Where does “Spielberg” come from?
Spielberg (German) comes from German -berg, from German berg, from Middle High German bërc, from Old High German berg, from Proto-West Germanic berg, from Proto-Germanic bergaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.
Ancestry of “Spielberg”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | -berg | Added to a stem to form a patronymic or matronymic surname |
| 2 | German | berg | a mountain, hill |
| 3 | Middle High German | bërc | a mountain |
| 4 | Old High German | berg | mountain, hill |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | berg | hill, mountain |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | bergaz | hill; mountain; refuge; shelter |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰerǵʰ- | to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain |