Where does “Eyjafjörður” come from?

Eyjafjörður (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic fjörður, from Old Norse fjǫrðr, from Proto-Norse ᚠᛖᚱᚦᚢᛉ, from Proto-Germanic ferþuz, from Proto-Indo-European pértus, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

Ancestry of “Eyjafjörður”, step by step

Eyjafjörður traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic fjörður

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicfjörðurfjord, although occasionally a geyser
2Old Norsefjǫrðrfirth, fjord
3Proto-Norseᚠᛖᚱᚦᚢᛉ
4Proto-Germanicferþuzinlet, fjord
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpértuscrossing
6Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via Icelandic ey

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandiceyisland
2Old Norseeyalways, ever; island
3Proto-Norse*ᚨᚢᛃᚢ
4Proto-Germanicawjōfloodplain; meadow; island
5Proto-Germanicagwjō
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ékʷeh₂water
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European pértus