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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Arnold m. Old English earn, Old High German, Old Saxon arn 'eagle' + Old English weald, Old High German walt 'power'.

The name of an 11th C saint, the patron of brewers.

In early texts, the name was often confused with Arnulf, and may have in fact developed as a back-formation from that name through confusion with other similar names ending in -vald or -wald.

The German vernacular form Arnold is witnessed in 1295 in the place name Arnoldeshaghen (UrkMeck1 no. XCIII).

Austria
Latin
c1030 Arnolt (nom) UrkStyria 46; c1070 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 70; c1120 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 104, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 104, Arnolt (nom) ibid. 103
Belgium
Latin
1050 Arnoldus (nom) CRS-2-5 p. 232; 1238 Arnoldi (gen) OvdFB 3; 1256 Arnoldi (gen) OHZI-II no. 19, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. no. 13; 1266 Arnoldus (nom) OvdFB 6; 1282 Arnoldo (dat) TSPDB-II p. 65, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. p. 65
Middle Dutch
1336 Arnoud (dat) RSG1336-39 p. 11, Arnoude (dat) ibid. p. 9; 1371 Aernould (nom) NotComDest III; 1376 Arnoud (nom) RSG1376-89 p. 1; 1412 Arende (dat) AM6 p. 22; 1413 Arende (dat) ibid. p. 24; 1414 Arend (nom) ibid. p. 25, Arent (dat) ibid. p. 24; 1416 Arend (dat) ibid. p. 27; 1417 Arend (nom) ibid. p. 27; 1418 Arend ibid. p. 27
Dutch
1597x1598 Aerdt BoonenGes p. 321, Aerdts (gen) ibid. p. 324, Aert ibid. p. 323, Arnoult ibid. p. 324
Brabant
Latin
1312 Arnoddus (nom) JeanIII p. 10, Arnoldi (gen) ibid. p. 8, Arnoldo (abl) ibid. p. 26, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. p. 2
1312 Arnekinus (nom) JeanIII p. 9, Nout (gen) ibid. p. 15
Czech Republic
Latin
1358 Arnoltikoni (dat) chlumecky 262, p. 32
Denmark
Latin
1362 Arnoldus (nom) MIRGPCM4 XVI-V
Danish
1581 Arnoldus KD-1 no. 362
England
Latin
1161x1184 Arnaldus (nom) MDE p. 227, no. 1; 1181 Ernoldus (nom) StPaulDom p. 117; 1185x1186 Ærnaldus (nom) PR-XXXVI p. 19; 1189 Arnoldus (nom) GASurv p. 132, Ernald (nom) ibid. p. 174, Ernaldi (gen) ibid. p. 95, Ernaldo (dat) ibid. p. 95, Ernaldus (nom) ibid. p. 95, Ernoldus (nom) ibid. p. 126; 1222 Arnoldus (nom) StPaulDom p. 26, ernold (gen) ibid. p. 2; 1340xc1450 Arnaldus (nom) CovGuild-1 p. 4; 1558 Arnoldus (nom) StMartF p. 59
Anglo-French
1245–1250[1586] Ernaud Glover 105
Dutch
1576 Arent AuFr Cornelissen; 1580 Aerent ibid. Bues; 1583 Arnoudt ibid. Bants; 1589 Arnout ibid. Corté; 1590 Arnoldus ibid. Aernouts; 1592 Arnaut ibid. Einserinck; 1594 Arnout ibid. Coudrons; 1596 Arnout ibid. Coudron; 1597 Arnout ibid. Artsen
Early Modern English
1481 Arnolde HHB1481-90 p. 5
Walloon
1581 Ernauld RWC p. 562; 1581/2 Ernoud ibid. p. 4; 1581 Ernould ibid. p. 3; 1582 Ernould ibid. p. 5; 1590 Arnould ibid. p. 14; 1590/1 Arnout ibid. p. 15; 1590 Ernould ibid. p. 14; 1591/2 Arnold ibid. p. 20; 1591 Arnould ibid. p. 18; 1592 Arnold ibid. p. 22; 1592/3 Arnold ibid. p. 25; 1592 Arnould ibid. p. 563; 1593 Arnold ibid. p. 26; 1593/4 Arnould ibid. p. 31; 1594 Arnold (nom) ibid. p. 33
Estonia
Middle Low German
1364 Arnold BbRT p. 334; 1379x1383 Arnold ibid. p. 336; 1385 Arnoldus ibid. p. 338; 1436 Arnd ibid. p. 358; 1440 Arnde ibid. p. 362; 1442 Arnt ibid. p. 364; 1443 Arend ibid. p. 365; 1444 Arnt ibid. p. 365
1364 Arnd BbRT p. 334; 1376 Arnd ibid. p. 335; 1378 Arnd ibid. p. 335; 1379 Arnd ibid. p. 336; 1384 Arnd ibid. p. 338; 1392 Arnd ibid. p. 340; 1396 Arnd ibid. p. 341; 1397 Arnd ibid. p. 340; 1398 Arnd ibid. p. 342; 1399 Arnd ibid. p. 342; 1404 Arnd ibid. p. 344; 1407 Arnd ibid. p. 344; 1414 Arnd ibid. p. 347; 1416 Arnd ibid. p. 347; 1418 Arnd ibid. p. 348; 1421 Arnd ibid. p. 349; 1428 Arnd ibid. p. 352, Arnt ibid. p. 352; 1429 Arent ibid. p. 353; 1432 Arnd ibid. p. 356
