Where does “forfader” come from?

forfader (Middle English) comes from Middle English fader, from Old English fæder, from Proto-West Germanic fader, from Proto-Germanic fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.

forfader (Middle English): forefather, ancestor

Definitions

  1. forefather, ancestor

Ancestry of “forfader”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishfaderA father; the male direct ancestor of someone or...
2Old Englishfæderfather
3Proto-West Germanicfaderfather
4Proto-Germanicfadērfather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂tḗrfather
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr →Every word from Proto-Germanic fadēr →