Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Haddingtonshire” come from?

Haddingtonshire (English) comes from English shire, from Middle English schire, from Old English sċīr, from Old English burna, from Proto-West Germanic brunnō, from Proto-Germanic brunnô, from Proto-Indo-European bʰréh₁wr̥, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrewh₁- — to bear, carry.

Ancestry of “Haddingtonshire”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshirePhysical area administered by a sheriff; Former...
2Middle EnglishschireAlternative form of shire; Alternative form of...
3Old Englishsċīrbright; shire; county
4Old Englishburnastream
5Proto-West Germanicbrunnōwell, spring
6Proto-Germanicbrunnôsource; wellspring; fountain; brook; stream;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰréh₁wr̥well, spring, source
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- →