'atheling' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'æðeling', where 'æðel' meant 'noble, of noble birth' and the suffix '-ing' indicated 'descendant' or 'belonging to'.

'æðeling' changed into Middle English 'atheling' and eventually became the modern English word 'atheling'; the form 'athelings' is simply the regular plural.

Initially, it meant 'a person of noble birth, especially a prince eligible for kingship'; over time it became archaic and is now used mainly in historical or literary contexts to mean 'princes' or 'noble-born men'.