Do you know how the German pronunciation has shifted over 2,000 years? Herman = Erman (if the H is silent), and the “ius” is just a Latin masculine ending, presumably added when Herman, as a young man, was a hostage/cadet/honored guest being brought up in Rome as a means of ensuring his father’s good behavior. What I don’t know is how the “E” sound in “Erman” becomes the “A” sound in “Armenius.” How did the Germans pronounce “Herman” 2000 years ago? Those vowel shifts are tricky things.
Fascinating. I’m not a linguist. So I have no idea. Had a very interesting conversation at Schipol in Holland with a Dane, and Irishman and Dutchman. (I know, sounds like the beginning of a joke). The Dane was a linguist. Pretty fascinating conversation. And the best bartender I ever met (Indonesian fellow).
These guys will get you in the mood to discuss things German !
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heilung
I’m doing a lot of family genealogical research. German ancestors were using Latin names into the 1700s, probably influenced by the Roman Catholic church.
“What I don’t know is how the “E” sound in “Erman” becomes the “A” sound in “Armenius.” How did the Germans pronounce “Herman” 2000 years ago?”
It was probably just changed by transliteration, because “Armenius” was more palatable to Latin tongues than “Ermanius”. Same as how “Caesar” becomes “Kaiser” to the Germans, because they don’t naturally use the “soft” C much.