Where does “ван” come from?

ван (Russian) comes from Old Norse vanr, from Proto-Germanic wanaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- — to leave, abandon, give out.

ван (Russian): king (in Ancient China); prince (in the Chinese Empire)

Definitions

  1. king (in Ancient China); prince (in the Chinese Empire)

Ancestry of “ван”, step by step

ван traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Norse vanr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsevanrlacking, wanting; a member of the Vanir
2Proto-Germanicwanazlacking, deficient, absent; accustomed
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weh₂-to leave, abandon, give out

via Chinese 王

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Chinese王king
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁weh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wanaz →Every word from Old Norse vanr →