The form of the name used by Bede, 'in regione Sudergeona' (_Hist. Eccles._, iv. 6), may suggest a derivation quite different from any yet suggested.
Surrey was originally an integral part of Kent, and when it was severed from that county it became apparently an independent district, a sort of republic under its own alderman. In later times it became subject to the neighbouring kingdoms. At the date of this charter it was under Mercia. It was never reckoned as a separate member of the heptarchy.
London fought an uphill fight with Winchester for the position of chief city of Southern England. Under Egbert London grew in importance, but Winchester, the chief town of Wessex, was still the more important place politically. In the trade regulations enacted by Edgar in the tenth century London took precedence of Winchester: 'Let one measure and one weight pass such as is observed at London and at Winchester.' In the reign of Edward the Confessor London had become the recognised capital of England.
Some dispute has arisen respecting the position of the lithsmen, who appear at the election in Oxford of Cnut's successor, and subsequently. Freeman (_Norman Conquest_, vol. i. p. 538) describes them as 'seafaring' men of London, while Gross (_The Gild Merchant_, vol. i. p. 186) writes: 'The lithsmen (shipowners) of London, who, with others, raised Harold to the throne, were doubtless such "burg-thegns."'
Another important point to be noted is the prominent political position of the bishop. As early as A.D. 900 'the bishop and the reeves who belong to London' are recorded as making in the name of the citizens laws which were confirmed by the King, because they had reference to the whole kingdom. Edward the Confessor greeted William Bishop, Harold Earl, and Esgar Staller. So that William the Conqueror followed precedent when he addressed his charter to Bishop and Portreeve.
Foreigners in early times occupied an important position in London, but there were serious complaints when Edward the Confessor enlarged the numbers of the Normans. The Englishman always had a hatred of the foreigner, and this dislike grew as time went on, and the English tried to obtain the first place and succeeded in the attempt.