Most ancient peoples refered to the Germans with one name; "Germani", this name was originally used by only one Germanic tribe, in ancient times this tribe had crossed the Rhine and invaded northern Gaul, they gained so many victories that the Gauls were terrified of them and the word "Germani" soon became a name of prestige that was adopted by the other Germanic tribes.
Eventually the tribe who called themselves "Germani" changed their name to "Tungrians", but their former name didn't die out; many Germanic tribes started to use the word to refer to their people as a whole, just like the Celtic tribes of the Arvernians, Aquitanians, and Redonians called themselves "Gauls".
There are many theories about the meaning of the word "Germani", according to the Greek writer Strabo the Germans may have been the ancestors of the Celts (because of their physical and cultural similarities) and thus the word meant "original", because he considered the Germans to be the original and pure version of the Celts, though this theory is way too hypothetical and is therefor not supported by most historians.
Another theory says that the word "Germani" is of Celtic origin and that it means "eastern neighbours", but this can not be proven either.
The third and most credible theory is that the word was Germanic in origin and that the Germans applied it to themselves instead of being given that name, the word that is used in the Dutch and German language to refer to the Germans (not the modern ones of course) is "Germanen", so the Proto-Germanic word may have been "Gaizamannoz" (later words: "Garmannan" > "Germannen" > "Germanen"), which means "Spear-Men" (Proto-Germanic; gaizaz, Gothic; gaizis, Anglo-Saxon; gar, Old Norse; geirr).
Other words that the Germans used to refer to their people were "Fulkam" (folk) and "Şeudo" (people, tribe), from the last word "Dutch" ("from the Netherlands") and "Deutsch" ("from Germany") are derived, the modern German word for Germany is still "Deutschland" and has been derived from "Teutschland", a word that originates from Proto-Germanic "Şeudolandam", which may have originally been used to refer to all of the Germanic lands instead of only modern Germany.
According to ancient Germanic legends (described in among others Tacitus work and the Edda's) the tribes originated from three tribal groups that were the descendants of the gods; the Ingaevones, the Herminones, and the Istaevones, both the western Germans and the northern Germans had this legends and the eastern Germans are also believed to have known that legends.
When the population of a tribe grew too large the most adventurous of them all often decided to move somewhere else; this created new groups (tribes) of people that moved away from the mother group and settled in other areas.
Another reason for forming a new tribe was internal unrest; the Batavians for instance were once members of the Chattians but had to move away after internal quarrels, a tribe could also be formed by allied tribes that decided to join up; this created big and powerful tribes like the Franconians and the Saxons whom I shall refer to as "coalition tribes" on this page.
Tribes could also split up, the Goths for instance were originally a single tribe in a single area but later migrations scattered them over Europe where they lived in multiple communities of which the biggest ones were the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, the same goes for the Cimbrians who were separated when a large group of Cimbrians invaded the Roman empire while the rest stayed at home; this created two groups of the same tribe.
This list is not in any chronological order, some of the tribes on this list are younger and have originated from other tribes, some tribes are later coalitions of other tribes on the list.
Remember that this list is not complete. tribe name = alternative name of the tribe. tribe name = coalition tribe.
tribe name = the coalition to which the tribe belongs.
tribe name = the tribe from which the subject tribe originates.
tribe name = the tribe into which the subject tribe has later been absorbed.
Northern Germanic tribes:
Danes: coalition tribe that was formed out of several older tribes in Denmark.
Goths: the Germanic names of this tribe were Gothar, Gutans, Gutos, or Gauthar (Depending on the dialect).
The Goths were an ancient and powerful tribe in southern Sweden who are believed to have been the ancestors of the eastern Germanic Goths, because of their large migrations into mainland Europe their power in Scandinavia soon faded and they were eventually absorbed into the Swedes, the Swedish island of Gotland is named after them as well as the city of Göteborg, although the Goths are believed to have had their origin in southern Sweden some scholars disagree on that and believe that the Goths may originate from the Vistula area. (Swedes)
Hellusians: according to Tacitus there were legends that told that the Hellusians and the Oxionians had the faces and features of humans but the bodies of animals, many modern scholars believe that the Hellusians and Oxiones lived in Scandinavia and it may be possible that the legends about "man-beasts" were based on people wearing animal hides, like berserkers.
