Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Stefan” come from?

Stefan (German) comes from Latin Stephanus, from Ancient Greek Στέφανος, from Ancient Greek στέφω, from Proto-Hellenic stékʷʰō, from Proto-Indo-European stegʷʰ- — to enlace.

Ancestry of “Stefan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinStephanus—
2Ancient GreekΣτέφανος—
3Ancient GreekστέφωI put around; I encircle, crown, wreath, garland
4Proto-Hellenicstékʷʰō—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstegʷʰ-to enlace
Every word from Proto-Indo-European stegʷʰ- →