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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Arthur m. Of uncertain origin, but likely connected to Proto-Celtic *artos, Greek ἄρκτος 'bear'.

The popularity of this name in the Middle Ages is directly attributable to the semi-legendary 5th-6th C British king whose exploits are found in both medieval historical and literary (esp. poetical) sources. The Arthurian tradition of knightly virtue and chivalry spread from England to France via Brittany, and from there to the rest of Europe.

England
Latin
● 1189 Artur (nom) GASurv p. 172
English
● 1530 Arthure LIWill-III p. 31; 1557 Arthur StAnthonlin p. 11; 1579 Arthur COmar-vol2 p. 101; 1581 Arthur ibid. p. 101; 1582 Arthur DEmar-vol2 p. 7; 1585 Arthur OrpingtonKe p. 7; 1588 Arthur COmar-vol2 p. 102; 1592 Arthure bruton-vol1 p. 51; 1593 Arthur StAnthonlin p. 36; 1594 Arthure BEmar-vol2 p. 96; 1595 Arthur COmar-vol2 p. 50, StAnthonlin p. 37; 1596 Arthure bruton-vol1 p. 55; 1597 Arthur StAnthonlin p. 38; 1599 Arthuer ibid. p. 40, Arthur DEmar-vol2 p. 42, StAnthonlin p. 39
France
Latin
● 1180 Arturo (abl) RotScaNor p. 3, Arturus (nom) ibid. p. 37
Middle French
● 1392 Artus MemBret-II col. 599
Italy
Latin
● 1527 Artusij (gen) Rome1527 p. 86
Scotland
Scots
● c1550 Erthour CartNBer p. xxiv
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Arthur". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2015, no. 2. http://dmnes.org/2015/2/name/Arthur.