List of creators of writing systems

This is an alphabetical list of any individuals, legendary or real, who are purported by traditions to have invented alphabets or other writing systems, whether this is proven or not.

A

• Heinrich Cornelius AgrippaGerman alchemist, created the Transitus Fluvii, Malachim, and Celestial Alphabets, c. 1525.
• Guru AngadSikh Guru, ascribed invention of Gurmukhi script c. 1539 according to tradition.
• AnigouranTuareg folk hero, ascribed invention of Tifinagh according to tradition

B

• Celadet Bedir KhanKurd linguist, developed Bedirxan alphabet in 1932.
• Alexander Melville BellAmerican teacher, invented Visible Speech in 1867
• Anton BezenÅ¡ekSlovenian linguist, developed BezenÅ¡ek Shorthand
• Charles K. BlissAustralian engineer, invented Blissymbolics c. 1949.
• Lako BodraIndian railway clerk and community leader. Invented the Warang Citi script in the mid-1900s.
• Robert BoydAmerican, invented Boyd's Syllabic Shorthand in 1903.
• Louis BrailleFrench teacher, invented Braille writing around 1821.
• Frédéric Bruly BouabréIvorian artist, invented the Bété syllabary in the mid-1950s.
• Momolu Duwalu BukeleLiberian, invented Vai syllabary around 1833.
• John ByromBritish poet, invented a system of shorthand c. 1715.

C

• Cadmuslegendary Phoenician prince, ascribed invention of Greek alphabet c. 1350 BC (?) according to tradition.
• Cangjielegendary Chinese scribe, also ascribed invention of Chinese characters c. 2650 BC (?) according to tradition.
• Carmentalegendary Roman prophetess and mother of Evander, ascribed adoption of Greek alphabet to Latin alphabet c. 1250 BC (?) according to tradition.
• Chao Yuen RenChinese-American linguist, led the development of Gwoyeu Romatzyh in 1925–6.
• Saint Clement of OhridArchbishop, ascribed invention of Cyrillic c. 900, according to tradition.
• Saint CyrilByzantine monk, believed to have created Glagolitic alphabet c. 863.

D

• John DeeEnglish alchemist and mathematician, invented an Enochian alphabet (not to be confused with that of Pantheus) c. 1582.
• Émile DuployéFrench abbot, inventor of Duployan shorthand, 1868.
• Reginald John Garfield DuttonBritish, invented Dutton Speedwords shorthand in 1922.

E

• C.C. Elian (artist)invented Elian script, c. 1980s, a transformation of the Latin alphabet into lines and dashes, allowing for multiple variations of the same word.
• Enmerkarlegendary Sumerian king, ascribed invention of cuneiform c. 2300 BC (?) according to Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta epic.
• EnosBiblical patriarch, ascribed introduction of consonantal Ge'ez alphabet c. 3350 BC (?) according to tradition.
• James EvansCanadian missionary, invented a syllabary used for Ojibwe and Cree c. 1840, these days referred to as Cree syllabics.

F

• Scott FahlmanAmerican computer scientist, proposed the first smiley emoticon in 1982.
• Assane FayeSenegalese, invented the Garay alphabet for Wolof, 1961.
• Fenius Farsalegendary Scythian king, ascribed invention of Ogham writing c. 2000 BC (?) according to tradition.
• Benjamin FranklinAmerican statesman, developed Benjamin Franklin's phonetic alphabet c. 1768.
• FrumentiusSyrian saint who converted the African kingdom of Aksum to Christianity, traditionally credited with development of consonantal Ge'ez script into vocalic Ge'ez script in the mid 4th-century.
• Fu Hsilegendary Chinese king, ascribed invention of Chinese characters c. 2850 BC (?) according to tradition.

G

• Franz Xaver GabelsbergerGerman secretary, invented Gabelsberger shorthand around 1817.
• Mangei GomangoIndian, invented Sorang Sompeng script in 1936.
• John Robert GreggIrish author, invented Gregg Shorthand c. 1888.
• Gregory of DurrësAlbanian monk, ascribed invention of the Elbasan script c. 1761

H

• Thomas HarriotEnglish mathematician, invented phonetic alphabet for transcribing Carolina Algonquian language in 1584.
• HemadpantA scholar from ancient India and Prime Minister in Yadava Dynasty, according to one theory invented the Modi Script that was used to write Marathi Language till 19th century before Devanagari was officially adopted to write Marathi.
• Hildegard of BingenGerman nun, invented Litterae ignotae c. 1150.
• Honorius of Thebespossibly mythical author, ascribed invention of Theban alphabet c. 1220 (?).

