Where does “Belfort” come from?

Belfort (French) comes from Old French bel, from Latin bellus, from Latin villus, from Latin vellus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- — to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool.

Ancestry of “Belfort”, step by step

Belfort traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French bel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchbelAlternative form of biau; good, pretty
2Latinbellusbeautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,...
3Latinvillushair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair
4LatinvellusThe wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool

via Old French fort

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchfortstrong; strongly
2Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
3Old Latinforctisstrong
4Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁-Every word from Latin vellusEvery word from Latin villus