Where does “Earl” come from?
Earl derives from Middle English erl, Old English eorl, Proto-Germanic erlaz, Proto-Germanic erōną, and Proto-Indo-European h₁er-, though the ultimate semantic origin remains uncertain.
Earl (English): The title of an earl
Definitions
- The title of an earl
Ancestry of “Earl”, step by step
Earl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English erl
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | erl | Alternative form of erle |
| 2 | Old English | eorl | Anglo-Saxon of noble rank; a nobleman ranking... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | erlaz | man, nobleman |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | erōną | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁er- | earth |
via Middle English erle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | erle | A great noble subordinate to a king or duke; a... |