The transformation of Roman Britain

[Robert Vermaat]

However, we have several in a row here, and not on the continent but in Britain: Cerdic (Caratacus, Caradoc, Ceredig), his successor Cynric (Cunorix) and his sucessor Ceawlin (Coline).

I think this goes too far. We don't know if Cynric is a germanised form of Cunorix or Ceawlin a germanicised form of Coline. We may not have several in a row. Coates suggests them only as possibilities.
Cynric, could be wholly germanic --"Cyn" kin, + "ric" ruler (cf. Eormenric, aelfric, etc). Coates states that this is entirely possible. Regarding Ceawlin, even though he cannot find a germanic etymology for the name, he still states that the hypothesis that it is germanicised. Coline must be used with the most extreme caution. It's still a long way off being the case for sure.

Hi Harry.
Why does that go too far? If each of these men had lived in a Germanic context outside of a Celtic-speaking area I would agree with you, but these men live in Britain, amongst a Brythonic speaking population. So why does keeping open the possibility go too far? Would you agree that if these names had occurred in a Welsh or Irish pedigree, none would have any doubts that they were not Germanic? But we have been used to treating them as Anglo-Saxons that it is very hard to even contemplate that they were British, and only later incorporated into an Anglo-Saxon dynasty? This is what Dr. David Dumville assumes what happened.

Indeed, Richard Coates urges for caution, and rightly so. But he keeps open the possibility.