Show ContentsErrnood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Errnood are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name 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 Errnood family

The surname Errnood 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 Errnood family

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

Errnood Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Errnood has been spelled many different ways, including Arnold, Ernold, FitzArnold, Arrnold, Errnold, Aernold and many more.

Early Notables of the Errnood 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 Errnood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Errnood family to Ireland

Some of the Errnood 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 Errnood family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Errnoods to arrive in North America: 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 Errnood 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.


  1. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  2. 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)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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)


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