In the Proto-Germanic language, the Ingwaz rune represented the sound “ŋ”. This consistency suggests that the symbolic meaning of Ingwaz was both well understood, and respected by the ancient Germanic peoples. There was likley minor variations depending on the material it was inscribed on or the personal style of the scribe. Historically, the design of the Ingwaz rune has remained relatively consistent. The rune’s design is straightforward, making it easy to draw, but its simplicity belies the depth of its meaning. This simple yet powerful design is believed to symbolize a seed or an egg, a potent symbol of potential and new beginnings. The Ingwaz rune is recognized in two different shapes, either as two X’s on top of each other, or as a simple diamond shape, basically the core of the two X’s. These tribes, as you may know, later migrated to the British Isles, carrying with them their language, culture, and the worship of Ing. Freyr, also known as Yngvi or Ing, was considered the progenitor of the Ingaevones, a Germanic group that included the tribes of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. It is believed to have been another name for the god Freyr (Ing), and is associated with fertility and prosperity. The name Ingwaz is derived from the Proto-Germanic *Ingwaz.

The Ingwaz rune, also known as Ing, is the 22nd rune in this system, nestled between Laguz and Dagaz. Its inscriptions date back to the 2nd to 8th centuries, with some even suggesting an origin as early as the 1st century AD. It was used by the Germanic tribes for the northwestern and Migration period dialects. The Elder Futhark, is the oldest form of the runic alphabets. Ingwaz in the Younger Futhark – The Lost Fertility.

Elder futhark rune meanings