The first mention of Hastings is found in the late 8th century in the form
Hastingas. This is derived from the
Old English tribal name
Hæstingas,
meaning `the constituency/followers of Hæsta'. Symeon of Durham records the
victory of Offa in 771 over the
Hestingorum
gens, that is, "the people of the Hastings tribe.",
Hastingleigh in Kent was named after that tribe. The place name
Hæstingaceaster is found in the
