Where does “Lewis” come from?
Lewis (Middle English) comes from Old French Louis, from Latin Ludovīcus, from Old High German Hlūtwīg, from Proto-West Germanic Hlūdawīg, from Proto-West Germanic hlūd, from Proto-Germanic hlūdaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlewtos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew- — to cover; to incline.
Ancestry of “Lewis”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | Louis | — |
| 2 | Latin | Ludovīcus | — |
| 3 | Old High German | Hlūtwīg | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | Hlūdawīg | meaning famous in battle |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hlūd | loud; sound |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hlūdaz | loud; famous |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱlewtos | heard, famous |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱlew- | to hear |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |