Etymology Explorer › Norwegian

Where does “Kolbjørn” come from?

Kolbjørn (Norwegian) comes from Old Norse Kolbjǫrn, from Old Norse kol, from Proto-Germanic kulą, from Proto-Indo-European gʷol-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵwelH- — to burn; to shine.

Ancestry of “Kolbjørn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseKolbjǫrn—
2Old Norsekolcoal
3Proto-Germanickulącoal
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʷol-—
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanǵwelH-to burn; to shine
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵwelH- →