Where does “Willem” come from?
Willem (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch Willem, from Middle Dutch willem, from Old Dutch *Willihelm, from Proto-Germanic Wiljahelmaz, from Proto-Germanic helmaz, from Proto-Germanic halmaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.
Ancestry of “Willem”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Dutch | Willem | — |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | willem | A male given name |
| 3 | Old Dutch | *Willihelm | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | Wiljahelmaz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |