The origin of the name Old

The origin of the name Old

English: from Middle English old (Old English eald), not necessarily implying old age, but rather used to distinguish an older from a younger bearer of the same given name.

Variants: Aude, Auld, Ault (Scotland); Oldman, Olman; Ould.

Cognates: Dutch, Flemish: Oud, Oude, Oudeman, Oudt, Out. German: Alt, Alter, Alterman, Altermann, Altman, Altmann. Low German: Alde, Alder, Ohle, Ohlmann, Olde, Oldemann, Older. Jewish (Ashkenazic): Alt, Alter (in part from the Yiddish male given name Alter Old Man, given to a child born after the death of a sibling or assumed by anyone who was in mortal danger (usually someone ill). The purpose was to confuse the Angel of Death into thinking that the person was old and so not worth claiming as a victim), Alterman, Altermann, Altman, Altmann.

Compounds: Jewish: Altbach old stream; Altbauer (meaning unclear); Altbaum old tree; Altberg old hill; Althaus old house; Altheim old home; Althoff old court; Altholz old wood; Altstadter, Altstaedter dweller in the old town; Altstein old stone; Alterthum antiquity.

Metronymics: Jewish: Altes, Altovsky (from the Yiddish female given name Alte, feminine equivalent of Alter).

Patronymics: Dutch, Flemish: Den Olden, Den Ouden. English: Olds, Oulds. Jewish: (from the Yiddish male given name Alter): Alterovici, Alterescu (among Rumanian Jews); Alterovitch, Alterowitz, Alterovitz (East Ashkenazic); Alters, Alterson (Ashkenazic). Low German: Alden, Olden, Oldsen.


yellowOld in my family tree


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