Where does “Adolf” come from?

Adolf (Swedish) comes from Old High German adal, from Proto-West Germanic aþal, from Proto-Germanic aþalą, from Proto-Indo-European at-al, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

Ancestry of “Adolf”, step by step

Adolf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old High German adal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanadalnoble; nobility; noble race
2Proto-West Germanicaþalnobility; race
3Proto-Germanicaþaląnature, disposition; nobility, race
4Proto-Indo-Europeanat-alfamily, race
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam

via Old High German wolf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanwolfwolf
2Proto-West Germanicwulfwolf
3Proto-Germanicwulfazwolf
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwĺ̥kʷoswolf

Words derived from “Adolf”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European at-al →Every word from Proto-Germanic aþalą →