Norwegians: lived in southern Norway.
Oxionians: see Hellusians.
Swedes: the Germanic name of this tribe was Sviar or Svear (Proto-Germanic *Sweşingoz = "people from a windy land"?), they lived in southern Sweden north of the Goths.
Varangians: (Rus) the Germanic name of this tribe was Waragen, Väringers, Vaeringers, Varjegen (depending on the dialect).
The Varangians were formed out of Scandinavians and migrated into Russia and the Ukraine where they founded an empire, they were later absorbed into the local Slavs.
Western Germanic tribes:
Aeduians: the Aeduians are often considered to be a Celtic tribe but they were actually the result of a fusion between Celts and invading Germans, they were probably later absorbed into the Franconians. (Franconians?)
Alemannians: (Alamannians) the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Alumannoz ("Ale-men"), they were a coalition tribe that belonged to the Suebians and during the Great Migrations they settled in Switzerland, the Alsace, and the area around the river Main. (Suebians)
Ambronians: this tribe joined the Cimbrians and Teutons in their invasion of Gaul in 120BC, in 102BC they were destroyed by the Romans at Aquae Sextiae.
Amsivarians: (Amphivarians) Franconian tribe that lived in what is now the Dutch province of Drenthe.(Franconians)
Anglians: (Angles) tribe that inhabited Sleswig-Holstein in 100AD, in the 5th century AD a big part of this tribe migrated to Great-Britain, the part that stayed behind were absorbed into the Danes. (Anglo-Saxons/Danes)
Anglo-Saxons: this coalition tribe was formed out of Anglians, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians, and many other western Germanic tribes from the coasts of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.
In 449AD they invaded England and founded several small kingdoms that were united into the kingdom of Anglia in 829AD. (Anglians/Saxons/Jutes/Frisians)
Angrivarians: lived in Germany to the south of the modern city of Bremen.
Atrebatians: Celtic tribe in Gaul that is believed to have partially been of Germanic origin.
Atuatucians: lived in southwestern Belgium and were descendants of 6000 Cimbrians and Teutons who had stayed behind in that area during their invasion of Gaul, the tribe grew rapidly but during the Gallic wars they were utterly defeated by the Romans and retreated into a fortress on a rock near the river Maas (Meuse) near the modern city of Hoei (French: Huy), eventually the stronghold fell to the Romans and 53.000 men, women, and children were sold as slaves to far foreign markets, the tribe ceased to exist. (Cimbrians/Teutons) (Franconians?)
Avionians: Saxon tribe that lived at the westcoast of Sleswig-Holstein (Saxons)
Batavians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Badwawihon ("the Battle-hallowed"), after internal quarrels in the tribe of the Chattians the troublemakers had to leave and formed two new tribes; the Batavians and the Cananefatians.
The Batavians were called "The most conspicuously brave of all the Germanic tribes in Gaul" by Tacitus and they lived at the northernmost tip of Gaul between the rivers Rhine and Waal in the Betuwe (which has been named after them) and the area around the Dutch city of Nijmegen (which was their capital Oppidum Batavorum), they were later absorbed into the Salian Franconians. (Chattians) (Salians)
Batinians: lived along the Neisse river near the German city of Görlitz.
Bavarians: (Bajuvarians) the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Baiwarjoz ("Were-in-Bohemia"), they lived in Bohemia for a long time and migrated to Bavaria in the 6th century AD, the Bavarians originate from the Marcomannians though it may even be possible that the Bavarians were the Marcomannians who have later changed their name.
The modern German province (bundesland) of Bavaria/Bayern is named after them. (Marcomannians)
Belgians: (Belgae) the Belgians (not to be confused with the modern inhabitants of Belgium who are only partially related to them) were probably a fusion between Celts and invading Germans, they inhabited what is now southern Belgium and northern France and were eventually absorbed into the Franconians. (Franconians)
Bructerians: lived between the Dutch province of Overijssel and the German Emsland, Tacitus mentions that they have once been defeated by a coalition of other Germanic tribes who had even invited the Romans to come and watch the battle, in the following fight 60.000 men lost their lives.
