Where does “Valerian” come from?
Valerian derives from Latin Valerianus, a cognomen from Latin Valerius, itself from Latin valeo meaning to be strong, tracing through Proto-Italic walēō to Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- meaning to be strong or well.
Valerian (English): A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers
Definitions
- A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers
Ancestry of “Valerian”, step by step
Valerian traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Latin Valerianus
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | Valerianus | A Roman Emperor, Valerian |
| 2 | Latin | valerius | Name of a patrician Roman gens |
| 3 | Latin | Valesios | — |
| 4 | Latin | valeō | to have strength, influence, power; to avail |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | walēō | to be strong |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yeti | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |
via Russian Валериа́н
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russian | Валериа́н | — |
via Old French valeriane
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | valeriane | — |