Where does “Ernest” come from?

Ernest (Catalan) comes from German ērnst, from Middle High German ërnest, from Old High German ernust, from Proto-Germanic ernustuz, from Proto-Germanic arniz, from Proto-Indo-European er- — eagle, bird; loose, light, rare, sparse; to fail,...

Ancestry of “Ernest”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	German	ērnst	—
2	Middle High German	ërnest	—
3	Old High German	ernust	serious
4	Proto-Germanic	ernustuz	seriousness; earnest; strength; solidity;...
5	Proto-Germanic	arniz	efficient, capable, diligent, sure
6	Proto-Indo-European	er-	eagle, bird; loose, light, rare, sparse; to fail,...

Every word from Proto-Indo-European er- →Every word from Proto-Germanic arniz →Every word from Proto-Germanic ernustuz →