Walwanus
/wælˈwɑːnəs/noun
A Medieval Latin form of the Arthurian knight’s name Gawain.
Did you know?Walwanus appears in medieval Latin Arthurian traditions as a form of Gawain, whose name is generally connected with the Welsh hero Gwalchmei, though the exact etymology remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Early Medieval period
Welsh
Gwalchmei
“A Welsh Arthurian personal name, traditionally interpreted as “May hawk,” though the interpretation and development are debated.”
12th Century
Old French
Wauvain
“A continental romance form of the Arthurian knight’s name.”
12th–13th Century
Medieval Latin
Walwanus
“A Latinized form used for Gawain in Arthurian chronicles and literary texts.”
13th Century
Middle Dutch
Walewein
“The name of Gawain in Dutch Arthurian romance.”
Modern English
English
Gawain
“The Arthurian knight’s standard English name, especially known from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.”