Changes: Charlus Potter

Revision as of 18:52, 8 January 2015

Charlus Potter was a wizard and a member of the Potter family. He married Dorea Black and together had a son. Since Dorea was not disowned by her family (who believed strongly in the importance of blood purity), it can be assumed that Charlus was a respectable pure-blood wizard.^[2]

Etymology

Charlus could refer back to the name Charles. It is derived from the Germanic karl or hari. It can mean "man" or "army,warrior". This can relate to many members of the Potter family.
Potter is a very common surname of English origin. It traditionally refers to the occupation of making pottery. Beatrix Potter was a well-known English children's author. Potter's field is the name for a burial ground for the unknown or unclaimed dead, particularly soldiers and orphans; the Potter family had many members that fit that description. The Potter Box is a model for making ethical decisions developed at Harvard University. J. K. Rowling has also commented that she has liked the name since childhood, as a family that had lived near her carried this surname.^[3]

Behind the scenes

There is some speculation that Charlus Potter was the father of James Potter and the paternal grandfather of Harry Potter, given that J. K. Rowling has said that James's parents were older when they had him^[4], and Dorea Potter would have been forty years old when he was born^[2]. However, Rowling also said that James's parents died of natural causes when they were elderly, presumably around the same time^[5]. Dorea died at the age of fifty-seven^[2], which is not elderly in wizarding terms. This may be a mathematical error, as Rowling has also admitted that math is not her strong suit^[6] and inconsistencies have been noted in the timeline.
Another possibility is that Charlus was an uncle or a distant cousin of James. If so, then this leaves us with the mystery of what happened to the son of Charlus and Dorea. Since Harry was not supposed to have any living family other than the Dursley family, we could assume that Charlus, Dorea, and their son must have died before 1981.

Appearances

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Appears on Black family tree tapestry)

Notes and references

↑ Since Dorea was not disowned by her family (who believed strongly in the importance of blood purity), it can be assumed that Charlus was a respectable pure-blood wizard.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Black Family tree
↑ Barnes and Noble interview, March 19, 1999
↑ Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling
↑ 16 July 2005 Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet Interview
↑ F.A.Q. at J.K. Rowling's Official Site

[1] Since Dorea was not disowned by her family (who believed strongly in the importance of blood purity), it can be assumed that Charlus was a respectable pure-blood wizard.

[BFT-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Black Family tree

[3] Barnes and Noble interview, March 19, 1999

[4] Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling

[5] 16 July 2005 Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet Interview

[6] F.A.Q. at J.K. Rowling's Official Site

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Wizard individual infobox
 |name=Charlus Potter
-|born=Around the [[1920s]]
+|born=
-|died=Around [[1977]]
+|died=Before [[31 October]], [[1981]]
 |blood=[[Pure-blood]] (most likely)<ref>Since Dorea was not disowned by her [[House of Black|family]] (who believed strongly in the importance of [[blood purity]]), it can be assumed that Charlus was a respectable [[pure-blood]] wizard.</ref>
 |image=
@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |eyes=
 |hair=
+|marital=[[Charlus and Dorea Potter|Married]]
-|born=
-|died=Before [[31 October]], [[1981]]
-|marital=Married
 |family=*[[Dorea Black]] (wife) †
 *[[Charlus Potter's son|Son]]
@@ Line 30: / Line 28: @@
 }}
 '''Charlus Potter''' was a [[Wizardkind|wizard]] and a member of the [[Potter family]]. He married [[Dorea Black]] and together had [[Charlus Potter's son|a son]]. Since Dorea was not disowned by her [[House of Black|family]] (who believed strongly in the importance of [[blood purity]]), it can be assumed that Charlus was a respectable [[pure-blood]] wizard.<ref name="BFT">''[[House of Black|Black Family tree]]''</ref>
+==Etymology==
+*''Charlus ''could refer back to the name ''Charles''. It is derived from the Germanic ''karl ''or ''hari''. It can mean "man" or "army,warrior". This can relate to many members of the Potter family.
+*Potter is a very common surname of English origin. It traditionally refers to the occupation of making pottery. {{wplink|Beatrix Potter}} was a well-known English children's author. {{wplink|Potter's field}} is the name for a burial ground for the unknown or unclaimed dead, particularly soldiers and orphans; the Potter family had many members that fit that description. The {{wplink|Potter Box}} is a model for making ethical decisions developed at Harvard University. J. K. Rowling has also commented that she has liked the name since childhood, as a family that had lived near her carried this surname.<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0399-barnesandnoble.html Barnes and Noble interview, March 19, 1999]</ref>
 ==Behind the scenes==
-*There is some speculation that Charlus Potter was [[James Potter's father|the father]] of [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and the paternal grandfather of [[Harry Potter]], given that [[J. K. Rowling]] has said that James's parents were older when they had him<ref>[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling]</ref>, and Dorea Potter would have been forty years old when he was born<ref name="BFT" />. However, Rowling also said that James's parents died of natural causes when they were elderly, presumably around the same time<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-3.htm 16 July 2005 Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet Interview]</ref>. Dorea died at the age of fifty-seven<ref name="BFT" />, which is not elderly in wizarding terms. This may be a mathematical error, as Rowling has also admitted that math is not her strong suit<ref>[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=63 F.A.Q.] at [[J.K.Rowling Official Site|J.K. Rowling's Official Site]]</ref> and [[Dating conventions#contradictions|inconsistencies]] have been noted in the timeline.
+*There is some speculation that Charlus Potter was [[James Potter's father|the father]] of [[James Potter I|James Potter]] and the paternal grandfather of [[Harry Potter]], given that [[J. K. Rowling]] has said that James's parents were older when they had him<ref>[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript Leaky Cauldron: 30 July 2007 Webchat with J.K. Rowling]</ref>, and Dorea Potter would have been forty years old when he was born<ref name="BFT" />. However, Rowling also said that James's parents died of natural causes when they were elderly, presumably around the same time<ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-tlc_mugglenet-anelli-3.htm 16 July 2005 Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet Interview]</ref>. Dorea died at the age of fifty-seven<ref name="BFT" />, which is not elderly in wizarding terms. This may be a mathematical error, as Rowling has also admitted that math is not her strong suit<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20120204062156/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=63 F.A.Q.] at [[J.K.Rowling Official Site|J.K. Rowling's Official Site]]</ref> and [[Dating conventions#contradictions|inconsistencies]] have been noted in the timeline.
 *Another possibility is that Charlus was an uncle or a distant cousin of James. If so, then this leaves us with the mystery of what happened to [[Charlus Potter's son|the son of Charlus and Dorea]]. Since Harry was not supposed to have any living family other than the [[Dursley family]], we could assume that Charlus, Dorea, and their son must have died before 1981.
-*It is also possible that Charlus Potter may have been a member of [[Gryffindor]] house, like the rest of the [[Potter family]].
 ==Appearances==
@@ Line 46: / Line 47: @@
 [[es:Charlus Potter]]
 [[fr:Charlus Potter]]
+[[pl:Charlus Potter]]
 [[Category:British individuals]]
 [[Category:Males]]