Guelph
/ɡwɛlf/noun
A member of the medieval Italian faction that supported the papacy against the imperial Ghibellines.
Did you know?Guelph derives from the Welf dynasty, while its rival name Ghibelline came from the German Hohenstaufen castle of Waiblingen.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*welfą
“Young dog or puppy”
8th–9th Century
Old High German
welf
“Young dog; also used as a dynastic name”
11th Century
German
Welf
“The name of the Welf dynasty of German rulers”
12th Century
Italian
Guelfo; Guelfi
“A member or supporter of the Italian papal faction”
14th Century
English
Guelph
“An adherent of the papal party in medieval Italy”
Modern English
English
Guelph
“A historical political faction member; also a proper name, including the Canadian city Guelph”