Huguenot Definition

Origin of Huguenot

• From French huguenot (“Huguenot; also, a personal name and surname”), diminutive of Hugo, Hugon, Hugues, from Middle High German Hūg, Hūc (“Hugh, a man's name”), from Middle High German huge (“mind”), from Old High German hugu (“mind, thought”), from Proto-Germanic *huguz, *hugiz (“mind”), of unknown origin. Cognate with Old English hyge (“thought, mind, heart, disposition, intention, courage, pride”).

  From Wiktionary

• French from Old French huguenot member of a Swiss political movement alteration (influenced by Bezanson Hugues (c. 1491–1532?), Swiss political leader) of dialectal eyguenot from German dialectal Eidgenosse confederate from Middle High German eitgenōz eit oath (from Old High German eid) genōz companion (from Old High German ginōz)

  From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition