Show ContentsArindal History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Arindal reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Arindal family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Arindal family lived in Arundel in the west of the county of Sussex. This place name is thought to be derived from the Old English words, hoar, meaning gray, hune, which described a variety of plant, and dell, meaning valley. 1

Early Origins of the Arindal family

The surname Arindal was first found in the counties of Sussex in southern England, and Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire, to the west. The Earls of Arundel came into England in 1066, with the Conqueror, and acquired much land, descended are the Lords Arundel of Wardour.

"Linchmere [in Sussex] was held as of the honour of Arundel, by William de Perci, at an early period, and afterwards became the property of the family of Fitzalan." 2

The family name derives from the western branch of Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire, where they held about twenty lordships during the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086. "A Norman family, which for centuries has flourished in the West of England, traced by Dugdale to 'Rogerius Arundel,' mentioned in Domesday." 3

"According to Domesday Book, Roger de Arundel was found to be possessed of twenty-eight lordships in Somerset, 20 William the Conqueror, and he no doubt was the Norman whose name appears on the roll [of Battel Abbey]. " 4

St. Michael in Cornwall was an early homestead of the family. "The ancient name of this place was Modeshole, under which appellation John de Arundell, in 1301, certified his right to a market and fair here, which had been previously granted to Walter de Raleigh." 2

"The Arundells are amongst the few Cornish families of Norman origin, and there are still fewer of French extraction who have for so long a period as at least five or six centuries been, like them, traceable in that county. 'The Great Arundells' as they were styled - appear to have settled in Cornwall, about the middle of the thirteenth century, at the place so called (now the site of a nunnery.)" 5

And another branch of the family was found in Lifton, Devon since early times. "The manor and lordship were, by grant of Edward VI., vested in the ancestors of W. A. H. Arundell, Esq., the present proprietor." 2

"Another manor called Tregarne Condurra, which is partly in this parish, and partly in St. Keverne, St. Martin's, Manaccan, Budock, and Mawgan, formerly belonged to the Earls of Cornwall. From these it became the property of the Arundells of Lanherne, in which family it continued until the year 1737." 6

Early History of the Arindal family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arindal research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1315, 1353, 1373, 1376, 1386, 1388, 1389, 1391, 1396, 1397, 1398, 1399, 1405, 1407, 1410, 1414, 1418, 1495, 1504, 1522, 1549, 1555, 1558, 1561, 1576, 1580, 1607, 1613, 1616, 1636, 1640, 1641, 1656, 1660, 1687, 1694 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Arindal History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arindal Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Arindal include Arrundell, Arundell, Arundel, Arundelle, Aringale, Arringale, Arrundale, Arrindell, Arindale, Arungale, Erringdale, Erundell and many more.

Early Notables of the Arindal family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Arundel (1353-1414), Archbishop of Canterbury in 1397 and from 1399 until his death, an outspoken opponent of the Lollards, Bishop of Ely (1373), elevated to the position of Archbishop of York (1388), served twice as Lord Chancellor (1386-1389) and (1391-1396), in 1396 he was made Archbishop of Canterbury, within a year, he was exiled by the king, he spent it in Florence, where at Richard II's request, the Roman Pope Boniface IX translated him to become Bishop of St. Andrews (1398), which was an empty fate because Scotland realized it already had...
Another 194 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Arindal Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Arindal family to Ireland

Some of the Arindal family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 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 Arindal family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Arindals to arrive on North American shores: James Arundel who settled in Virginia in 1637; John in 1652; Peter in 1626; Richard in 1650; all settled in Virginia. Robert settled in Barbados in 1670.



The Arindal 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: De hirundine
Motto Translation: From the swallow.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  4. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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