Arnold History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
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  Ireland 
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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:

Arnold World Ranking

In the United States, the name Arnold is the 170th most popular surname with an estimated 139,272 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Arnold is ranked the 503rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,704 people with that name. 6 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Arnold is the 626th popular surname with an estimated 73 people with that name. 7 France ranks Arnold as 1,441st with 4,003 people. 8 Australia ranks Arnold as 243rd with 14,122 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Arnold as 328th with 1,907 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Arnold as 250th 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
Arnold Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Arnold Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Arnold Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Arnold migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Arnold Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Arnold Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

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

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

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

Contemporary Notables of the name Arnold (post 1700) +


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.


Suggested Readings for the name Arnold +
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