Etymograph

English

Lydia

Lydia comes from Ancient Greek Λυδία ‘the region of Lydia’, and goes back to Λῡδός ‘Lydus’.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΛῡδός‘Lydus’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΛυδίαLudía‘the region of Lydia’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1611Lydia

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEΛῡδός‘Lydus’
  2. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEΛυδίαLudía‘the region of Lydia’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1611Lydia

Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of…”

The story

The region of Lydia is said to be named for a king Λυδός (Ludós) (Lydus, from λυδός (ludós) (lydus)); the given name Lydia originally indicated ancestry or residence in the region of Lydia.

Every English word from Ancient Greek Λῡδός

Today it means

name A historical region and ancient kingdom in western Asia Minor, in modern-day Turkey.

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

Etymograph / Ancient Greek Λῡδός / Lydia

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