Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Hanover” come from?

Hanover derives from Middle Low German hoch, a word of uncertain ultimate origin and meaning.

Ancestry of “Hanover”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanHannover—
2Middle Low Germanoveracross, moving through or over something; across,...
3Old Saxonōvar—
4Old Englishōferriverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border
5Proto-West Germanicobarover, above
6Proto-Germanicuberover; over, above
7Proto-Indo-Europeanupérabove; over
8Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-—

Words derived from “Hanover”

  • Hanoverian
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →