An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hüne

by Friedrich Kluge

Hüne (a LG. form, in earlier ModHG. Heune), m., from the equiv. MidHG. híune, m., ‘giant,’ in which sense it is found in the 13th cent. This word, phonetically identical with MidHG. Hiune, OHG. Hun, ‘Hun, Hungarian,’ existed in Germany in OTeut. names of persons even before the appearance of the Huns. Some etymologists assume, with little probability, that the primit. Teut. Hûno- was the name of the aborigines of Germany. Undoubtedly the North G. Hüne points rather to a Teut. tribe (Sigfrid in the Eddas is called enn hunske). Numerous compound names of places with Hun (Haun) are found in North Germany (Hauna, Hünfeld). Note the names of persons such as Humboldt (OHG. Hûnbolt).