Etymograph

English

Ernst

Ernst comes from German Ernst ‘earnestness, seriousness’, from Old High German ernust ‘vigor, strife’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Her-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Her-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*arniz‘efficient, capable, diligent, sure’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*ernustuz‘seriousness’reconstructedderivative of *arniz
  4. Old High Germanc. 750–1050ernust‘vigor, strife’
  5. Germanc. 1650–presentErnst‘earnestness, seriousness’
  6. Englishtodaysame form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Her-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*arniz‘efficient, capable, diligent, sure’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*ernustuz‘seriousness’reconstructedderivative of *arniz
  4. Old High Germanc. 750–1050ernust‘vigor, strife’
  5. Germanc. 1650–presentErnst‘earnestness, seriousness’
  6. Englishtodaysame form

Linked words

through Proto-Germanic *arniz ‘efficient, capable, diligent, sure’

earnestly

through Proto-Germanic *ernustuz ‘seriousness’

earnest, 1 more

Today it means

name A surname.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *Her- / Ernst

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