Where does “heir” come from?
heir (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman eir, from Old French heir, from Latin hērēs, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeh₁ro-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeh₁- — to go, to walk.
heir (Middle English): heir; Alternative form of her; Alternative form...
Definitions
- heir; Alternative form of her; Alternative form...
Ancestry of “heir”, step by step
heir traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Anglo-Norman eir
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | eir | heir |
| 2 | Old French | heir | — |
| 3 | Latin | hērēs | heir, heiress |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰeh₁ro- | derelict; an abandoned or forsaken person |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰeh₁- | to go, to walk |
via Anglo-Norman heir
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | heir | — |