Ætt

An ætt (plural ættir) is one of the three groups of eight runes that make up the Elder Futhark. The Old Norse word means “family” or “lineage.” In the modern divinatory tradition, each ætt is placed under the patronage of a deity: the first under Freyr, the second under Heimdall, the third under Týr, based on the names of their first runes or on later associations. This arrangement serves to structure the learning and interpretation of the runes more than it reflects any attested ancient use.