New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesAlternative Theory For "Charles"
The origin for Charles says there's an alternative theory that the name could've derived from the Germanic name element "hari" which means "army, warrior". Where does that come from? Where is the connection to that theory and how do I research this?
1
Replies
A colleague of mine who is also into naming once wrote a little article in German about this (no idea whether and where this ever got published, sorry).
It looks that the alternative theory comes from a book written by some Henning Kaufmann 40 or 50 years ago, in German.
The theory seems to center about the assumption that the letter/sound "l" is not part of the original name root, as the prevalent main-line theory seems to assume, but coming from the latinization Carolus, with -olus added for mere diminuation. And then some speculation about Germanic "h" pronounced like "ch" and latinized as "c" in names, and you arrive at "har" as the root.
Further support for that theory seems to be an old mix form / alternative latinization Hariolus.
If you google "hariolus form karl" you find some pages and book references in German mentioning that.
It looks that the alternative theory comes from a book written by some Henning Kaufmann 40 or 50 years ago, in German.
The theory seems to center about the assumption that the letter/sound "l" is not part of the original name root, as the prevalent main-line theory seems to assume, but coming from the latinization Carolus, with -olus added for mere diminuation. And then some speculation about Germanic "h" pronounced like "ch" and latinized as "c" in names, and you arrive at "har" as the root.
Further support for that theory seems to be an old mix form / alternative latinization Hariolus.
If you google "hariolus form karl" you find some pages and book references in German mentioning that.
1