There are three German states that have the word "Saxony" in their names. Why is the "Lower Saxony" the

Question

northernmost of these?

Answer 1

I haven't been able to find a reference but the term "Lower" ("Nieder" in German) is not a reference to north or south but more likely to altitude (the northern area is lower than the southern - i.e. closer to sea level).  This is similar to the name for the nearby Netherlands where "Nether" is another word for lower.  The Netherlands in German is Niederlande.  Lower Saxony in German is Niedersachsen.

Answer 2

Well in German is a saying about the origin of these names. It's rather funny than real, but it could give a little solution.

Sachsen (Saxony) - The area from which the 'tribe' comes.

Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt) - There they made their first rest.

(to stop - anhalten -> Anhalt)

Niedersachsen (Lower-Saxony) - There some settled down.

(to settle - niederlassen -> Nieder-sachsen)

The last is the 'Angelsachsen' (England) - These had to fish while going to the isles.

(to fish - fischen, angeln -> Angel-sachsen)

It's all just a play with words, but quite neat.