Where does “Frank” come from?
Frank derives from Middle English Frank, from Old English Franca, from Proto-West Germanic frankō, from Proto-Germanic frankô, from Proto-Indo-European prAng-.
Frank (English): One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that...
Definitions
- One of the Franks, a Germanic federation that...
Ancestry of “Frank”, step by step
Frank traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via French Franc
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | Franc | Frank |
| 2 | Middle French | franc | franc; noble |
| 3 | Old French | Franc | French |
| 4 | Latin | francus | franc; a Frenchman; Frank, of or pertaining to... |
| 5 | Frankish | frank | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | frankô | spear, javelin; a Frank |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | prAng- | pole, stalk |
via English Frankfurter
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Frankfurter | A native or inhabitant of Frankfurt, Germany |
| 2 | German | Frankfurter | Frankfurter; a Vienna sausage |
| 3 | German | Frankfurt | — |