Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Alphonse” come from?

Alphonse comes from French Alphonse, from Spanish Alfonso, from Proto-Germanic Aþalafunsaz, combining Proto-Germanic funsaz from Proto-Indo-European pent- and Proto-Indo-European h₂el-.

Ancestry of “Alphonse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchAlphonse—
2SpanishAlfonso—
3Proto-GermanicAþalafunsaz—
4Proto-Germanicaþalaznoble
5Proto-Germanicaþaląnature, disposition; nobility, race
6Proto-Indo-Europeanat-alfamily, race
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →