Earle
Usually an English surname from the title *earl*, originally a nickname or occupational-style label for someone associated with an earl.
The #4,095 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 35,603 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Earle goes back to Old English *eorl*, meaning “nobleman” or “earl.” In early surname use it seems to have been applied as a nickname or descriptive label for someone who served an earl, behaved like one, or was otherwise connected with the title. Later spelling with -e is a common historical form and does not change the basic meaning.
History
19th-century surname writers usually treated Earl/Earle as an English name from the noble title, and they note it appears in medieval records in forms such as le Earl. The spelling Earle became established alongside Earl, and related forms such as Earles also occur. In some areas, especially in the south of England, the name was also noted as being pronounced like “ale,” reflecting local speech rather than etymology.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname books remark that Earle could be pronounced “Ale” in parts of southern England, a reminder that surname spellings and pronunciations often diverged.
From the historical record
“nicJi. < the count,' ' the countess.' O.F. €onit, or eottUt, a count, an earL ' Comte, a count, an earle' (Cotg.). Countess is naturally found more frequently in early rolls because Earl was the English equivalent of Count ; v. £ari”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instancesNotable people named Earle
- Sylvia Earle (b. 1935)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.