Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Santa Fe” come from?

Santa Fe (English) comes from Spanish Santa Fe, from Spanish santa, from Old Spanish sancta, from Latin sānctus, from Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος, from Ancient Greek Ἰακώβ, from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב — heel of the foot; heel.

Ancestry of “Santa Fe”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1SpanishSanta FeHoly Faith
2Spanishsantafeminine singular of santo; female equivalent of...
3Old Spanishsancta—
4Latinsānctus—
5LatinIacobusJacob; James; Saint James
6Ancient GreekἸάκωβος—
7Ancient GreekἸακώβ—
8HebrewיַעֲקֹבJacob
9Hebrewעָקֵבheel of the foot; heel
Every word from Hebrew עָקֵב →