Etymology of Names

Here are some interesting facts about the meaning's of some of the very popular Harry Potter characters:

· Professor Lupin's first name, Remus refers to the twins of ancient times, Romulus and Remus who were abandoned as babies, later being raised by wolves (Lupin is an animagus who turns into a wolf.) Together they founded the city of Rome in Italy.

. Canis Lupus is the scientific name for "wolf" and "lupine" means "wolf like."

· Weasley means "resembling or suggestive of a weasel."

· In another language, Ron Weasley is called "Running Weasel." Running Weasel was a warlord in the 6th Dynasty. He was a brilliant strategist and never a lost a game of chess. (Just like Ron!) Unfortunately he died when a rat, who had earlier that day been dyed yellow by the soldiers for fun, knocked over a lamp in his palace burning it to the ground and killing Running Weasel.

· With reference to Nimbus Broomsticks, in Greek Mythology, Nimbus was a great storm cloud that when it came to the ground turned into a god or a goddess.

· To "filch" means "to steal in a nasty way." In Greek Mythology Argus was a monster with eyes all over his head. (Filch always seems to know everything that's going on at Hogwarts.)

· Hagrid means "hungover." That is something Hagrid always seems to be.

· Patronus means "protector." So, "Expecto Patronus" means to "expect protection."

· The Mirror of Erised spells "desire" backwards. The inscription on the mirror reads: "I show not your face but your hearts desire."

· Minerva McGonagall's name in Roman Mythology means "Goddess of Wisdom." (Too true) In Greek Mythology she was the "Goddess of War."

· J.K. Rowling stated in an interview that Snape's name comes from the name of a town she once visited.

· Dumbledore means "bumblebee." (Strange…)

· Sirius was Orion's dog in Greek Mythology. Orion was also the brightest star in the sky. Sirius was part of the constellation Conus Major. Sirius also means "Dog Star."

· Maxime means "greatest" in Latin.

· Myrtle means " a token of victory" in Greek.

· Harry means "powerful warrior" in Teutonic.

· Draco Malfoy in scholar tongue means "dragon."

· It has been suggested that J.K. Rowling named The Three Broomsticks after "The Three Jolly Bargemen" from the Charles Dickens novel, Great Expectations.

· Draco Malfoy's mother's name, Narcissa is the feminine for "Narcissus." Narcissus was a beautiful youth in Greek Mythology who stared at his own reflection for so long that he eventually turned into the narcissus flower. Somehow I find it hard to believe that Narcissa Malfoy is beautiful.

· Beauxbatons is French for "beautiful wands."

· Durmstrang in German means "storm and stress."

· Fleur Delacour in French is translated as "Flower of the Court."

· Fluffy was a real beast! In Greek Mythology Cerebrus, a three-headed dog was the guard of the underworld.

· Gilderoy was a highway-man known to be very handsome.

· Lockhart is named after a town in Australia! Located near Wagga Wagga thus the reason for the reference "Compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga werewolf."

· Hedwig was a saint that lived in the 13th and 14th Century.

· The ancient Hagrid according to Greek Mythology was the God of Jewels who was accused and framed for murdering Piraeus's (Medusa's killer) son. He was then banished from Olympus but Zeus later let him stay as watcher of the animals. Amazing is all I can say.

· This next one is brilliant. Nicholas Flamel was a REAL person! He apparently really did create the Philosopher's Stone! He spent many years of his life trying to create this Stone that could turn any metal into gold and then unlock the secrets of immortality but he never did actually figure it out.

· Mrs. Norris is one of J.K. Rowling's favourite Jane Austen characters.

· Pavarti Patil's name comes from Hindu! Parvati was a Hindu Goddess who married Hindu God Siva the Destroyer. She gave birth to a son, Ganesh, who Siva beheaded (twit!) but then replaced with the head of an elephant.

· Tom Marvolo Riddle re-arranged spells "I am Lord Voldemort."

· Lord Voldemort has some interesting origins. According to ancient history of medieval times Voldemortist or "Lord of Evil" or "Dark Lord" tried to destroy Merlin before the time of King Arthur by bewitching good people and bribing those who were already evil. Legend has it that Merlin did destroy Voldemortist using a paralysing charm (full body bind?) fed him to the many-headed beast (Fluffy?) of the lake, The Lady of the Lakes pet. He then freed the bewitched people and destroyed the evil men. This was approximately 12 or 13 years before Arthur. Think about Harry and how many years before he goes to Hogwarts. Yes…exactly! In French it also means "thief of death."