Where does “เจ้าอยู่หัว” come from?

เจ้าอยู่หัว (Thai) comes from Thai เจ้า, from Proto-Tai *ɕɤwꟲ, from Middle Chinese 主.

เจ้าอยู่หัว (Thai): used as an honorific prefix or suffix to the name of a monarch, and a term of address to a monarch

Definitions

  1. used as an honorific prefix or suffix to the name of a monarch, and a term of address to a monarch

Ancestry of “เจ้าอยู่หัว”, step by step

เจ้าอยู่หัว traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Thai เจ้า

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Thaiเจ้าgod; deity; guardian spirit; tutelary deity;...
2Proto-Tai*ɕɤwꟲmaster, owner
3Middle Chinese

via Thai อยู่

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Thaiอยู่to dwell, to live, to reside; to remain, to stay;...
2Proto-Taiˀjuːᴮto be

via Thai หัว

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Thaiหัวhead; swelling; protuberance; bulb, tuber, or...
2Proto-Taitruəᴬhead
Every word from Middle Chinese Every word from Proto-Tai *ɕɤwꟲEvery word from Thai เจ้า