Modern script – also the Latin one – has its roots in the so-called »karolingische Minuskel«, which is based on the written characters of the Roman Empire. From the 12th century onwards gothic writings gradually emerged to become the most common forms during the 13th to the 15th century in the shape of the »gothic Minuskel« and »gothic Cursive«. From these developed the so-called »Akten-, Kanzlei-, and Kurrentschrift« – all scripts with numerous variants and regional differences.

The graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin (1865–1917) from Berlin tried to standardise various forms of handwritings from the 17th to the 19th century. This was then taught in German schools as the basic writing from around 1913 up to 1940 and was named after him: »Sütterlin«.