Etymology Explorer › Faroese

Where does “Liam” come from?

Liam (Faroese) comes from English Liam, from Irish Liam, from English Uilliam, from English william, from Middle English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from Old High German helm — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

Ancestry of “Liam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLiam—
2IrishLiam—
3EnglishUilliam—
4Englishwilliam—
5Middle EnglishWilliam—
6Anglo-NormanWillame—
7Old High GermanWillahelmWilliam
8Old High Germanhelmhelmet
9Proto-West Germanichelmhelmet
10Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
11Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
13Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →