Show ContentsArnaul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the Arnaul family goes back to the Medieval landscape of southern France, to a region known as Languedoc. The Arnaul surname is derived from the family living in Arnaud, a village and seigneury in Languedoc, in the south of France. Habitation surnames are names derived from already existing place-names.

Early Origins of the Arnaul family

The surname Arnaul was first found in Languedoc where they held a family seat in the village and seigneur of Arnaud in the department of Haute Garonne, canton of St.Martory, arrondisement of Saint-Guadens.

Early History of the Arnaul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arnaul research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1572, 1589, 1591, 1593, 1597, 1612, 1616, 1618, 1619, 1650, 1661, 1671, 1674, 1682, 1692, 1694, 1698, 1699, 1744, 1757 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Arnaul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arnaul Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Arnaul is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Ardnaud, D'Arnaud, Denaurd, Darnaud, Danaud, Arnauld, Darnauld, D'Arnauld, d'Arnaud, d'Arnaud, Saint-Arnaud, St-Arnaud, Arnault, Darnault, D'Arnault, Arnaude, Arnoult, Darnoult, D'Arnoult, Arnoux, Darnoux, D'Arnoux, Arnould, Arneault, D'Arnould, Darnould, Darnaude, Arnaux, Arnau, D'Arnau, Darnau, Darnaux and many more.

Early Notables of the Arnaul family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • Henri Arnauld (1597-1692), a French Catholic bishop, he was offered the Bishopric of Périgueux, but accepted the see of Angers (1650)
  • Robert Arnauld d’Andilly (1589-1674), a French conseiller d’État, specialising in financial questions, in the court of Marie de' Medici
  • Antoine Arnauld (1612-1694), French Roman Catholic theologian, philosopher, and mathematician

Migration of the Arnaul family

France was active as a cultural leader in the early 16th century. One particular area in which they lead was the exploration of the New World. The explorers, like Jacques Cartier in 1534, led the way to North America. Champlain, in 1608, made the first of twenty voyages to France to attract settlers and brought the first migrant in 1617. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec, and the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Arnaul has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Arnaul were Andre Arnaud settled in New York State in 1683; Isaac Arnaud and his wife settled in Virginia in 1700; J.D. and L.Arnaud settled in New Orleans in 1823.



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