Names perform a key function in texts: through their direct reference to extra-linguistic objects, they provide immediate information about who is doing what, who is affected by what, and about the places involved. Thus, names also play a key role in the computer-based processing of texts. For the use of semantic technologies, names and definite descriptions must be marked up in texts. This set of references to extra-linguistic objects is largely subsumed beneath the term ‚named entities‘ (NE) in information technology. This paper discusses, first, the technical processes, methods and possible ways of representing the contexts of large sets of names/named entities and, second, the challenges posed by allonymic and orthographic variants of names in text processing. Third, the substantive focus is on the differentiation between name and definite description in the Early High German mining documents „Schwazer Berglehenbuch“ and „Verleihbuch der Rattenberger Bergrichter“, which provide information on individuals, places, mines and dates linked by the legal act of lending.