An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Hüne
Hüne (a Low German form, in earlier Modern High German Heune), masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German híune, masculine, ‘giant,’ in which sense it is found in the 13th century. This word, phonetically identical with Middle High German Hiune, Old High German Hun, ‘Hun, Hungarian,’ existed in Germany in Old Teutonic names of persons even before the appearance of the Huns. Some etymologists assume, with little probability, that the primitively Teutonic Hûno- was the name of the aborigines of Germany. Undoubtedly the North German Hüne points rather to a Teutonic 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 (Old High German Hûnbolt).