Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Wolfgang” come from?

Wolfgang (English) comes from German Wolfgang, from Middle High German Wolfgang, from Old High German Wolfgang, from Old High German gang, from Proto-Germanic *gang, from Proto-Germanic gangaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰongʰ-o-s, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- — to walk; to step.

Ancestry of “Wolfgang”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWolfgang—
2Middle High GermanWolfgang—
3Old High GermanWolfgang—
4Old High GermangangA path, course, way, journey; a going
5Proto-Germanic*gang—
6Proto-Germanicgangazpace, step, gait; walk; way, course
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰongʰ-o-s—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰengʰ-to walk; to step
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- →