K

• Hussein Sheikh Ahmed KaddareSomali, invented Kaddare script c. 1953.
• Kisimi KamaraSierra Leonean tailor, invented Mende syllabary, Ki-ka-ku, in 1921.
• Solomana KanteGuinean author, invented the N'Ko alphabet in 1949.
• Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, Serbian linguist, developed Serbian Cyrillic alphabet c. 1818, adapting Cyrillic alphabet.
• Osman Yusuf KenadidSomali, invented Osmanya script c. 1921.
• Muḥammad ibn MÅ«sā al-KhwārizmÄ«Persian mathematician, helped codify the Hindu–Arabic numeral system c. 825
• Ong KommandamLaotian freedom fighter, developed the Khom script, first used 1926.
• KÅ«kaiJapanese monk, ascribed invention of Kana syllabary c. 806, according to tradition.
• Shigetaka KuritaJapanese designer, created the NTT DoCoMo emoji set.

L

• Jean-Marie-Raphaël Le JeuneCanadian, created Chinook writing, 1893, an adaptation and expansion of Duployan.
• Francis LodwickDutch linguist, invented Universal Alphabet in 1686.
• Karl Richard LepsiusGerman linguist, developed Standard Alphabet by Lepsius c. 1855.
• Lontanna Igwe Onduze Nigerian software designer and artist, created the Ndèbe script c. 2008.

M

• ManiAncient Iranian prophet, invented Manichaean alphabet
• Aulay MacaulayEnglish tea-dealer, who invented Polygraphy, a system of shorthand in 1747.
• John R. MaloneAmerican, developed the UNIFON alphabet c. 1955.
• Mesrop MashtotsArmenian monk, created the Armenian alphabet in c. 405.
• Olof MelinSwedish colonel, invented Melin Shorthand c. 1880.
• MongkutThai king, invented the Ariyaka script
• Thomas MoreEnglish author, invented Utopian alphabet in 1516.
• Adrien-Gabriel MoriceFrench, developed Carrier syllabary c. 1885.
• Samuel F. B. MorseAmerican inventor, invented Morse code c. 1835.
• Pandit Raghunath MurmuIndian, created Ol Chiki script in 1925.

N

• Ibrahim NjoyaKing of Bamum (Cameroon), invented Bamum script c. 1910.
• Nurhaci (king), or possibly his translators Erdeni and Gagai ?Manchurians, created Manchu alphabet in 1599.

O

• Odin/*Wōdanazthe chief god in Scandinavian/Germanic paganism. Associated in the Hávamál with the origins of the Runic alphabet Futhark (Later Futhorc).
• Ogmalegendary Irish deified chieftain, also ascribed invention of Ogham writing c. 1875 BC (?) according to tradition.

P

• Zaya PanditaOirat lama, developed Todo script in 1648.
• ParacelsusSwiss alchemist, invented Alphabet of the Magi c. 1520.
• Chögyal PhagpaTibetan monk, invented Phagspa script in 1269.
• Pharnavaz I of IberiaIberian king, ascribed development of Georgian alphabet in 284 BC, according to tradition.
• Francisco de Pina, and other Portuguese missionariescreated the Vietnamese alphabet c. 1620s.
• Isaac PitmanBritish teacher, invented Pitman shorthand in 1837.
• Sam PollardBritish missionary, invented Pollard script in 1905.
• Parley P. Pratt American Mormon leader, developed Deseret alphabet with George D. Watt c. 1855.
• George PsalmanazarEuropean impostor and scholar, invented a (fraudulent) Formosan alphabet in 1704.

R

• Ram Khamhaeng the GreatThai king, ascribed invention of Thai alphabet in 1283, according to tradition.
• Ronald Kingsley ReadBritish, invented the Shavian (early 1960s) and Quikscript (1966) writing systems.
• Jeremiah RichEnglish, invented a system of shorthand in 1654.
• Ríg(identified as Heimdall) gave the runes to his son, Jarl (Poetic Edda poem Rígsþula) Runic alphabet Futhark (Later Futhorc) c. 150 AD (?) per tradition.
• Alexandre de RhodesAvignonese missionary, developed Vietnamese alphabet c. 1625, basing on works by Portuguese missionaries such as Francisco de Pina.

S

• Carl W. SalserAmerican teacher, developed Personal Shorthand with C. Theo Yerian. c. 1955.
• Bakri SapaloOromo poet, writer, and teacher from Ethiopia, invented an alphasyllabic script for the Oromo language c. 1956.
• Johann Martin Schleyercreated three letters (ꞛ, ꞝ, and ꞟ) for his international auxiliary language Volapük at the end of the 19th century.
• Sejong the GreatKorean king of Joseon, invented Hangul writing in c. 1443, promulgated in 1446.
• Seol Chonginventor of the Korean Idu script and Gugyeol script (), according to tradition.
• Sequoyah, Cherokee silversmith, invented Cherokee syllabary c. 1819.
• Seth, son of Adam, is mentioned in the Chronicle of Malalas as being the "first to invent Hebrew script and to write with it"
• Sheikh Abdurahman Sheikh NuurSomali, invented Borama script c. 1933.
• Srinivasa ChakravarthyIndian researcher, led the creation of the Bharati script (2016)
• Thomas SheltonEnglish translator, developed Short Writing, an early shorthand, in 1626.
• Tonpa Shenrab MiwocheTibetan religious teacher of uncertain historicity, ascribed creation of the Dongba script by religious fables.
• Shong Lue YangHmong, created Pahawh Hmong alphabet in 1959
• Kai StaatsAmerican filmmaker, created iConji in 2010.
• Stephen of PermRussian missionary, invented the Old Permic alphabet in 1372.
• Valerie SuttonAmerican choreographer, developed MovementWriting for transcribing dance in 1972 and SignWriting for transcribing sign languages in 1974.

T

• Tata-tonga was a 13th-century Uyghur scribe captured by Genghis Khan from the Naimans and involved in bringing and adapting the Old Uyghur alphabet to the Mongolian Plateau in the form of the Mongolian script (Mongol bichig or hudum bichig). After his capture, he was invited to teach the Old Uyghur alphabet to members of the court, including the Khan's sons.
• Taautus, legendary inventor of the Phoenician alphabet
• Samuel TaylorBritish, invented Universal Stenography system of shorthand in 1792.
• TenevilChukchi reindeer herder, developed a writing system for Chukchi language c. 1931.
• Charles Allen Thomasinvented Thomas Natural Shorthand in 1935.
• Thonmi Sambhotalegendary Tibetan scribe, ascribed invention of Tibetan script c. 650, according to tradition.
• Thothmythical Egyptian deity, ascribed invention of Egyptian hieroglyphics c. 3000 BC (?) according to tradition.
• John William TimsMissionary, developed Blackfoot syllabary c. 1890.
• Marcus Tullius TiroRoman secretary, ascribed invention of Tironian notes shorthand c. 63 BC, according to tradition.
• J. R. R. TolkienBritish author, invented the Tengwar, Cirth and Sarati c. 1930
• Johannes TrithemiusGerman cryptographer, invented an "Angelic" (magical) alphabet in 1499.

U

• Ulfilas, Goth missionary, believed to have invented Gothic alphabet c. 350 AD, according to tradition.
• UyaqukYupik (Alaska Native) missionary, invented Yugtun script c. 1900.

V

• Naum VeqilharxhiAlbanian, invented the Vithkuqi alphabet in 1845.

W

• Wanyan XiyinManchurian scribe, invented Jurchen script in 1120.
• William Bell WaitAmerican teacher, invented New York Point system in 1868.
• Diedrich WestermannGerman missionary, developed Africa Alphabet in 1928.
• George D. Watt American Mormon leader, developed Deseret alphabet with Parley P. Pratt c. 1855.
• W. John (or John W.) WeilgartAustrian-born American psychoanalyst and philosopher; creator of the philosophical language aUI and its writing system.
• John WilkinsEnglish academic. Invented the so-called 'real character' as a writing system for a proposed Philosophical language in 1668.

Y

• Yeli RenrongTangut scholar, invented Tangut script in 1036.
• Yelü DielaManchurian scribe, ascribed creation of Khitan small script c. 925.

Z

• Zhang BinglinChinese linguist, invented shorthand that was developed into Zhuyin in 1913.
• Zhou YouguangChinese linguist, invented Pinyin romanisation, 1958
• Öndör Gegeen ZanabazarMongolian monk, created Soyombo script in 1686 and Zanabazar square script.

See also

• List of constructed scripts
• List of writing systems
• List of language creators

References