This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Charles m. Old High German karl 'man', Old English c(e)arl, ceorl 'freeman'.

The name of numerous kings and emperors in France, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, England, Portugal, Norway, Bohemia, Spain, and Italy, a 12th C Flemish saint, a 14th C Breton saint, and a 16th C Italian saint.

The prominence of Charles the Great (Charlemagne) helped contribute to the name's enduring popularity.

Austria
Latin
● 813 caroli (gen) UBEnns-1 II
Belgium
Latin
● 1238 Karolum (acc) OvdFB 3
Czech Republic
Latin
● 1356 Karolus (nom) chlumecky 128
England
Latin
● 1348 Caroli (gen) SocAntNor-3-3 no. 10, Carolum (acc) ibid. no. 9; 1349 Karoli (gen) ibid. no. 11, Karolum (acc) ibid. no. 11; 1357 Karolo (abl) ibid. no. 23; 1573 Carolus (nom) Chst-1 p. 12
Early Modern English
● 1530 Charlys LIWill-III p. 9; 1550 Charles BEmar-vol1 p. 4; 1555/6 Charles ibid. p. 5; 1561 Charles CAmar-vol1 p. 2; 1565 Charles ibid. p. 2; 1575 Charles StAnthonlin p. 24; 1576 Charles CAmar-vol1 p. 3, StAnthonlin p. 25; 1578 Charles ibid. p. 26; 1588 Charles DEmar-vol2 p. 15; 1591 Charles ibid. p. 22; 1593 Charles SaxhamSf p. 57; 1597 Charles DEmar-vol1 p. 87; 1599 Charles DEmar-vol2 p. 41, SaxhamSf p. 5
Finland
Early Modern Swedish
● 1548 Kariill (nom) Audén1980 p. 169
France
Latin
● p800 Karoli (gen) InsMacon II, Karolus (nom) ibid. II; 854 Caroli (gen) ibid. VII, Karolus (nom) ibid. VII; 862 Karoli (gen) ibid. IX, Karolo (abl) ibid. IX, Karolus (nom) ibid. IX; c862 Karolus (nom) ibid. VIII; 862x876 Karolus (nom) ibid. X; 876 Karolus (nom) ibid. XI; 1378 Caroli (gen) hanquetvol1 493, Karoli (gen) ibid. 30, Karolo (dat) ibid. 30, Karolus (nom) ibid. 351; 1564 Carolus (nom) FlorLyon p. 172
Middle French
● 1392 Charles MemBret-II col. 608; 1421 Charles favier 322; 1438 Charles ibid. p. 267; 1588 Charles raymond1588 p. 565
◑ 1392 Charlot MemBret-II col. 602; 1418 Charlot HGParis p. 380; 1421 Charlot favier 1226; 1423 Charlot ibid. 343; 1438 Charlot ibid. 250
Germany
Latin
● 779 Karoli (gen) quix-vol1 1, Karolus (nom) ibid. 1; 786 Caroli (gen) HambUrk-vol1 I, Carolus (nom) ibid. I; 788 Karoli (gen) ibid. II, Karolus (nom) ibid. II; 790x814 Karolus (nom) ibid. III; 795x800 Karolus (nom) ibid. IV; 844 Karoli (gen) quix-vol1 2; 855 Karoli (gen) ibid. 3, Karolus (nom) ibid. 3; 882 Caroli (gen) ibid. 96, Carolus (nom) ibid. 96; 887 Karoli (nom) ibid. 4, Karolus (nom) ibid. 4; 888 Karolus (nom) ibid. 5; 930 Karoli (gen) ibid. 10, Karolus (nom) ibid. 10; 966 Karoli (gen) ibid. 13, Karolus (nom) ibid. 13; 972 Karolus (nom) ibid. 15; 997 Karoli (gen) ibid. 16; 998 Karoli (gen) ibid. 18; 1000 Karolo (abl) ibid. 19; 1165 Karolus (nom) ibid. 93
Early New High German
● 1497 Karel Nurn1497 2653, Karll ibid. 1722
Italy
Latin
● 1376 Carlo (abl) DouGen1 p. 29; 1393 Carolus (nom) sajanello-2 p. 19; 1488 Carolus (nom) CID-3 XCIII; 1522x1532 Carolus (nom) DSF p. 51, 21; 1527 Carolus (nom) Rome1527 p. 87
◑ 1267 Carlinus (nom) BBC-Berg p. XLI; 1271 Carlini (gen) ibid. p. XLII; 1282 Carlini (gen) ibid. p. XLVII; 1285 Carlecti (gen) Perugia1285 p. 156; 1376 Carloto (abl) DouGen1 p. 36
Scotland
Latin
● c1100 Carl (gen) ESC XX
Spain
Latin
● 875 Caroli (gen) CDCB-XV MMXVI; 896 Karulo (abl) ibid. MMXIX; 898 Karulo (abl) ibid. MMXXI; 899 Karulo (abl) ibid. MMXXII; 1491 Karoli (gen) carbonell p. 52
Catalan
● 1510 Carles valencia1510 475
Sweden
Latin
● 1350 Karls (gen) SDHK no. 6000, Karoli (gen) ibid. no. 6015, Karolo (dat) ibid. no. 6023, Karolus (nom) ibid. no. 6002
Old Swedish
● 1383 Kaarls (gen) SRA-vol2 no. 1933, Karl ibid. no. 1905, Karls (gen) ibid. no. 1898
Cite as: R. Le Get, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Charles". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2015, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2015/3/name/Charles.