Brewer's: England

Verstegan quaintly says that Egbert was “chiefly moved” to call his kingdom England “in respect of Pope Gregory's changing the name of Engelisce into Angellyke. ” And this “may have moved our kings upon their best gold coins to set the image of an angel.” (Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities concerning ... the English Nation, p. 147.)

The Angles migrated from the east of the Elbe to Schleswig (between the Jutes and the Saxons). They passed over in great numbers to Britain during the 5th century, and in time established the kingdoms of the heptarchy.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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