An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Altvordern

by Friedrich Kluge

Altvordern, plur., from the equiv. MidHG. altvordern, OHG. alt-fordoron, m. plur., ‘forefathers,’ lit. ‘the old former ones,’ from OHG. fordoro, ‘farmer.’ With regard to the signification of alt- in this compound, comp. OHG. and MidHG. alt-vater ‘grandfather,’ OHG. alt-hêrro, ‘ancestor,’ OHG. alt-mâg,’ forefather.’