Where does “Erdmännchen” come from?

Erdmännchen (German) comes from German Männchen, from German mann, from Middle High German man, from Old High German man, from Proto-Germanic *mann-, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

Erdmännchen (German): meerkat; a gnome or dwarf that lives under the...

Definitions

  1. meerkat; a gnome or dwarf that lives under the...

Ancestry of “Erdmännchen”, step by step

Erdmännchen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Männchen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanMännchenDiminutive of Mann: a little or small man; a male...
2Germanmannman, male human being
3Middle High Germanmanman
4Old High Germanmanman
5Proto-Germanic*mann-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

via German ërde

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanërdeearth
2Middle High Germanërdeearth
3Old High GermanerdaThe Earth; earth, ground, soil
4Proto-West Germanicerþuearth, world; earth, soil
5Proto-Germanicerþōearth
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁er-earth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →Every word from Proto-Germanic *mann- →Every word from Old High German man →