Northman, son of Leofwine

Northman (died 1017) was a Mercian chieftain of the early 11th century. A member of a powerful Mercian kinship (clan), he is known primarily for receiving the village of Twywell in Northamptonshire from King Æthelred II in 1013, and for his death by order of King Cnut the Great in 1017. His violent end by Cnut contrasts with the successful career enjoyed by his brother Leofric, as Earl of Mercia during Cnut's reign. Northman is believed to have been an associate of the troublesome ealdorman Eadric Streona, who was killed with him.

In the account of Northman's death by order of Cnut the Great, the chronicler John of Worcester styled Northman "...son of Leofwine, Ealdorman of the Hwicce", Dux ("duke", "ealdorman" or "warlord"). He is described as a brother of Leofric comes ("count" or "ealdorman"). No other source claims that Northman was an ealdorman, and so the authenticity of this account is in doubt.

Northman was the eldest of four known sons of Ealdorman Leofwine. The others were Leofric, later Earl of Mercia, Eadwine (died 1039), and Godwine (died 1155). Ealdorman Leofwine's father was a man named Ælfwine. Ælfwine is difficult to identify, but was possibly the Ælfwine killed at the Battle of Maldon in 991, and was possibly a son of Ælfric, ealdorman of Mercia between 983 and 985.

Accurately tracing Northman within the witness-lists of charters is difficult because of the contested authenticity of many of these charters, and because there was another magnate of that name, Northman, a dux in Northumbria. A charter from Evesham Abbey, c. 989, describes a grant of land at Hampton, Worcestershire by King Æthelred II to a Northman minister (thegn); this charter is however regarded as spurious.

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