Arnold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Italy
Ireland
Scotland

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.

Early History of the Arnold family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arnold research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1212, 1273, 1296, 1587, 1615, 1635, 1676, 1678, 1702 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Arnold History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arnold Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Arnold has appeared include Arnold, Ernold, FitzArnold, Arrnold, Errnold, Aernold and many more.

Early Notables of the Arnold family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

William Arnold (1587-ca.1676), English settler to America in 1635, one of the founding settlers of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and with his sons was among the wealthiest peo...
Benedict Arnold (1615-1678), English-born settler from Somerset, President and then Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Arnold World Ranking

In the United States, the name Arnold is the 170^th most popular surname with an estimated 139,272 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Arnold is ranked the 503^rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,704 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Arnold is the 626^th popular surname with an estimated 73 people with that name. 7 France ranks Arnold as 1,441^st with 4,003 people. 8 Australia ranks Arnold as 243^rd with 14,122 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Arnold as 328^th with 1,907 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Arnold as 250^th with 23,892 people. 11

Migration of the Arnold family to Ireland

Some of the Arnold family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arnold migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Arnold arrived in North America very early:

Arnold Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William and Thomas Arnold of Nottingham, England, who settled in Higham Mass, and Watertown New York in May 1635. William later moved to Providence, Rhode Island. He was allegedly the richest man in the colony, and he was the ancestor of Benedict Arnold
Ann Arnold, aged 39, British settler from Middlesex, England who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 12
James Arnold, aged 37, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 12
Jasper Arnold, (Shoreditch) aged 40, British settler from Middlesex who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Abigail" 12
John Arnold, who landed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1635 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arnold Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nich Arnold, who landed in Virginia in 1706 12
Johan Arnold, who landed in New York in 1709 12
Hans Georg Arnold, who landed in America in 1709 12
John Arnold, who landed in Virginia in 1714 12
Fra Arnold, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arnold Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joh Geft Arnold, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 12
Joseph Hayman Arnold, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1806 12
Henri Arnold, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1807 12
David Arnold, aged 34, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 12
J Arnold, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arnold Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

John C Arnold, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1902 12

Arnold migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Arnold Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Joseph Arnold from Sherborne, Dorset, was an apprentice of Henry Brooks in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland in 1752 13
Sigismund Friedrich Arnold, who arrived in Canada in 1783
Mr. Amasa Arnold, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 14
Mr. Andrew Arnold, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 14
General Benedict Arnold, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who settled in Canada c. 1783 struck off by order in council Janruary 8, 1799 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arnold Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

George Arnold was a defendant in the Supreme Court in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1810 13
Pat Arnold from County Waterford, Ireland, was married in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1811 13
John Arnold from England and his brother William settled at Greenspond, Newfoundland in 1836, moved later to Traytown 13
Miss. Dorothy Arnold, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Leontine" departing 28th May 1847 from Bremen, Germany; the ship arrived on 28th July 1847 but she died on board 15
Ms. Hannah Arnold who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Leontine" departing 28th May 1847 from Bremen, Germany; the ship arrived on 28th July 1847 but she died on board 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arnold migration to Australia +

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

Arnold Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Sarah Arnold, British Convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. James Arnold, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
Mr. Patrick Arnold, (b. 1792), aged 28, Irish cotton spinner who was convicted in County Meath, Ireland for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1831 18
Mr. William Arnold, Canadian convict who was convicted in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for life, transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 19
Mr. William Arnold, British Convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arnold 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:

Arnold Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

T Arnold, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Aldous Arnold, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Whitby" in 1841
John Arnold, aged 25, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" in 1842
Harriet Arnold, aged 25, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" in 1842
Mr. John Arnold, British settler arriving as the 1st detachment of Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps travelling from Tilbury, Essex aboard the ship "Ramillies" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 6th August 1847 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Arnold migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 21

Arnold Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Arnold, (b. 1616), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, UK arriving in St Christopher (St. Kitts) on 5th January 1634 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Arnold (post 1700) +

Benedict Arnold (1741-1801), American General, born at Norwich, Connecticut, 14 Jan. 1740-1, best known as a traitor in the American Revolution 22
Bené Arnold (1935-2024), American ballet dancer and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Utah
David A. Arnold (1968-2022), American stand-up comedian, sitcom writer, producer, actor, writer and producer for the Netflix revival series Fuller House
David J. Arnold Jr. (1971-2021), American politician, Member of the Pennsylvania Senate (2020-2021)
Martin Arnold (1929-2013), American journalist for nearly four decades at The New York Times
Major-General William Richard Arnold (1881-1965), American Chief of Chaplains, War Department (1937-1945) 23
Lieutenant-General William Howard Arnold (1901-1976), American Commanding Officer, 5th Army (1955-1961) 24
General Henry Harley Arnold (1886-1950), American Commanding Officer, 20th Air Force (1944-1945) 25
Brigadier-General Calvert Hinton Arnold (1894-1963), American Commandant of Central Signal Corps School (1943-1945) 26
Brigadier-General Milton Wylie Arnold (1907-2004), American Chief of Staff, Air Transport Command (1945-1946) 27
... (Another 206 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Arnold family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Llewellyn Arnold (1929-1979), Baldwin, (1929-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 28
Ms. Valerie Ellen Arnold (1930-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 28
Ms. Melinda Maria Arnold (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from Manurewa, South Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; she died in the crash 28

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Grace Arnold (1828-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29
Miss Catherine Arnold (1910-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29
Miss Harriet Frances Arnold (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29
Mrs. Catherine Anna Arnold (1883-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29
Master Tristan Joseph Arnold (1915-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 29

HMS Hood

Mr. William A Arnold (b. 1894), English Stoker Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Kingston, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 30

USS Arizona

Mr. Thell Arnold, American Ship's Cook First Class from Arkansas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 31
Mr. Claude Duran Arnold Jr., American Fireman Third Class from Louisiana, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 31

The Arnold 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: Ut vivas vigila
Motto Translation: Watch that you may live.

Citations +

Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 64)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 Apr. 2019
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) William Arnold. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Arnold/William_Richard/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) William Arnold. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Arnold/William_Howard/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Henry Arnold. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Arnold/Henry_Harley/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Calvert Arnold. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Arnold/Calvert_Hinton/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 6) Milton Arnold. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Arnold/Milton_Wylie/USA.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html