In the 3rd century AD they migrated towards the south and joined the Franconians. (Franconians)
Caluconians: lived along the river Oder near the German cities of Halle en Leipzig.
Cananefatians: descended from the Chattians of whom they had to move away after an internal conflict, they lived in the modern Dutch province of Zuid-Holland north of Rotterdam, they later expanded their territory towards the north to Kennemerland.
In 69AD they joined the Batavian rebellion and later they were absorbed into the Salian Franconians, a small northern group into the Frisians. (Chattians) (Salians/Frisians)
Chamavians: Franconian tribe that lived between the Dutch river Vecht (province of Overijssel) and the German river Ems, the Medieval gau of Hamaland near the river IJssel was named after them. (Franconians)
Chasuarians: the Germanic name of this Franconian tribe may have been *Hasnawarijoz ("Shining protectors"), they lived in northwest Germany south of the Chaukians. (Franconians)
Chattians: (Hattians) the Germanic name of this Franconian tribe may have been *Haşjon ("Battlers"), they lived between the modern German cities of Kassel and Würzburg and supported the rebellion of Arminius and also the Batavian rebellion, in the 3rd century AD they were pushed to the north by the Alemannians. (Franconians)
Chattuarians: lived in the modern German Ruhrgebiet, they later probably migrated to the Dutch Veluwe area, in the 4th century AD they were absorbed into the Franconians. (Franconians)
Chaukians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Haukoz ("Hawks"), the runic inscriptions "Haukoşuz" (Vånga) and "Hakuşo" (Noleby) may possibly refer to them.
The Chaukians lived between the mouths of the German rivers Ems and Elbe and in the 3rd century AD they were absorbed into either the Saxons or the Franconians. (Saxons?/Franconians?)
Cheruskians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Haruskoz (Sword People), cognate with Gothic "hairus" (sword).
They lived between the German rivers Weser and Elbe and they rebelled against Roman rule and defeated three Roman legions in 9AD at the Teutoburger Wald.
Cimbrians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Kimbroz (?), they lived in Sleswig-Holstein and Jutland and in 120BC they invaded Gaul with the Teutons, they were eventually defeated at Vercellae and the remnants that had stayed behind were probably absorbed into the Danes. (Atuatucians/Danes?)
Condrusi: according to Julius Caesar the Condrusi were a Germanic tribe that lived in Gaul in what is now the French Ardennes
Cugernians: (Cubernians) descendants of the Sugambrians who lived southwest of the modern German city of Xanten. (Sugambrians)
Dulgubnians: lived north of the German city of Wolfsburg.
Eburonians: lived between the rivers Meuse and Rhine, in 54BC they rebelled against the Romans under their king Ambiorix and from 53 to 51BC they were nearly wiped out by the Romans, the few survivors were probably absorbed into various local tribes.
Eudosians: lived somewhere in northwestern germany.
Franconians: (Franks) the Germanic name of this tribe may have been Frankoz ("Free-men" or "Spear-men"), this coalition tribe can be divided into the Salian Franconians, who lived along the river IJssel, and the Ripuarian Franconians, who lived along the Rhine near the German city of Cologne (Köln).
The Franconians were a powerful coalition of tribes that was formed around 250AD. (Salians/Ripuarians)
Frisians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Freisias ("sons of Freya" or "Loved ones"), they lived along the Northsea coast in the Dutch province of Frisia, parts of the provinces Groningen, and Noordholland (Westfriesland), Ostfriesland in Germany, and parts of the west coast of Sleswig Holstein in Germany and Denmark.
The mythical ancestor of the Frisians was Friso who came from Troy according to some sources but that last part is probably a later invention, during the Great Migrations Anglians and Saxons have settled among the Frisians which caused the Frisians to undergo influences from those tribes, a part of the Frisians have migrated to England where they merged with the Anglo-Saxons.
