A male name. Greek 'Εκτωρ, the name of the heroic s. of Priam; it is uncertain whether this is the same as the adj έκτωρ ‘holding fast’. In the Old French romances the name becomes Ector. Hector is found as a christian name in the 13th C, but it was only in Scotland that it really took root and became common; this was probably due to its being used to translate Gaelic Eachan. Hector Curia Regis Rolls 1303-5.

Greek, ‘defender’; Gaelic, ‘horseman’; Norwegian, ‘hawk of Thor.’ While it is true that the Greek ‘name comes from the Trojan hero, the Scottish from the Gaelic eachan (a horseman), and the Norwegian from Hagtar’ (Swan), it is fairly certain that the Scottish and Norwegian etymologies have been superimposed, by nationalistic philologists, upon that Hector who was ‘the chief hero of the Trojans in their war with the Greeks... He fought with the bravest of the Greeks,’ only to be slain by Achilles. Besides being a great warrior, he is distinguished by the virtues of a man: ‘his heart is open to the gentle feelings of a son, a husband, and a father’ (Blakeney). For his character, see esp. Taylor, Ancient Ideals, I, ch. vii; for a sidelight on his fame, note that, ‘in medieval romance he is the great hero of the Trojan War’ (Harvey). Is his name the origin of the quaint American asseveration, by heck?

From the Greek name’Εκτωρ. The name signifies anchor, lit. what holds; from εχω. Ο—αναξ ο εκτωρ σχεδον τουτον σημανει. Plato, Crat. 393.

Greek (masculine) - An anchor, fig. champion, defender.

A Greek name, meaning: An anchor: literally, holding fast.

A Gaelic name: Eachunn (Dial. Eachainn), Middle Gaelic Eachuinn, g. (M‘V.), Eachdhuin, g. (M‘V.), Eachdhonn, g. Eachduinn (1467 MS.), Irish Eachdonn (year 1042): *Eqo-donno-s, “horse lord,” like Each-thighearna of Mac-echern. Old course “Brown-horse” is possible; cf. Greek Ξάνθιππος. The phonetics are against *Each-duine, “horse-man,” as an explanation.