Ebba, Æbbe the Elder, Aebba, Abbe, Aebbe.
Uterine sister of King Oswiu of Bernicia/Northumbria (r. 642-670), presumably at least half-sister of King Oswald of Bernicia/Northumbria (r. 634-642), King Eanfrith of Bernicia (633-634); aunt of King Ecgfrith of Northumbria (r. 670-685) and King Aldfrith of Northumbria (r. 685-704), and King Alchfrith of Deira (r. 652-665) and King Ælfwine of Deira (r. 670-679) and Queen Osthryth of Mercia.
Unknown where she was trained. She trained Queen Æthelthryth as a nun. Æthelthryth later founded Ely Abbey in East Anglia.
Sister and aunt of kings.
On good terms with Bishop Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and Bishop Wilfrid of York. She intervened on Bishop Wilfrid's behalf with her nephew King Ecgfrith and Wilfrid entrusted her with Queen Æthelthryth when he gave the queen the veil.
Coldingham had a reputation of having a loose rule by the Irish monks and some have speculated that it was a retirement facility for royal and noble women. When Coldingham burned down it was blamed on its loose rule. It should be noted that some of their complaints sound familiar to their complaints about Bishop Wilfrid's displays of wealth. This may suggest that Æbbe favored a more Roman style of monastery rather than the more ascetic Irish style.
Stephan of Ripon's The life of Bishop Wilfrid.