What is the origin of the word mother?

Answer 1

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary: ; step- : O.E. steop-, with connotations of "loss," in combinations like steopcild "orphan," related to astiepan, bestiepan "to bereave, to deprive of parents or children," from P.Gmc. *steupa- "bereft" (cf. O.Fris. stiap-, O.N. stjup-, Swed. styv-, M.L.G. stef-, Du. stief-, O.H.G. stiof-, Ger. stief-), lit. "pushed out," from PIE *steup-, from base *(s)teu-(see steep (adj.)). Etymologically, a stepfather or stepmother is one who becomes father or mother to an orphan, but the notion of orphanage faded in 20c. For sense evolution, cf. L. privignus "stepson," related to privus "deprived."

Answer 2

It could possibly come from the Brythonic word "mam" which means "mother". This is a plausible expalanation since the Modern Welsh word (descended from Brythonic) for mother is mam.

When the Brittons were learning Old English (for whatever reason) they would have learnt the word "mother" from Old Englsh but when they were speaking informally they would have kept the "mam". This has been maintained in Modern English were "mam", "mum" or "mom" are said informally but "mother" more formally.

The previous answer about Irish was complete nonsense; ill-informed rubbish.

Answer 3

The word mother comes from Old English and the word modor, which means "female parent." Modor comes from the Proto-Germanic word, "mothaer".