Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Powys” come from?

Powys comes from Welsh Powys, derived from Latin pagensis meaning of a district, from Latin pagus a rural area, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ-.

Ancestry of “Powys”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1WelshPowys—
2Latinpāgēnsis—
3Latin-ensisOf or from
4Latinarvumfield; farm land
5Latincolō—
6Latinquelō—
7Proto-Italickʷelō—
8Proto-Indo-Europeankʷéleti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →