Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Ethelwolf” come from?

Ethelwolf (English) comes from Old English Æþelwulf, from Proto-West Germanic Aþalawulf, from Proto-Germanic Aþalawulfaz, from Proto-Germanic aþalaz, from Proto-Germanic aþalą, from Proto-Indo-European at-al, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

Ancestry of “Ethelwolf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old EnglishÆþelwulf—
2Proto-West GermanicAþalawulf—
3Proto-GermanicAþalawulfaz—
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- →