Where does “Adolf” come from?
Adolf comes from Old High German adal, from Proto-Germanic aþalą, from Proto-Indo-European átta, ultimately from the root h₂el- meaning to grow or nourish.
Ancestry of “Adolf”, step by step
Adolf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old High German adal
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old High German | adal | noble; nobility; noble race |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | aþal | nobility; race |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | aþalą | nature, disposition; nobility, race |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | at-al | family, race |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂el- | to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam |
via Old High German wulf
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old High German | wulf | wolf |