Where does “Denbighshire” come from?
Denbighshire (English) comes from English Denbigh, from Welsh Dinbych, from Welsh din, from Middle Welsh din, from Old Welsh din, from Proto-Brythonic *din, from Proto-Celtic dūnom, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.
Ancestry of “Denbighshire”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Denbigh | — |
| 2 | Welsh | Dinbych | — |
| 3 | Welsh | din | Soft mutation of tin |
| 4 | Middle Welsh | din | — |
| 5 | Old Welsh | din | — |
| 6 | Proto-Brythonic | *din | — |
| 7 | Proto-Celtic | dūnom | stronghold, rampart |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |