FAQ About Christmas Carol Origins and Stories
How did the character Ebenezer Scrooge get his name?
The name "Scrooge" has become synonymous with a miserly and selfish person, and Charles Dickens chose this name deliberately to reflect the character's personality and traits. The surname "Scrooge" is believed to have originated from a word of Scandinavian origin, "skrugi," meaning "stingy" or "thrifty."
The name Ebenezer, on the other hand, has Hebrew origins and is found in the Old Testament. In the Bible, the word "Ebenezer" is often associated with a stone of help, and it's used to commemorate the assistance that God provided. The name Ebenezer carries a positive connotation in its biblical context.
By combining the name "Ebenezer" with the surname "Scrooge," Dickens created a character whose very name suggests a person who is thrifty to the point of miserliness. The name Ebenezer Scrooge has since become iconic, representing a character who undergoes a profound transformation from greed to generosity in "A Christmas Carol."