The Frisians have later fought bitterly against their forced Christianization which eventually succeeded under Charlemagne. (Anglo-Saxons)
Fosians: (Fosii) the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Fasoz ("Searchers"), the Fosians lived south of the modern German city of Hannover.
Gambrivians: (Gambrians) western Germanic tribe about which little is known.
Guionians: this tribe is mentioned by the Greek writer Pytheas of Massalia, in 325BC they lived in the coastal areas of Frisia near the modern Dutch island of Ameland, they may have been a part of the Frisians. (Frisians)
Hadubardians: lived in Jutland and were absorbed into the Danes. (Danes)
Harudians: lived along the coast of Jutland, they later migrated to the south.
Hermundurians: lived in modern Germany between the Harz and the source of the Elbe, they were allied with the Marcomannians and Rome and were the only Germanic tribe that the Romans completely trusted; they were even allowed to trade in the Roman provinces without escorts.
At the end of the 2nd century AD they were absorbed into the Thuringians and the Suebians. (Thuringians/Suebians)
Hessians: lived in the modern German province of Hessen, which is named after them.
Jutes: the Jutes lived in Jutland (which is named after them) and a part of them have later merged with the Anglo-Saxons, the rest with the Danes. (Anglo-Saxons/Danes)
Juthungians: not much is known about this tribe, according to some sources the Juthungi were a tribe in Czechia while others locate them in southern Germany north of the Danube or even equal them to the Jutes.
The runic inscription "Iuşingaz" (Reistad) may refer to this tribe as well.
Mattiacians: lived north of the modern German city of Mainz.
Marcomannians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Markamannoz ("Border-men"), they were a part of the Suebians and lived in Bavaria during the 1st century BC, in 9AD they were defeated by the Roman general Drusus and migrated to Bohemia and Slesia where they eventually replaced the Celtic Boii.
In the 6th century AD they migrated westwards and were replaced by the Slavonic Czechs, later they were absorbed into the Bavarians. (Suebians) (Bavarians)
Marsakians: lived in the modern Dutch province of Zeeland.
Marsians: (Marsii=Mars=Tiwaz?) this tribe descended from the Sugambrians and lived in the modern German Ruhrgebiet, they were destroyed by the Romans in 15AD. (Sugambrians)
Menapians: lived in the western part of modern Belgium and parts of France, they were probably absorbed into the Franconians. (Franconians?)
Morinians: lived in the northwest of modern Belgium near the river Yser (IJzer) and were related to the Belgae.
Nemetians: lived east of the river Rhine in northern Gaul.
Nervians: lived in what is now southern Belgium and northern France, according to Tacitus they took pride in their Germanic descend so the idea that they were Celts is incorrect.
Their capitals were Bagacum (Bavai) and Camaracum (Cambrai), they were subjected by the Romans in the 1st century BC and later they were absorbed into the Franconians. (Franconians?)
Nuitonians: (Nuithonians) lived in northwestern Germany.
Rauracians: this mixed Celtic/Germanic tribe lived at the Rhine near Switzerland.
Reudignians: Saxon tribe that lived in the area around the modern German city of Hamburg. (Saxons)
Ripuarians: Franconian coalition tribe that lived near the middle Rhine. (Franconians)
Salians: Franconian tribe that lived along the seacoast of what is now the southern part of the Netherlands (to the river IJssel), belgium, and northern France. (Franconians)
Saxons: the Saxon name of this tribe was Sahso, which is derived from Proto-Germanic *Sahsom ("Sword-men"), in the 2nd century AD they lived in Sleswig-Holstein and in the 3rd century AD they migrated to the area east of the river IJssel, they expanded their land and became one of the most powerful tribes of northern Europe; their land soon extended from the IJssel to the Elbe near Magdeburg.
A part of the Saxons migrated to England in the 5th century AD, the rest was subjected and Christianized by the Franconians from 772 to 804AD. (Anglo-Saxons)
Sedusians: lived northeast of the modern German city of Karlsruhe.
