Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “duncan” come from?

duncan (English) comes from Irish Ó Duinnchinn, from Irish ceann, from Middle Irish cenn, from Old Irish cenn, from Proto-Celtic Kʷennowindos, from Proto-Celtic windos, from Proto-Indo-European windo-, from Proto-Indo-European weyd- — to see.

Ancestry of “duncan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1IrishÓ Duinnchinn—
2Irishceannhead; head of cabbage, capitulum; end, extremity
3Middle Irishcennhead; end
4Old Irishcennhead; end
5Proto-CelticKʷennowindos—
6Proto-Celticwindoswhite
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwindo-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →