What's in a (Barn Owl) Name?

The word "owl"originated in early European Languages. In old Norse, an owl was Ugla and in old German uwila, both words derived from the owl's unique call. In Old English (AD600 to 100), owl was ule and by the time of Middle English (AD 1000 to the 1400s) the word had become owe.

"Barn" comes from the old English bereoern, a "barley house", from bere, barley and aern,house. Owls and barns have been around for a long time, but it was only in the 19th Century that these birds were routinely called barn owls.

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