Segni: according to Julius Caesar the Segni were a Germanic tribe that lived in Gaul in what is now the French Ardennes
Semnonians: the Semnonians were one of the oldest and most powerful Suebian tribes that originally lived in the German province of Brandenburg, in 157AD they settled between the rivers Main and Danube (Donau) and together with several other Suebian tribes they formed the new tribe of the Alemannians in the 3rd century AD. (Suebians) (Alemannians)
Suarinians: Saxon tribe that lived in northwestern germany. (Saxons)
Suebians: (Suevians) the Germanic name of this powerful coalition tribe was probably something like *Swaboz (*Swebon="Floaters"?), according to Julius Caesar the Suebians were the most powerful and most warlike Germanic tribe and Tacitus mentions that they occupied more than half of western Germania.
The Suebians consisted of over 54 tribes of which most have long been forgotten, they were bound together by a common cult and eventually they moved to southwestern Germany where the province of Schwaben is named after them, another part of the Suebians migrated to Spain.
Sugambrians: (Sugamerians/Sigambrians) lived on the modern border between the Netherlands and Germany in the area around the city of Winterswijk, in the 8th century AD they were deported to the left bank of the Rhine by the Romans and later they were absorbed into the Franconians. (Franconians)
Tencterians: (Toncterians) tribe that lived near the modern German city of Bonn, they were known for their good cavalry and fought bitter wars with the Romans, in the 1st century AD they were driven out of Gaul by Julius Caesar and assimilated into the Sugambri. (Sugambri)
Teutons: the name of this tribe was derived from the word Şeudo ("people" or "tribe"), they lived near the mouth of the river Elbe and in 120BC a large group of Teutons and Cimbrians invaded Gaul, in 102BC they were destroyed at Aquae Sextiae by the Roman general Marius, the Teutons who had stayed behind were probably absorbed into the Saxons. (Atuatucians/Saxons?)
Texandrians: (Texuandrians/Taxandrians) the origins of this tribe are unknown but they were probably a mixture of Celts and Germans, they lived in the modern Dutch province of noord-Brabant but later they disappeared, they were probably absorbed into the Franconians.
Testerbant (Netherlands), Texel (Netherlands), and Tessenderlo (Belgium) have been named after them. (Franconians?)
Thuringians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Şunaringoz ("People of Thunar"), this tribe originated from the Hermundurians and lived in the modern German province of Thüringen (which was named after them).
In 600AD they were subjected by the Franconians. (Hermundurians)
Tigurinians: tribe of possible Celtic/Germanic origin that lived near Neuchatel in Switzerland.
Treverians: (Trevirians) this tribe is often seen as a Celtic tribe but according to Tacitus they took pride in their Germanic descend, the Treverians lived near the modern city of Metz in France.
Tribocians: lived in Alsace-Lorraine (Elzas-Lotharingen) around the modern city of Strasbourg (Strassburg).
Tubantians: originally lived near the German rivers Lippe and Ruhr, later they moved to the Dutch province of Twente and the German province of Westfalen, they were probably absorbed into the Saxons. (Saxons?)
Tungrians: (Germans) lived in the western Ardennes and were originally called Germans, the Belgian city of Tongeren is named after them.
They were later probably absorbed into the Franconians. (Franconians?)
Ubians: (Ubii) lived along the river Rhine to the south of the modern German city of Cologne (Köln).
Usipetians: lived on the lands around the rivers Rhine and Lippe, near the Dutch-German border.
In 55BC they tried to invade Gaul but were defeated by Julius Caesar, later they were absorbed into the Sugambri. (Sugambri)
Vangionians: lived west of the modern German city of Mannheim, the runic inscription "Wagnijo" (Illerup IV and Vimose I) may possibly refer to them.
Vargiones: lived in southern Germany between Heilbronn and Nuremberg (Nürnberg).
Varinians: (Warnawi) lived southwest of the modern German city of Rostock.
Vispians: lived in southern Germany near the Neckar river.
