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The name Alder?
I see in other sources that Alder comes from the birch tree, but I wondered if there were any further meanings. I read somewhere that it may come from the word "white" ...There are names listed here that are versions of it (Delaney and Vernon, for example, but no Alder itself).Thanks.
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While alder is in the same plant family as birch, (Betulaceae), they are not of the same genus. As far as I know, there is no other meaning for alder than that of the tree. (Alnus is the Latin genus.) There is a tree called White Alder (Aluns rhombifolia) which may be where someone falsely derived the meaning "white".It is a plant of magical significance in the Celtic traditions if that is of any interest.
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I know of the name Aldert a short form of Adelhart (Noble Heart), and it could also come from Ald , means Old, Experienced in germanic.
So I think it means either Old or NobleMar.
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