Etymology Map
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Ancestor

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a person from whom one is descended

Where does the word "ancestor" come from? It comes from Latin antecessor, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
antecessor
Latin · ancient
"one who goes before"
'ante', before, plus 'cedere', to go
2
Stage 2 of 3
ancestre
Old French · medieval
"forefather"
Old French contracted the Latin form
3
Stage 3 of 3
ancestor
English · 1300s
"forefather"
'ancestry' followed
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Read the full story

Ancestor’s story begins in Latin: antecessor meant “one who goes before.” 'ante', before, plus 'cedere', to go. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as ancestre. Old French contracted the Latin form. It reached English by 1300s as ancestor. 'ancestry' followed. Today, ancestor means a person from whom one is descended.