Where does “heir” come from?
Heir comes from Middle English heir, from Anglo-Norman eir, from Latin heres meaning "heir" or "inheritor," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-.
heir (English): Someone who inherits, or is designated to...
Definitions
- Someone who inherits, or is designated to...
Ancestry of “heir”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | heir | heir; Alternative form of her; Alternative form... |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | eir | heir |
| 3 | Old French | heir | — |
| 4 | Latin | hērēs | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰeh₁ro- | derelict; an abandoned or forsaken person |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰeh₁- | to go, to walk |
Words derived from “heir”