Algernon

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*granō“awn, beard-hair, hair-tips, mustache”
2. Vulgar Latin · derived from*granonem“facial hair, mustache”
3. Old French · derived fromals gernons“having mustaches”
4. English todayAlgernon

From Old French als gernons (“having mustaches”), from als (contraction of a and les) + gernon, variant of grenon (“mustache”), from Vulgar Latin *granonem (“facial hair, mustache”), from Proto-Germanic *granō (“awn, beard-hair, hair-tips, mustache”), related to Old High German grana, granu (“mustache”), Old Norse grǫn (“mustache, (upper) lip”), Old English granu (“mustache”). Mustaches were often a prominent cultural component for men of some early medieval Germanic societies (contrary to popular culture, beards were uncommon), whence the name originates from. However, the particular distinction owing this name vis-a-vis other families is unclear.

Words from the same roots