Old English eorl, of Germanic origin. The word earl originally denoted a man of noble rank, as opposed to a churl, also specifically a hereditary nobleman next above the rank of thane. It was later an equivalent of jarl and, under Canute and his successors, applied to the governor of divisions of England such as Wessex. In the late Old English period, as the Saxon court came under Norman influence, the word was applied to any nobleman bearing the continental title of count (see count²).

• In Saxon days an earl was a man of noble rank, as opposed to a churl (source of churlish), or ordinary peasant, or a thane, who was a man granted land by the king. At the time of King Canute's rule in the early 11th century, the governor of a large division of England such as Wessex was called an earl. As the court started to be influenced by the Normans, the word was applied to any nobleman who held the continental title of count. See also duke