Arnold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Arnold

What does the name Arnold mean?

The name Arnold originated with the Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled Britain. It is derived from the personal name Arnoaldi, which is itself derived from the Frankish name “Arnuwalda.” The Frankish given name Arnuwald, which is composed of two elements, arnu, which means eagle, and walda, which means powerful, was given to a person who was as powerful as an eagle.

Another source notes: “Arnold. – Introduced by the Normans. Though widely scattered, it is confined south of a line from the Wash to the Mersey. It is at present most frequent in Warwickshire and Leicestershire. In the time of Edward I. it was numerously represented in Cambridgeshire (Hundred Rolls).” 1

However, not all of the family emigrated to England at the time of the Conquest: “Robert Ernaldus, or Ernaut, and William Ernaut occur in Normandy 1180-98 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae).” 2

Early Origins of the Arnold family

The surname Arnold was first found in various counties and shire throughout ancient Britain. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 elude to this: Arnald or Amard Atte-broke in Essex; Walter filius Arnald in Lincolnshire; Stephen Arnold in Kent; John filius Arnoldi in Cambridgeshire; and Ayelina relicta Arnold in Huntingdonshire. 3 Some of these early listings reflect the Latin from of the names which was so prevalent at the time.

Further to the north in Scotland, the name was probably derived from “Aeenald (Ernald, Ernold) or Arnold, second abbot of Kelso, who was elected bishop of St. Andrews, 1160. William le fiz Arnaud (the French form of the name), was king’s tenant in counte de Linlescu and Henry le fiz Arnaud del counte de Selkirk rendered homage 1296.” 4 The latter reference “rendered homage” was noting the this person had paid homage to King Edward I of England upon his invasion of Scotland.