Robin Hood is called by that name likely because it was a common, generic moniker for criminals or thieves in medieval England, stemming from the similarity between "Robin" and "robbing," combined with "hood" (a reference to the head-covering worn by outlaws or a variant of "wood"). The name was used in records as early as the 13th century to describe various outlaws.
Robin (or Robert) Hood (aka Hod or Hude) was a nickname given to petty criminals from at least the middle of the 13th century – it may be no coincidence that Robin sounds like 'robbing' - but no contemporary writer refers to Robin Hood the famous outlaw we recognise today.
What does the “hood” in Robin Hood mean? The Robin of legend was a noble turned outlaw who wore a wore a covering for the head ( a hod or 'hood') to disguise his true identity. But the iconic hood was more than just a disguise; it was also an important identifier, both of Robin and the area his legends originated.
Robin Hood: The Truth Behind The Legend | Fact Or Fiction | Timeline
Did Robin of Loxley exist?
However, there is no direct evidence to connect Robert of Loxley or Robert Fitz Odo with the name Robin Hood and we don't really know why he lost his knighthood or why he lost his inheritance (if, indeed, this did happen). There is no record to show that he was ever an outlaw in the late C12th.
Robin Hood is a popular character in English folklore. For centuries, western culture has been captivated by the tales of Robin Hood. From William Shakespeare to Walt Disney, those who have shaped culture and entertainment have told the tale of the heroic outlaw who “stole from the rich and gave to the needy.”
There are records of lawbreakers in the Middle Ages with the same name. Historians delving deeper into the Middle Ages have uncovered more than one man called Robin Hood, concluding that Robin Hood was instead an alias, used by different outlaws over an extended period of more than 100 years.
Beloved by the people of Nottingham, Robin's legacy has only grown over the centuries. As one of popular culture's most adored folk heroes, his adventures have been retold in every form – from medieval ballads through to Hollywood blockbusters.
The Robinhood app makes it difficult to manage a diversified portfolio. Most reviewers suggest that tracking more than three or four positions isn't practical with Robinhood, which leads to overweighing your portfolio with one or two equities—never a good practice.
In history, the name Loxley has been mentioned in various contexts, notably as the birthplace of the renowned folk hero Robin Hood. Loxley was traditionally depicted as the village where Robin Hood resided and where his legendary adventures in Sherwood Forest began.
Friar Tuck was likely inspired by a real 15th-century outlaw named Robert Stafford, a chaplain from Sussex who used the alias "Frere Tuk," but the jolly, food-loving character of legend is a fictional addition, appearing in stories decades after Stafford's time, with his exploits becoming merged into the growing Robin Hood mythology.
Sherwood Forest formerly occupied almost all of western Nottinghamshire and extended into Derbyshire. Today a reduced area of woodland, mostly pine plantations, remains between Nottingham and Worksop.
Famous Robin Hood lines center on robbing the rich to feed the poor, fighting injustice, and heroic defiance, like "Rob? Tsk tsk tsk. That's a naughty word. We never rob. We just sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it," and rallying cries such as, "I'll organize revolt, exact a death for a death, and I'll never rest until every Saxon in this shire can stand up free men and strike a blow for Richard and England," with newer versions adding humor or a darker tone, such as "Rise and rise again until lambs become lions".
Robin Hood is a legendary figure whose mythical stories have captivated historians and writers for centuries. However, research suggests that William of Kensham, a forgotten hero from an area near Sandhurst in Kent, could have been the real-life inspiration behind the legend.
In an Elizabethan play, Anthony Munday identified Maid Marian with the historical Matilda, daughter of Robert Fitzwalter, who had to flee England because of an attempt to assassinate King John (legendarily attributed to King John's attempts to seduce Matilda).
The real King Arthur may have been a leader of the Britons who fought against the Anglo-Saxons and managed to stop them for a while. The Britons were a Celtic people, like many of the Irish, Scots and Welsh today.