Early Modern Swedish
1576 Arnne (nom) Hiiumaa p. 21; 1577 Arnt (nom) ibid. p. 21
France
Latin
565 Ernoldi (gen) DCEL-2 Add. II; c823 Ernaldus (nom) irminon-vol2 15, Ved, Ernaudus (nom) ibid. 94, Ved, Ernoldus (nom) ibid. 2, CE; 1032x1064 Ernaldum (acc) LDS LV, Ernaldus (nom) ibid. LV; 1032x1100 Ernaldus (nom) ibid. LXV; 1038 Arnaldus (nom) StVdM-II 721; 1045 Arnaldo (abl) ibid. 691; 1047 Arnaudi (gen) CartNDSaintes I; 1047x1061 Arnaldus (nom) ibid. XX, Ernaldus (nom) ibid. XX, Hernaldus (nom) ibid. XX; 1058 Arnaldus (nom) StVdM-II 694; 1060 Arnaldus (nom) ibid. 730; 1067 Arnaldus (nom) CartNDSaintes XII; 1073 Arnaldus (nom) StVdM-II 708; 1079x1081 Arnaudus (nom) CartNDSaintes XXI; 1082x87 Arnaudus (nom) St-Barnard-Romans no. 120; 1083 Arnaldi (gen) ibid. no. 119; 1093 Ernaldi (gen) CartStPC VI; 1094 Arnaldus (nom) StVdM-II 686; fin11thC Arnaldi (gen) St-Barnard-Romans no. 154, Arnaldus (nom) ibid. no. 154; 1101x1120 Ernaldus (nom) CartStPC XXIV; 1101x1129 Arnaldo (abl) ibid. XXVIII, Ernaldus (nom) ibid. XXII; 1107 Ernaldus (nom) ibid. V; 1115x1149 Ernaldus (nom) ibid. X; a1116 Ernaldus (nom) ibid. XX; 1123 Arnaldus (nom) CartNDJosaphat XII; 1143x1146 Ernaldus (nom) clairvaux-12thc 12; 1147 Arnaudo (abl) CartNDSaintes XXV, Ernoldus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp XCVII; 1148 Arnaudi (gen) CartNDSaintes XXIV; 1158 Arnaudus (nom) StVdM-II 702; 1166 Ernaldus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp XCI; 1168 Arnaldi (gen) clairvaux-12thc 133; 1180 Arnaldus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp CVI, Ernaldo (abl) RotScaNor p. 19, Ernaldus (nom) ibid. p. 19; 1190 Arnaldus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp CV; 1239 Arnaudus (nom) ChronMaillezais p. 162; 1274 Arnaldi (gen) RegToul-13thC p. 46, Arnaldus (nom) ibid. p. 31; 1275 Ernaudi (gen) CartNDdOurscamp XLIV; 1283x1286 Arnaldi (gen) GasReg-A p. 227, Ernaldi (gen) ibid. p. 227; 1287 Arnaldus (nom) ibid. p. 74; 1292 Ernaudus (nom) MemBret-I 1103; 1300 Arnaudi (gen) St-Barnard-Romans 382; 1301 Arnaldi (gen) MemPic-vol17 p. 226, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. p. 217, Enardi (gen) ibid. p. 225, Ernaudi (gen) ibid. p. 202; 1306 Arnaldus (nom) LibSenTou fol. 118; 1310/11 Arnaldus (nom) GasReg-A p. 100; 1310 Arnaldus (nom) ibid. p. 217, Ernaldus (nom) ibid. p. 217, Ernaud (nom) ibid. p. 217; 1310–11 Arnaldus (nom) ibid. p. 236; 1311 Arnaldi (gen) LibSenTou fol. 118, Arnaldum (acc) ibid. fol. 118, Arnaldus (nom) ibid. fol. 118; 1378 Alnoldo (dat) hanquetvol1 1617, Arnaldi (gen) ibid. 159, Arnaldo (dat) ibid. 1159, Arnaldus (nom) ibid. 288, Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 55, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 290
Old French
1262 Arnault (nom) StOuen p. 9; 1301 Ernous (nom) MemPic-vol17 p. 239; 1313 Ernaut Paris1313 p. 4, Ernoult ibid. p. 55; 1339 Arnol valois-2 CCIX
Middle French
1418 Arnoult HGParis p. 374; 1421 Arnoult favier; 1423 Arnould ibid. 283; 1568 Arnould RegPCC-1 p. 378; 1571 Arnoult ibid. p. 577
1368 Naudin beauchet-vol1 p. 14; 1421 Naudin favier 155
Germany
Latin
