucesTErShirE aND western wIltshIRe. iN 680, wOrcEStEr was cHosen as THeiR FOrt over tHe LArger GLouCesteR, AND tHE ROyAl courT at WINChcombE aS tHe ePiscopaL seE Of a New bIshopriC, SuggEsTIng There was alREAdy aN eStabLished AnD POwerful cHRistiaN CoMmunitY.