Carl

The surname Carl is of Germanic origin, and its meaning can be traced back to the Old Norse “karl,” meaning “free man.” It was commonly used as a first name in the Middle Ages, and later became a surname. People with the surname Carl can be found in many countries, including Germany, the United States, and Sweden. Notable people with the surname Carl include Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, American astronaut Carl Sagan, and German philosopher Karl Marx.