Where does “Linnaeus” come from?
Linnaeus comes from Swedish Linnæus, derived from Swedish lind and Old Norse lind, both meaning linden tree, from Proto-Germanic lindō and Proto-Indo-European lent-.
Ancestry of “Linnaeus”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Swedish | Linnæus | — |
| 2 | Swedish | lind | linden tree |
| 3 | Old Norse | lind | lime, linden; linden shield, spear-shaft |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | lindō | linden tree |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lent- | tree with supple branches; supple; bendsome,... |