Warnians: (Varni) the name of this Saxon tribe is believed to have been "Warnen", they lived somewhere in northwestern Germany or the eastern part of the Netherlands, they have also briefly controlled the Dutch westcoast. (Saxons)
Eastern Germanic tribes:
Aestians: (Aestii) lived in what is now Estonia, Tacitus mentiones that this was a Germanic tribe that had the same customs as the Suebians but that they spoke like the Britons, it may be possible that this tribe spoke Germanic with a local Baltic or Finnish dialect and that the Romans have mistaken that for a Celtic language.
Bastarnians: (Peucinians) lived between the Karpatian mountains and the Black Sea near the Sarmatian border, according to Tacitus they were influenced by their Sarmatian neighbours and had taken over many of their customs.
The Bastarnians were later deported to Thracia where they were absorbed into the local population.
Burgundians: originally lived near the Elbe but later they migrated towards the Alpes, during the Great Migrations they moved northwards and settled near the rivers Main and Neckar where they founded a kingdom that was later destroyed by the Huns.
Burians: the Burians were probably a Suebian tribe that lived in Bohemia. (Suebians?)
Cognians: lived in southern Poland, west of the city of Opole (Oppeln).
Corcontians: lived somewhere in Poland, the exact location is unknown to me.
Didunians: Lugian tribe that lived in Poland, west of the river Vistula near Kielce. (Lugians)
Elysians: lived in Poland, west of the river Vistula to the south of Radom, this tribe probably belonged to the Lugians. (Lugians?)
Fennians: according to Tacitus the Fennians were savage and uncivilized people but I think he was not entirely sure what he was talking about because he only knew them from hear-say, the Fennians were a Germanic tribe that lived in the coastal areas of Finland and were probably ancestors of the modern Finns.
Gepidians: (Gepides) most historians believe that the Gepidians were native to the Vistula delta, but the work of Jordanes claims that the Gepidians originally lived in Scandinavia where they joined the Goths in their migration to Eastern Prussia.
During the crossing of the Baltic sea the ship of the Gepidians lagged behind, therefor the Goths named them Gepides, which means "Slow Ones".
In the 3rd century AD the Gepidians moved to the Karpatian mountains and in 566AD they were subjected by the Sarmatian tribe of the Avars, after 871AD they have disappeared from history and were probably absorbed into the Avars and local Slavonic tribes.
Goths: (Gothonians); the eastern Germanic Goths were descendants of the Scandinavian Goths, they had settled in Eastern Prussia from where they moved further into eastern Europe, after the destruction of their empire in the Ukraine they separated into Visigoths and Ostrogoths. (Visigoths/Ostrogoths)
Harians: the name of this Lugian tribe (Hari) has probably been derived from Harjaz ("Army"), they lived in Bohemia. (Lugians)
Helisians: Lugian tribe that lived in Bohemia. (Lugians)
Helveconians: (Helvaeonians) Lugian tribe that lived in Bohemia. (Lugians)
Herulians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Eriloz ("Heroes"), the Herulians originally lived at the Baltic sea, in 453AD they founded a state in Hungary that was destroyed by the Langobardians in 500AD, they were later absorbed into the Slavs.
Langobardians: (Longobardians/Lombards) the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Langabardoz ("Long-beards"), though according to Paulus Diaconus they were originally known as the "Vinils" until the god Wodan called them "Longbeards", they lived east of the river Elbe near the German city of Lüneburg.
The Langobardians were originally a small warmongering tribe but later they became very powerful, during the Great Migrations they moved to Hungary and Austria, after that they conquered Northern-Italy and in 774AD they were subjected by the Franconians after which they were absorbed into the Suebians. (Suebians)
Lemovians: lived at the Baltic sea coast in modern Poland.
Lugians: a coalition of tribes in Bohemia, the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Leugoz (singular: *Leugaz).
Manirnians: Lugian tribe that lived in Bohemia. (Lugians)
Marsignians: the Marsignians were probably a Suebian tribe that lived in Bohemia. (Suebians?)
