Ernoit History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Ernoit is a name that dates far back into the mists of early British history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. 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 Ernoit family

The surname Ernoit 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 Ernoit family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ernoit 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 Ernoit History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ernoit Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Ernoit are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Ernoit include: Arnold, Ernold, FitzArnold, Arrnold, Errnold, Aernold and many more.

Early Notables of the Ernoit 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 people in the colony; Benedict Arnold (1615-1678), English-born settler...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ernoit Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ernoit family to Ireland

Some of the Ernoit 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.

Migration of the Ernoit family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Ernoit or a variant listed above: William and Thomas Arnold of Nottingham, England, who settled in Higham Mass, and Watertown New York in May 1635. William later moved to Providence, R.I. He was allegedly the richest man in the colony, and he was the ancestor of Benedict Arnold. In Newfoundland, Joseph from Sherborne, Dorset, was an apprentice of Henry Brooks in Bay Bulls in 1752.

The Ernoit 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)