Where does “Robin” come from?
Robin (Swedish) comes from English robin, from Middle English Robin, from Old French Robert, from Frankish berht, from Proto-Germanic berhtaz, from Proto-Germanic hrabnaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱorh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- — army.
Ancestry of “Robin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | robin | Any of various passerine birds of the families... |
| 2 | Middle English | Robin | — |
| 3 | Old French | Robert | a Germanic (Old Frankish) borrowing |
| 4 | Frankish | berht | bright |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | berhtaz | bright, shining |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hrabnaz | raven |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱorh₂- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |