Where does “Derby” come from?
Derby (Middle English) comes from Old English Dēorbȳ, from Old Norse Djúra-bý, from Old Norse dýr, from Proto-Norse *ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨ, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.
Ancestry of “Derby”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | Dēorbȳ | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | Djúra-bý | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | dýr | animal |
| 4 | Proto-Norse | *ᛞᛖᚢᛉᚨ | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | deuzą | animal, beast |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewsóm | living thing |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰéws | breath |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰwes- | to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature |