From Old Saxonhērro, from Old High Germanhēriro, hērro, the comparative form of hēr(“noble, venerable”) (German hehr), by analogy with Latin senior(“elder”). The Old High German word originally meant "grey, grey-haired", and descends from Proto-Germanic*hairaz(“grey”), making it cognate with Old English hār (English hoar), Old Norse hárr. Cognate with Old Frisian hēra, Old Dutch hērro, hēro.