Surname Karll - Meaning and Origin
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Karll: What does the surname Karll mean?
The last name Karll typically has German or Swedish origins, and it is derived from the Old German word charal, meaning “free man”. The earliest known use of the name dates back to 1250 in Germany, where it was initially written as “Karle”—one of its many derivatives.
The name has also been associated with the town of Karlshamn in Sweden, which in 2006 had a population of around 7,500 people. It also has a proper noun association with “Charlemagne”, the legendary French ruler, as “Karl” (meaning Charles) is a popular variant of his name.
It is a commonly seen surname among Germanic families; in the US, the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Michigan are among the most prominent enclaves of Karll Indians. In Germany, the name is one of the top 500 last names, holding the 214th rank in 2020.
Karll is a powerful surname, which is believed to denote characteristics such as ambition, leadership and a strong sense of freedom. Those with this surname are said to have strong loyalties to friends and family, while at the same time displaying a fiercely independent streak.
The last name is a legacy name with an age-old history in Germany and neighboring countries. It is associated with stability, loyalty, and independence, and a reminder of where one has come from and where one is going.
Order DNA origin analysisKarll: Where does the name Karll come from?
The last name Karll is a German surname that can be found all over the world. In Germany, it is most common in the north-east, especially in the north-western border like North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and also Bremen. It is also quite common in Austria, but there it is spelled Karler. It is much less popular in other German-speaking countries, but still present.
It is also recognizable throughout the United States, where it is usually spelled Karll. Most likely originating from the German-speakers that migrated from Germany and Austria. Even if the spelling differs, it isn’t hard to make the connection between Karler and Karll. The same is true in many other countries where German immigrants or their descendants went to, including the United Kingdom and Canada.
Outside of Europe and the Americas, there are still people who bear the Karll name. Countries like India, Australia, and New Zealand have sizable numbers, probably due to more recent immigration. In many of these places the spelling could be slightly different due to pronunciation and cultural differences, but it's still the same last name.
Overall the most common places to find the Karll surname today are Germany, the United States, and other countries both in Europe and with large populations of German immigrants.
Variations of the surname Karll
The surname Karll is one of the most common surnames of Scandinavian origin. Variants of the name include Carl, Karl, Kall, Kalle, Karls, Karlson, and Carlson.
The spelling of this name has evolved over time, beginning as Karl, which is likely due to the influence of the Swedish language. Other spellings, such as Kall, Kalle, and Carl are all derived from the Germanic word “karl,” which directly translates into English as man.
Surnames associated with this name include Karlsen, Karlsson, Karlstrom, and Carlsdotter. These surnames are all derived from the Scandinavian naming pattern, which assigns surnames based on a person's father. The suffix “-sen” or “-son” indicates that a father and son have the same name, whereas the suffixes “dotter” or “dottir” refer to a daughter with the same name.
The spelling and variants of the name Karll have long been used throughout Scandinavia and German-speaking countries, demonstrating the influence of Germanic language on their culture. Despite the many spelling variations, the surnames of Karll have always remained closely linked to one another.
Famous people with the name Karll
- Lauren Karll: Actress known for her roles in "A Christmas Miracle" and "Too On The Nose".
- Michael Karll: Former professional golfer who competed in multiple PGA and European Tour events.
- Claudia Karll: Latin American pop singer and songwriter active since the late 1980s.
- Ethan Karll: American actor known for his roles in "Home Alone 3" and "Sideways".
- Jacqueline Karll: British television presenter, writer and producer.
- Jasper Karll: American musician and the former frontman of the rock band, The Zones.
- Francis Karll: Retired American professional basketball player who played for the Detroit Pistons from 1999 to 2006.
- Harold Karll: Awardwinning Canadian painter renowned for his use of intense colors in his works.
- Boris Karll: Awardwinning Russian composer and arranger who has scored music for more than 25 feature films.
- Zita Karll: German model who has modelled for various magazines and campaigns around the world.