Where does “William” come from?
William (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from Old High German helm, from Proto-West Germanic helm, 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.
Ancestry of “William”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | Willame | — |
| 2 | Old High German | Willahelm | William |
| 3 | Old High German | helm | helmet |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | helm | helmet |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |