The @ symbol is a ubiquitous character that plays a critical role in modern digital communication. In this video, we explain where the @ symbol comes from and how its use evolved step by step, using real historical records and verified technological milestones.
The @ Symbol Explained: Where It Came From and What It Originally Meant | Simple Things Surprising Histories
This documentary-style episode from Simple Things Surprising Histories covers the complete history of the @ symbol, from its 16th-century origins in Italy to its modern use as the defining icon of the digital age.
Topics covered in this video:
• What the @ symbol is and its everyday uses
• Francesco Lapi and the 1536 Florentine merchant letter
• How the @ symbol originally represented terracotta wine jars (amphoras)
• The evolution of the @ sign into a business and accounting shortcut
• Why the @ key was included on late 19th-century typewriters
• Ray Tomlinson and the creation of the first network email in 1971
• How the ARPANET project saved the @ symbol from extinction
• What different cultures and languages call the @ symbol (the snail, monkey’s tail, little dog)
Chapters:
00:01 – INTRO: The Hidden History on Your Keyboard
01:00 – CHAPTER 1: The Merchant and the Wine Jar
02:08 – CHAPTER 2: The Typewriter’s Forgotten Key
02:53 – CHAPTER 3: The ARPANET Accident
04:01 – CHAPTER 4: The Snail, the Dog, and the Monkey
04:34 – OUTRO
This video is designed for students, educators, and general audiences who want a clear explanation of internet history and typography without unnecessary complexity. All explanations are factual, educational, and suitable for learning purposes.
If you are searching for:
origin of the at symbol
who invented the @ symbol
history of email
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this video provides a complete and accurate overview.
#AtSymbol #InternetHistory #Typography #TechHistory #HistoryExplained #EducationalDocumentary #historyfacts #historydocumentary #sciencefacts #techdocumentary #simplethings #simplethingssurprisinghistories
25 Comments
A quick web search shows that this isn't the origin of the @ symbol. The wikipedia page gives older accounts of the symbol and says that its not clear where it came from.
I use "ALT" + "L" for @
monkeys tail, never heard of in Germany. Just at
In Greece they call it "papaki" ("the little duck")
❤
I’m never calling it “at” again… it’s officially the “snail” now 🐌😂
Wowie❤
I'm so glad I found this channel
This was so informative! I love this channel so much 🙌🏾☺️
In Greece we call it little duck😂
Please make video about Internet data pack and how they work as currency😊😊
Interesting.
I never met any German calling it Monkey's Tail. I have met one of two Germans calling it "Schnirpfelschnurz" though. All the others I met just call it "at".
Fascinating as always…….. Thank you
IIRC, I learned in typing class 40 years ago that it was a lower case ampersand. Which makes sense given that it originally represented an “amphora” of wine.
Делаю реферат по этой теме. Пока искал информацию, нашел множество вариантов происхождения @ (кстати у нас в России его называют "собака А"). На сайте bbc видел, что самое раннее задокументирванное появление этого символа в значении меры веса (или амфоры) было не в 1536, а почти на сотню лет раньше.
Но самое ранее появление @ примерно 1340-е годы. Правда там это была просто красивая закорючка 🙂
Wow! I learnt something new today. keep the good work up
It is also called a shtrudel
Wow@
In Greece, it's called a duckling! Not because it looks like a duckling – which it doesn't… It's because it looks like a testicle, and the slang word for this, is almost identical to duckling 😂
In France it is called arobase
I don't use @ to log into websites. I just type the name
In French, it is not called saillant or escargot but arobase, which relates to anciens printing characters.
in Spanish is called " arroba "
Very cool info.😍