Show ContentsArnett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Arnett was first used as a surname by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The ancestors of the Arnett family lived in the lands of Arnott in the parish of Portmoak in Kinross (now part of the region of Tayside), where one of the first times the name was listed was in 1150 when Michael de Arnoth was mentioned.

Early Origins of the Arnett family

The surname Arnett was first found in the lands of Arnott in the parish of Portmoak, Kinross-shire. The first chief, recorded, Michael Arnott, held those lands about 1150. David, of Fifeshire, his successor was recorded in 1296 when he paid homage to King Edward 1st of England.

Early History of the Arnett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arnett research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1400, 1497, 1498, 1502, 1536, 1600, 1608, 1639, 1652, 1680, 1693, 1743, 1744, 1769, 1890 and 1918 are included under the topic Early Arnett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arnett Spelling Variations

Repeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Arnett has appeared Arnott, Arnot, Arnatt, Arnocht, Arnote, Arnett, Anetts, Arnette, Ernot, Ernott, Annett, Annetts and many more.

Early Notables of the Arnett family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was David Arnot, C.R.S.A., (fl. 1497- c. 1536), Scottish canon regular and bishop from Arnot, Fife, Rector of Kirkforthar, Fife in 1497, Archdeacon of Lothian in 1498; Sir Michael Arnot, 1st Baronet (d. c. 1680) of Arnot in the County of Fife; and his son, Charles Arnot (d. before 1652) represented Kinross in the Scottish Parliament.Further to the south in England, Peter Annet (1693-1769)...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Arnett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arnett Ranking

In the United States, the name Arnett is the 2,498th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [1]

Ireland Migration of the Arnett family to Ireland

Some of the Arnett family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Arnett migration to the United States +

Many Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Arnett:

Arnett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Arnett, who landed in Maryland in 1680 [2]
Arnett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Arnett, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1727 [2]
Arnett Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • P Arnett, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [2]
  • Joh. Arnett, aged 24, who immigrated to America from Russland, in 1892
  • Mrs. J. H. Arnett, aged 52, who immigrated to the United States, in 1893
  • Mrs. W. Arnett, aged 29, who landed in America, in 1893
  • Rebecca L. Arnett, aged 26, who immigrated to America, in 1893
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arnett Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • George Percy Arnett, aged 28, who settled in America from St. Bookham, Surrey, in 1903
  • Clarence Arnett, who settled in America, in 1904
  • Bertha Arnett, aged 6, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
  • May Arnett, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
  • Mr. J. H. Arnett, aged 38, who settled in America, in 1907
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Arnett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Arnett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Ann Arnett, (b. 1783), aged 31, English house keeper who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for receiving stolen goods, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [3]
  • Mr. Daniel Arnett, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [4]
  • Mr. Samuel Arnett, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [5]
  • John Arnett, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia [6]

New Zealand Arnett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Arnett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Arnett, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Celestial Queen" in 1870

Contemporary Notables of the name Arnett (post 1700) +

  • Edward McCollin Arnett (1922-2022), American chemist, member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Bishop Benjamin W. Arnett (1838-1906), American educator and minister
  • Jon Dwane "Jaguar Jon" Arnett (1935-2021), American professional football player, a first-team All-American out of USC and Manual Arts High School, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
  • Ulysses N. Arnett, Democratic President of the West Virginia Senate from 1877 to 1879
  • Ross Harold Arnett Jr. (1919-1999), American entomologist
  • Peter Gregg Arnett (b. 1934), New Zealand-American journalist
  • Floyd Arnett, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1928 [7]
  • Edgar Arnett, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives 77th District, 1950-51 [7]
  • Ed J. Arnett, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Cole County Democratic Party, 1943 [7]
  • Dixon Arnett (b. 1938), American Republican politician, Member of California State Assembly 26th District, 1970-73; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1972 [7]
  • ... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Arnett Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Speratum et completum
Motto Translation: Hoped for and Fulfilled.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
  6. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia in 1849 with 303 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1849
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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