Where does “earl” come from?
Earl comes from Middle English erl, from Old English eorl, from Proto-Germanic erlaz, from Proto-Germanic erōną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁er-.
earl (English): A British or Irish nobleman next in rank above a...
Definitions
- A British or Irish nobleman next in rank above a...
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... |