Earles

Earles is a surname of English origin, commonly regarded as a variant of the names Earle or Earl. The root is tied to the Old English eorl, meaning a nobleman or warrior, and the surname may have originated as a byname for someone who served a medieval earl or as a descriptive or locational name connected with lands held by an earl. Over time, spelling variations and regional pronunciation contributed to the emergence of the Earles form.

In contemporary usage, Earles appears in English-speaking countries, especially the United Kingdom and the United States. It is less common than its variants Earle or Earl and often arises from historical spelling variation, migration, or transcription in records. The name persists in genealogical sources and in family histories that trace lineage back to medieval England.

There is no widely recognized geographic entity or institution specifically identified by the name Earles, and when the term appears in records it typically denotes a family name rather than a place. Related surnames include Earl, Earle, and Eorl, which share the same linguistic roots and historical associations with nobility in Anglo-Saxon England.

See also: Earl, Earle, Eorl.