Where does “Forteau” come from?

Forteau (French) comes from French fort, from Old French fort, from Latin fortis, from Old Latin forctis, from Proto-Italic forktis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

Ancestry of “Forteau”, step by step

Forteau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via French fort

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchfortstrong; powerful; skilled, proficient,...
2Old Frenchfortstrong; strongly
3Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
4Old Latinforctisstrong
5Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain

via French EAU

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchEAUwater, a liquid that is transparent, colorless, odorless and tasteless in its pure form, the primary constituent of lakes, rivers, seas and oceans
2Middle Frencheauwater
3Old Frenchewewater
4Latinaquawater
5Proto-Italicakʷāwater
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ekʷeh₂water, flowing water
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ-