Where does “southern” come from?
Southern derives from Middle English southerne, from Old English sūþerne, from Proto-Germanic sunþrōnijaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sh₂un- and sóh₂wl̥, both relating to the sun.
southern (English): Of, facing, situated in, or related to the south;...
Definitions
- Of, facing, situated in, or related to the south;...
Ancestry of “southern”, step by step
southern traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English southerne
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | southerne | southern |
| 2 | Old English | sūþerne | southern, southerly, coming from the south; of... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | sunþrōnijaz | southern |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | sóh₂wl̥ | sun |
via Middle English sutherne
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sutherne | — |
via Middle English sothern
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sothern | — |