Carolus

Carolus is the Latinized form of the Germanic name Karl, derived from the Old High German element karl, meaning free man or simply man. It served as the scholarly and ecclesiastical Latin rendering of the name and was widely used in medieval documents and royal records across Europe. The most celebrated bearer was Carolus Magnus, known in English as Charlemagne, the Frankish king whose name became so synonymous with rulership that Karl and its cognates spread throughout Europe as royal names. Related forms include Karl, Charles, Carlo, Carlos, and Karel.