Bavaria

Meanings

1. A historic region, former duchy, former kingdom, and modern state of Germany; the modern state includes parts of historical Swabia and Franconia as well as historical Bavaria.

Etymology

From New Latin Bavaria, from Medieval Latin Baioarii (“Bavarians”), from Latin Boiuvarii (literally “Boii settlers”), a compound of a Gaulish word meaning “cattle owner” (from Proto-Celtic *bāus (“cow”)) + Proto-Germanic *warjaz (“settler”). Alternatively, Pokorny proposes that the first element is a word meaning “warrior”, derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyh₂- (“to hit, beat”). This name was adopted by the Marcomanni after defeating the Boii and settling Bohemia and parts of Bavaria.