Earl

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Earl

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Earl is a Middle English title of nobility, which probably came from a Germanic word meaning “Intelligence,” or from “eorl” which meant “Nobleman” or “Warrior.” It was adopted in England as an equivalent title for the French “Comte” (Count).

History:
Earl, the title, began being used as a first name in the 19th century, probably influenced by the surname Earl (originally given during the Middle Ages to those who worked for the earl).

Pronunciation: ERL.

Alternates: Earle, Erle.

Feminine: Earline.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970)
American author.
Earle Birney (1904-1995)
Canadian writer.
Earl Hines (1905-1983)
American jazz musician.
Earl Scruggs (1924-)
American bluegrass musician.
Earle Brown (1926-)
American composer.
Earl Lovelace (1935-)
West Indian novelist.

Miscellaneous:
Earl Henry Blaik (1897-1989)
American football coach.
Earle Meadows (1913-)
American pole-vaulter.

Political Figures:
Sir Earle Page (1880-1961)
Australian statesman.
Earl Browder (1891-1973)
American Communist leader.

Religious Figures:
Saint Theodore of Canterbury (602-690)
First archbishop over all of England.

Scientists:
Earl W. Sutherland (1915-1974)
American physiologist. Winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.

Singers and Entertainers:
Earl Carroll (1893-1948)
American theatrical producer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.193 % named Earl
0.006 % named Earle

Popularity of Earl:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 27th most popular.
1910-1920: 31st most popular.
1920-1930: 31st most popular.
1930-1940: 44th most popular.
1940-1950: 72nd most popular.
1950-1960: 111th most popular.
1960-1970: 163rd most popular.
1970-1980: 210th most popular.
1980-1990: 288th most popular.
1990: 419th most popular.
1991: 427th most popular.
1992: 472nd most popular.
1993: 488th most popular.
1994: 534th most popular.
1995: 584th most popular.
1996: 581st most popular.
1997: 635th most popular.
1998: 598th most popular.
1999: 655th most popular.
2000: 721st most popular.
2001: 760th most popular.
2002: 833rd most popular.
2003: 881st most popular.

Popularity of Earle:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 305th most popular.
1910-1920: 358th most popular.
1920-1930: 402nd most popular.
1930-1940: 515th most popular.
1940-1950: 606th most popular.
1950-1960: 773rd most popular.
1960-2000: N/A