Where does “Wilhelm” come from?
Wilhelm derives from Old High German Willahelm, combining Willa with Old High German helm, which comes from Proto-Germanic helmaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-.
Ancestry of “Wilhelm”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | Wilhelm | William |
| 2 | Old High German | Willahelm | William |
| 3 | Old High German | helm | helmet |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | helm | helmet |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |
Words derived from “Wilhelm”