Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Severn” come from?

Severn derives from Middle English Severne, from Old English Sæfern, from Proto-Celtic Sabrinā, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots related to flowing water.

Ancestry of “Severn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishSeverne—
2Old EnglishSæfern—
3Proto-CelticSabrinā—
4Proto-Celticsamarossummer fallow, uncropped and plowed land during...
5Proto-Celticarosploughing, ploughed land
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂erh₃-o-ploughing
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂erh₃-to plough
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁er-earth

Words derived from “Severn”

  • Severnside
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁er- →