Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “willem” come from?

willem (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch *Willihelm, from Proto-Germanic Wiljahelmaz, from Proto-Germanic helmaz, from Proto-Germanic halmaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

willem (Middle Dutch): A male given name

Definitions

  1. A male given name

Ancestry of “willem”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutch*Willihelm—
2Proto-GermanicWiljahelmaz—
3Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
4Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

Words derived from “willem”

  • Willem
  • Willem
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →