Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “Robin” come from?

Robin (French) comes from Old French Robert, from Frankish berht, from Proto-Germanic berhtaz, from Proto-Germanic hrabnaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱorh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer-, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥-, from Proto-Indo-European ker- — army.

Ancestry of “Robin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchRobert—
2Frankishberhtbright
3Proto-Germanicberhtazbright, shining
4Proto-Germanichrabnazraven
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →