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ArchivesCarl vs. Karl
A few months ago someone asked me what the etymology of Carl vs. Karl was. Given that my name is Carl, I was a bit embarrassed that I didn't know. Looking on this site, it appears they both came from Charles (or perhaps Charles came from them...?). Anyone now why there are two different spellings? Are they from different cultures? Or just alternate spellings of the same name?
Thanks!
Carl
Thanks!
Carl
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Replies
I think usually you can say: K is Greek and C is Latin. But in the case of Carl/Karl this does not really apply, because Karl (this is the German form) obviously is a genuine Germanic name (see my post "Maybe Karl is not a Man" ab few days ago). But in the Middle Ages everybody spelt his words the way he wanted to, so there was a lot of to and fro between some letters and C and K were some of them. I would say the Latin influence on the German language was stronger then (let's say around 700 A.D.), but I don't really know much about this.
Andy ;—)
Andy ;—)
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It's more accurate to say they come from the same origins as Charles, rather than to say they come from Charles. The Latin version would be Carolus, and from that we have Charles, Carroll, Carlos, Carl, Karl (coming through the Germanic route) and several feminine versions such as Carol, Carole, Charlotte, Carla, Karla, Carlette, etc. etc. Yes, they're alternate spellings of the same name that developed in different countries.
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