Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Higgs” come from?

Higgs is a surname derived from the Middle English given name Hick, a nickname for Richard, which came from Old French Richard and Latin Ricohardus.

Higgs (English): pertaining to the Higgs mechanism/Higgs force;...

Definitions

  1. pertaining to the Higgs mechanism/Higgs force;...

Ancestry of “Higgs”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHickpet form of Richard
2EnglishRichard—
3Middle EnglishRycharde—
4Old FrenchRichard—
5Medieval LatinRichardus—
6FrankishRīkahard—
7Proto-GermanicRīkaharduzA male given name
8Proto-Germanicrīksking, ruler
9Proto-Celticrīxsking
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃rḗǵsking, ruler
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵ-to straighten, to right oneself; right; just

Words derived from “Higgs”

  • Higgsino
  • Higgson
  • Higgs field
  • Higgsless
  • Higgs boson
  • Хигс
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- →