📧 The @ Symbol: From Ancient Scrolls to the Heart of the Internet

The @ symbol rules the internet just like the hashtag. Today, it’s everywhere — in emails, social media mentions, user tags, and more. Whether you're sending an email or tagging a friend in a post, you're using "@" — but do you know where this curious little symbol actually comes from?

Let’s rewind time and explore the incredible journey of the "at sign" — from ancient manuscripts to its central place in modern digital life.

📜 Mysterious Early Origins

Ancient Religious Text (1345):
The earliest known use of a symbol resembling "@" dates back to 1345. In a Bulgarian translation of a Greek chronicle by Constantinos Manasses, the symbol was used as part of the word "Amen" in a manuscript stored in the Vatican Apostolic Library. “Why the symbol appeared here is still a mystery.”

Medieval Scribes and Latin "ad":
One theory suggests that medieval monks, always eager to save time and space when copying texts, created "@" as a shorthand for the Latin word "ad" meaning "to," "toward," or "at." They may have combined the letters "a" and "d" into a single flowing symbol — the earliest form of our modern "@".

French "à":
Another possibility: Scribes used "@" as a quick way to write the French word "à", meaning "at" or "to", without lifting their quill from the parchment.

💰 Commerce and the "Arroba"

Southern Europe’s Trade (16th Century):
The most solid historical use of "@" comes from commerce. In 1536, an Italian merchant named Francesco Lapi used "@" in a letter to represent an "amphora", a unit of measurement for storing wine and oil.

Spanish/Portuguese "Arroba":
In Spain and Portugal, "@" became known as "arroba", a unit of weight or volume (about 11.5 kg). The term "arroba" itself comes from the Arabic "ar-rubʿ", meaning "a quarter." A 1448 customs record from Aragon, Spain, also shows this usage — marking it as a standard symbol in trade and shipping.

English-Speaking World — "At the rate of":
By the 19th century, the "@" symbol appeared on typewriters to represent "at the rate of" — as in "12 apples @ $1 each" — a practical tool for commerce.

🌐 The Digital Revolution: Email (1971)

Ray Tomlinson’s Genius Choice:
The "@" symbol’s global fame began in 1971 when computer engineer Ray Tomlinson sent the world’s first email via ARPANET (the forerunner to the internet). He needed a symbol to separate a user's name from the host computer’s name — and "@" was the perfect fit.

Why "@":

• It was already on the keyboard (Model 33 Teletype).
• It was rare in programming languages, reducing the chance of technical conflicts.
• Its meaning — "at" — naturally suited the format user@host.com (user at host).

The First Email:
Tomlinson tested this by sending a message to himself. He later admitted that the content was forgettable — “but the impact of his choice changed the world forever.”

📱 Social Media and Everyday Use

Today, the "@" symbol is not just for emails. It's a global digital tool used to:

• Tag people on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
• Mention users in comments, posts, and chats.
• Identify accounts (e.g., @username) — becoming an essential part of online identity.

🏁 Conclusion

From ancient religious texts and medieval marketplaces to the heart of the internet revolution, the "@" symbol has traveled an incredible path. What started as a scribe’s shorthand and a merchant’s accounting mark is now one of the most recognized and indispensable symbols in the digital age.

Stay tuned! In the next article, I will explain how to effectively use the "@" symbol and hashtags in social media to boost your reach and online presence.