The Danes are a North Germanic tribe (East of Rhine) residing in modern day southern Sweden and on the Danish islands (and later Jutland).

They are mentioned in the 6th century in Jordanes' Getica, by Procopius, and by Gregory of Tours.In his description of Scandza, Jordanes says that the Dani were of the same stock as the Suetidi (Swedes, Suithiod?)

and expelled the Heruli and took their lands.

According to the 12th-century author Sven Aggesen, the mythical king Dan gave name to the Danes.The Old English poems Widsith and Beowulf, as well as works by later Scandinavian writers — notably by Saxo Grammaticus (c. 1200) — provide some of the references to Danes.