What are the origins of the word Hebrew?

Question

I have read that this word may derive from an Egyptian decree issued by Pharoah Merueptah (1224 which referred to the hebrew word 'habitu' (type of slave) who carry stones for the great pylon of the great city of Rameses'.

But what is the actual etymology?

Answer 1

From Chambers Dictionary 11th Ed.:

ORIGIN: OFr Ebreu and L Hebraeus, from Gr Hebraios, from Aramaic ʻebrai (Heb ʻibrī), literally, one from the other side (of the Euphrates)

From Oxford English Dictionary 2nd. Ed.:

ME. Ebreu, a. OF. Ebreu, Ebrieu (nom. Ebreus, 12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. med.L. Ebrę̄us for cl.L. Hebræus, a. Gr. Ἑβραῖος, f. Aramaic ‭ﻋebrai, corresp. to Heb. ‭ﻋibrī ‘a Hebrew’, lit. ‘one from the other side (of the river)’;

From Etymonline:

late O.E., from O.Fr. Ebreu, from L. Hebraeus, from Gk. Hebraios, from Aramaic 'ebhrai, corresponding to Heb. 'ibhri "an Israelite," lit. "one from the other side," in reference to the River Euphrates, or perhaps simply signifying "immigrant;" from 'ebher "region on the other or opposite side." The noun is c.1200, "the Hebrew language;" late 14c. of persons, originally "a biblical Jew, Israelite."

From Collins English Dictionary:

[from Old French Ebreu, from Latin Hebraeus, from Greek Hebraios, from Aramaic `ibhray, from Hebrew `ibhrī one from beyond (the river)]

Answer 2

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Hebrew.html#.UA7JVmGwzW4

The word Hebrew comes from the verb (עבר) meaning to pass over, through, take away. The first application of this word is in the name Eber. The second application is in the first occurrence of the word עברי, Hebrew in Genesis 14:13, where Abram is called Hebrew. The first case of narrative use of this verb is in the enigmatic cadaver vision of Genesis 15:17, "...there appeared a smoking furnace and a flaming torch that passed between these parts."