Naharvalians: Lugian tribe that lived in Bohemia. (Lugians)
Naristians: (Varistians) Marcomannian tribe that lived in Czechia along the mountains of the Sudetenland near Litomerice (Leitmeritz). (Marcomannians)
Nidensians: (Nidenses) the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Nişjoz ("Angry ones"), the runic inscription "Nişijo" (Illerup II) may possibly also refer to them.
The Nidenses lived between the rivers Nida and Main.
Omannians: (Omanians) Lugian tribe that lived in Poland to the west of the Vistula river and west of the city of Radom. (Lugians)
Ostrogoths: this tribe was called Grytingar, Greutingen, or Gutani (depending on the dialect), in the 3rd century AD they settled north of the Danube and in the 4th century AD they created a big empire in the Ukraine that was destroyed by the Huns in 375AD, after that the Ostrogoths became allies of the Huns.
After the fall of the Huns the Ostrogoths settled in Pannonia from where they conquered Italy, Dalmatia, the Alpes, and southeastern Gaul.
In the 6th century AD this empire was destroyed by the Byzantines after which the Ostrogoths were absorbed into the population of northern Italy, a remnant of the Ostrogoths have survived for a long time on the Crimean peninsula in the Ukraine. (Goths)
Quadians: Suebian tribe that originally lived near the river Main in Germany, in 8BC they moved to Bohemia and from there to Moravia and northern Hungary where they settled along the Danube river near the Naristians, in the 2nd century AD they allied themselves with the Marcomannians to fight the Romans and in the 4th century they allied with the Sarmatians to fight the Huns, but were eventually defeated by them.
A part of the Quadians joined the Vandals and went with them to Spain in the 5th century AD. (Suebians) (Vandals)
Rugians: lived in Pomerania (Pommern) in modern Poland at the Baltic sea coast between the rivers Oder and Vistula, west of Gdansk (Danzig).
In the 5th century AD they migrated into lower Austria where they founded a kingdom, they were later defeated by Odoaker.
Scirians: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Skirjoz ("Shining Ones"), they originally lived in eastern Prussia and Odoaker was one of their kings.
Sidonians: lived in modern Poland, north of Wroclaw (Breslau).
Silingians: lived at upper Main and originated from the Vandals. (Vandals)
Sitonians: not much is known about this tribe except that women were the dominant sex in their culture.
Suionians: this tribe was a neighbour of the Sitonians, for the rest not much is known about them.
Turcilingians: lived in western Poland, east of the river Oder near the city of Szczecin (Stettin).
Vandals: the Germanic name of this tribe may have been *Wendiloz ("Twisters"), which referred to a type of sword (named "twister") they used, in 406AD they invaded Gaul, after that they migrated to Spain (where the province of Andalusia is named after them) and northern Africa, they also conquered Sardinia and Sicily.
In 455AD their king Genserik invaded Italy and temporarily occupied Rome, after that their power declined; in 534AD they were defeated and disappeared from history.
Venedians: lived in eastern Poland, western Belarus, and Western Ukraine near the border with the Sarmatians by whom they were influenced.
During the Great Migrations they disappeared from history, some of them may have migrated westwards where they joined with other tribes though most of them were probably absorbed into the Slavs, other theories suggest that the Venedians may have been a Slavic people.
Visigoths: this tribe was called Tyrfingr, Therwingen, or Gutani, when the Ostrogothic empire in the Ukraine was destroyed by the Huns the Visigoths decided to leave and settled on the Balkans, under their king Theodorik the Great they would found a big empire in Italy and the Alpes. (Goths)
Additional information:
The Helvetii, Volcae, Sequani, and Boii are often mistaken for Germanic tribes but were actually of Celtic origin.
The Araviscians and Osians are sometimes seen as Germanic tribes but were in fact Pannonians.
Not all tribes existed in the same time, both the older and younger tribes are included on this list.
According to ancient Germanic legends (described in among others Tacitus work and the Edda's) the tribes originated from three tribal groups that were the descendants of the gods; the Ingaevones, the Herminones, and the Istaevones, both the western Germans and the northern Germans had this legends and the eastern Germans are also believed to have known that legends.