Where does “Gladys” come from?
Gladys is an English given name derived from Welsh Gwladus, from Middle Welsh gwlat, Old Welsh gulat, Proto-Brythonic gwlad, and Proto-Celtic wlatis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂wélh₁tis meaning territory or dominion.
Ancestry of “Gladys”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welsh | Gwladus | — |
| 2 | Welsh | gwlad | country, nation, realm, land; countryside |
| 3 | Middle Welsh | gwlat | — |
| 4 | Old Welsh | gulat | country, realm |
| 5 | Proto-Brythonic | gwlad | sovereignty, country |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | wlatis | sovereignty |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂wélh₁tis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |