An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Ruhm

by Friedrich Kluge

Ruhm, masculine, ‘fame, celebrity; rumour,’ from Middle High German ruom (ruon), masculine, ‘fame, honour, praise,’ Old High German ruon, earlier hruom, masculine; compare Old Saxon hrôm, masculine, ‘fame,’ Dutch roem. From the root hrô are derived, with a different suffix, the equivalent Old Icelandic hróðr, masculine, Anglo-Saxon hrêþ, masculine, Old High German hruod-, ruod-, in compounds like Rudolf, Robert, &c.; also Gothic hrôþeigs, ‘victorious.’ The Teutonic root hrô is based on Aryan kar, krā̆, to which Sanscrit kir, ‘to commend,’ and kîrtí, ‘fame,’ are allied.