822x875 Arnald (nom) TradCorb §216; 1103 Arnoldum (acc) quix-vol1 79; 1112 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 26; 1138 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 28; 1142 Arnoldi (gen) mairhofer I, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. X, Arnolt (nom) ibid. I; 1145 Arnolt (nom) ibid. XIX; 1147 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. XXII, quix-vol1 29; 1165 Arnoldo (abl) ibid. 93; 1174 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 32; 1180 Arnoldo (abl) ibid. 34, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 34; 1192 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 40; 1194 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 54; 1197 Arnoldus (nom) CDL-1.1.1 I, hennes-vol1 2; 1217 Arnoldus (nom) quix-vol1 71; 1218 Arnoldus (nom) hennes-vol1 35; 1219 Arnoldi (nom) quix-vol1 73, Arnoldum (acc) hennes-vol1 41, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 40; 1222 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 62; 1223 Arnoldus (nom) quix-vol2 136; 1229 Arnoldus (nom) CDL-1.1.1 X; 1230 Arnoldus (nom) hennes-vol1 p. 91; 1232 Arnoldus (nom) CDL-1.1.1 XII; 1233 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. XIV; 1238 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. XVI; 1247 Arnoldi (gen) hennes-vol1 123; 1254 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 152; 1256 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 160, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 159; 1257 Arnoldus (nom) UrkMeck1 no. L; 1258 Arnoldus (nom) hennes-vol1 182; 1259 Arnoldus (nom) CDL-1.1.1 XXXI; 1260 Arnoldi (gen) hennes-vol1 187; 1261 Arnold (nom) UrkMeck1 no. LIII; 1262 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. no. LV; 1265 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. no. LVIII, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. no. LIX; 1266 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. no. LXI; 1267 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. no. LXIII; 1271 Arnoldi (gen) hennes-vol1 218; 1273 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 230, Arnoldum (acc) ibid. 229, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 227; 1276 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 246, Arnoldo (abl) ibid. 249; 1277 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 256; 1280 Arnoldo (abl) ibid. 270; 1281 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 279, Arnoldo (abl) ibid. 275; 1282 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 281, Arnoldus (nom) LDS 281, hennes-vol1 281; 1283 Arnoldus (nom) UrkMeck1 no. LXXVIII; 1286 Arnoldus (nom) hennes-vol1 302; 1289 Arnoldus (nom) UrkMeck1 no. LXXXVIII; 1291 Arnoldo (abl) hennes-vol1 321, Arnoldum (acc) ibid. 321; 1292 Arnoldus (nom) UrkMeck1 no. XC; 1297 Arnoldi (gen) hennes-vol1 333, Arnoldo (abl) ibid. 333; 1303 Arnoldus (nom) BremUrk2 no. 33; 1310 Arnoldus (nom) UrkHan 4, VFBStralsund 1; 1313 Arnoldum (acc) ibid. 25; 1315 Arnolt (nom) ibid. 42; 1317 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 53; 1322 Arnoldini (gen) SMM p. 162, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. p. 157; 1323 Arnoldum (acc) VFBStralsund 94, Arnolt (nom) ibid. 97; 1332 Arnoldum (acc) ibid. 36; 1401 Arnoldi (gen) HD1401 no. 368, Arnoldo (dat) ibid. no. 43
Middle High German
1282 Arnolt (nom) hennes-vol1 284
Middle Low German
1304 Arnolt (nom) BremUrk2 no. 38
Hungary
Latin
1317 Arnoldi (gen) CDH-VIII-II IV, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. IV
Ireland
Latin
fin12thC Arnaldus (nom) MunDocIr III, p. 7, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. III, p. 15, Ernaldus (nom) ibid. III, p. 6, Hernoldus (nom) ibid. III, p. 8
Italy
Latin
1235 Arnoldus (nom) TirNot1 4; 1236 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 8; 1282 Arnaldo (dat) DSS5-1-4 X; 1367 Arnoldus (nom) SMM p. 130; 1464 Arnaldus (nom) CUP-III-I CCXXXI
Latvia
Latin
