Theodoric
/ˈθiː.əˌdɒr.ɪk/noun
A Germanic masculine given name meaning roughly “people-ruler,” best known from the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great.
Did you know?Theodoric comes from a Germanic name built from the same root as “theory” and “democracy” for “people,” fused with a ruler element meaning “power” or “ruler,” making it a true name of command.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeh₁-
“to set, put, place”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*þeudō
“people, nation, tribe”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*rīkijaz
“ruler, powerful, wealthy”
Gothic
Gothic
þiudareiks
“ruler of the people”
Latin
Latin
Theodoricus
“Latinized form of the Germanic name”
Old English
English
Þēodrīc
“personal name, Theodoric”
Modern English
English
Theodoric
“the historical name or given name”