AboutKevin Johnson Expertise I grew up and live in Germany, so I can answer questions on the German language, culture, current events, politics and style. My field of work is science, so I will also be able to answer questions regarding technical vocabulary.
I will not do translations of more than approx. half a page (typewritten), though.
Experience I lived all my life in Germany. I have a strong lifelong interest in languages.
Expert: Kevin Johnson Date: 6/14/2008 Subject: etymology
Question Hi,
I've been very interested in your translation of the meaning of the name
caroline (as you can see, it's part of my name) as I've been looking for a
trustworthy source of information. I've read everywhere that Caroline comes
from Charles or Karl in German which means "strong, virile". For a girl's name,
it doesn't sound so great...
May I please ask you why you translate Caroline as "noble woman" and how
do you translate Karl? can you give me references please (if you have them) or
at least tell me if you are translating from today's German or from Medieval
German?
Thanks a lot,
Have a pleasant day,
Caroline-Morgane
Answer Hello Caroline-Morgane,
As you correctly state the name Caroline is the English version of the German name Karoline, which derives from the male name Karl or Karol (the English version of it being Charles or Carl).
In Old Norse (Old High German) the name Karl or Karol means "free", "the free" or "free man". So Caroline also means "free" and as a female name it must mean "free woman".
In the feudal systems of the middle ages commoners were bound to their liege lord (much like indentured laborers), so only the nobility was really somewhat free, which explains why the names Karl, Karoline, Karla (another female version of Karl) and Charles, Charlotte, Caroline, etc. were predominantly given to children of the nobility. Hence the association of "noble woman" / "noble man". But oringinally it only means "free".
You did not ask about the second part of your name, so I guess you must already know Morgane could derive from the same roots as the male version Morgan, which comes from Old Welsh "mor"="sea" and "cant"="circle" which is also related to the Irish "moraigeanta"="magnanimous". But the female version could also mean "great queen" and is related to the name of Morrigan, an Irish goddess of war. Morgane is the French spelling of the English Morgana or Morgaine.