a1286 Arnoldus (nom) RigSB 2; 1286 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 4; 1287 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 505; 1288 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 333, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 516; 1289 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 572, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 11; 1290 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 603; 1291 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 1075, Arnoldus (dat) ibid. 35; 1292 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 37; 1293 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 697, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 41; 1294 Arnoldi (gen) ibid. 720, Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 168, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 45; 1295 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 764, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 56; 1297 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 799, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 79; 1299 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 276, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 85; 1300 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 412; 1301 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 858; 1303 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 373; 1305 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 934; 1307 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 949, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 112; 1321 Arnoldo (dat) ibid. 295; 1328 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. 116
Middle Low German
1523 Arendt Arbusow p. 99
The Netherlands
Latin
1212 Arnoldus (nom) CLI p. 149; 1257 Arnoldi (gen) OHZI-II no. 26, Arnoldus (nom) ibid. no. 28; 1369 Arnoldus (nom) GesOIJ-1 p. 303; 1373 Arnoldus (nom) ibid. p. 304; 1387 aernts (gen) ibid. p. 304, arnoldus (nom) ibid. p. 304
Middle Dutch
1380 Arents (gen) GesOIJ-4 p. 186; 1382 Arent (nom) ibid. p. 186
Dutch
1560 Arent MagMiddelburg-1560; 1561 Arent ibid.; 1562 Arent ibid.; 1563 Arent ibid.; 1564 Arent ibid.; 1565 Arent ibid.; 1566 Arent ibid.; 1567 Arent ibid.; 1569 Arent ibid.; 1573 Arent ibid.; 1574 Arent ibid., Arents (gen) ibid.; 1575 Arent ibid.; 1576 Arent ibid.; 1577 Aernout ibid., Arent ibid.; 1578 Aernout ibid., Arent ibid.; 1579 Aernout ibid., Arent ibid.; 1580 Arent ibid.; 1581 Arent ibid.; 1582 Arent ibid.; 1583 Arent ibid.; 1584 Arent ibid.; 1585 Arent ibid.; 1586 Arent ibid.; 1587 Arent ibid.; 1588 Arent ibid.; 1589 Arent ibid.; 1590 Arent ibid.; 1591 Arent ibid.; 1592 Arent ibid.; 1593 Arent ibid.; 1594 Arent ibid.; 1595 Arent ibid.; 1596 Arent ibid.
1575 Aert NHG-Middelburg p. 69; 1576 Aert ibid. p. 69
Poland
Latin
1228 Arnoldus (nom) hennes-vol1 p. 81; 1248 Arnoldo (abl) UrkMeck1 no. XXXVII
Spain
Latin
1006 Arnaldus (nom) CDCB-XV MMCLXV; 1019 Arnaldus (nom) ibid. MMCLXXIV; 1087 Arnal (nom) ibid. MMCCV; 1190 Arnal (abl) ibid. MMCCVII, Arnall (abl) ibid. MMCCVII, Arnalli (gen) ibid. MMCCVI, Arnallus (nom) ibid. MMCCVII; 1192 Arnalli (gen) ibid. MMCCVIII, Arnallo (abl) ibid. MMCCVIII, Arnallum (acc) ibid. MMCCVIII, Arnallus (nom) ibid. MMCCVIII; 1487 Arnaldi (gen) carbonell-I p. 11, Arnaldus (nom) ibid. p. 10
Catalan
1510 Arnal valencia1510 4050, Arnau ibid. 3171
Spanish
1495 Arnaut montalvo
Sweden
Latin
1383 Arnoldus (nom) SRA-vol2 no. 1948
Old Swedish
1383 Arend (nom) SRA-vol2 no. 1946; 1415 Arend (nom) SDHK no. 18466
Early Modern Swedish
1528 Arend (nom) HGS p. 155; 1529 Arend (nom) ibid. p. 156; 1530 Arend (nom) ibid. p. 156
Switzerland
Latin
1438 Arnauldi (gen) MHCG2 210
Cite as: G. Grim, R. Le Get, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Arnold". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2019, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2019/1/name/Arnold.