Where does “Townsend” come from?
Townsend is a compound of English town, from Middle English towne, from Old English tūn meaning an enclosed settlement, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- meaning to enclose.
Townsend (English): A placename
Definitions
- A placename
Ancestry of “Townsend”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | toun | town |
| 2 | Middle English | ende | The end or finishing of a thing; the terminal... |
| 3 | Old English | ende | end, limit, border, corner |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | andi | in addition, furthermore, and |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énti | opposite; near; in front |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |