family

Where does the word "family" come from? It comes from Latin familia, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Family’s story begins in Latin: familia meant “household.” From famulus 'servant'; it meant the whole household under the paterfamilias, slaves included. It reached English by 1400s as family. First meant the servants of a household; 'parents and their children' became the main sense only in the 1600s. Today, family means a group of parents and children; all descendants of a common ancestor.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · classical familia "household", from famulus 'servant'; it meant the whole household under the paterfamilias, slaves included.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s family "household; relatives", first meant the servants of a household; 'parents and their children' became the main sense only in the 1600s.