• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

What was the Neanderthal man named after and what does it mean in Greek?

By Karen Hill

The first fossils of our long-dead relative Neanderthal were discovered in 1856 in the Neander Thal, or “Neander Valley” in Germany, so he became known as Neanderthal Man.

The Neander Thal was named in honor of a minister and hymn writer, Joachim Neumann, who used to frequent the valley on nature walks in the late 17th century.

So why didn’t they call the valley Neumann Thal? Deciding to use a pseudonym for his hymns, Neumann, whose name means “new man” in German, translated his name into Greek and got Neander, which is the name by which he became well known.

It became a strange coincidence that “New Man Valley” was named long before a new subspecies of man was discovered there.

Related

  • Where do Neanderthals come from and How did anthropologists discover Neanderthal man?
  • How did Neanderthal man find food and shelter in inhospitable regions like Siberia?
  • Why is the Portuguese Man of War Named after a War Ship from the 16th Century and Where does it Live?
  • How Was the Silhouette Named After a Man?
  • How Did Earth Get its Name and Why Is it the Only Planet Not Named After Greek or Roman Mythology?
  • Who Is the Man In the Moon and What Is the Best Way To See the Man In the Moon At Home With a Flashlight?

Filed Under: Animals

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Accomplishments Animals Culture Finance Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Law Mythology Odds People Plants Religion Science Space The World Universe Your Body

About · Privacy · Contact
Copyright © 2019 Zippy Facts