Meaning & History
Originally a short form of Germanic names containing the Old Frankish element wald or Old High German element walt meaning "power, authority" (Proto-Germanic *waldaz). This was the name of an 8th-century abbot of Reichenau. It was also borne by the 12th-century French merchant Peter Waldo, who founded the religious order of the Waldensians.
Related Names
Popularity
Categories
Sources & References
- Förstemann, Ernst. Altdeutsches Namenbuch. Bonn, 1900, page 1499.
