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ArchivesWALTER, and meaning of "wald"
Throughout this site I see the Old German word "wald" being listed as meaning "rule". I can't find any reference to that meaning elsewhere. Today it means "forest" or "woods" in common usage, and in older - though perhaps not Old - usage it seems to have been used to mean hills, upland meadow, and other terms that might fall under the heading not-urban-and-not-farmed.
So I'm wondering if the name WALTER might not be more nearly synonymous with FORREST(ER) than with, say, LORD or KING?
This might not apply to all the names including the "wal-" and "val-" root, as some might have different origins for the same or similar syllable. Given the number of such names listed here, and the number of languages they appear in, that seems likely. However, it seems to me that Old English and other early names of unquestioned Teutonic origin containing that root were probably originally applied as geographic appelations.
On the other hand, given the number of references here to the interpretation with which I'm arguing, I have to assume that there is a counter-argument.
So I'm wondering if the name WALTER might not be more nearly synonymous with FORREST(ER) than with, say, LORD or KING?
This might not apply to all the names including the "wal-" and "val-" root, as some might have different origins for the same or similar syllable. Given the number of such names listed here, and the number of languages they appear in, that seems likely. However, it seems to me that Old English and other early names of unquestioned Teutonic origin containing that root were probably originally applied as geographic appelations.
On the other hand, given the number of references here to the interpretation with which I'm arguing, I have to assume that there is a counter-argument.
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Replies
Hi HLDinTN,
The first part of the name Walter comes from the Old High German verb "waltan" (Germanic: "waldan") which means "to rule".
The word "der Wald" comes from the Old Saxon noun "wald" (Germanic: "walthu"), which means forest.
The name Walter has got nothing to do with the word "der Wald".
Regards, Satu
The first part of the name Walter comes from the Old High German verb "waltan" (Germanic: "waldan") which means "to rule".
The word "der Wald" comes from the Old Saxon noun "wald" (Germanic: "walthu"), which means forest.
The name Walter has got nothing to do with the word "der Wald".
Regards, Satu
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Thanks!
You seem certain, so I'll accept that. I'd like to know more about how derivations and origins are determined. Can you (or anyone else reading this post, for that matter) suggest any books or other resources on the "how" of etymology that would be accessible to a beginner?
You seem certain, so I'll accept that. I'd like to know more about how derivations and origins are determined. Can you (or anyone else reading this post, for that matter) suggest any books or other resources on the "how" of etymology that would be accessible to a beginner?
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