Etymograph

English

Thain

Thain comes from Middle English theyn ‘thane’, from Old English þeġn ‘servant’, and ultimately from Proto-Germanic *þegnaz.

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þegnaz‘retainer, servant’reconstructed
  2. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*þegn‘retainer, follower, servant’reconstructed
  3. Old Englishc. 450–1150þeġn‘servant’
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500theyn‘thane’
  5. EnglishtodayThain

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þegnaz‘retainer, servant’reconstructed
  2. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*þegn‘retainer, follower, servant’reconstructed
  3. Old Englishc. 450–1150þeġn‘servant’
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500theyn‘thane’
  5. EnglishtodayThain

Every English word from Proto-Germanic *þegnaz

Today it means

name A surname originating as an occupation.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *þegnaz / Thain

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