This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Harold m. Old English here, Old High German heri 'host, army' + Old English weald, Old Saxon wald, Old High German walt 'power'.

The name of a legendary 8th-9th C Scandinavian king, a 9th C king of Denmark, a 9th-10th C king of Norway, a 10th C king of Denmark, a 10th C king of Norway, two 11th C kings of Denmark, two 11th C kings of England, an 11th C king of Norway, a 12th C king of Norway, a 12th C English saint, and a 13th C king of Mann.

Austria
Latin
927 Herolt (nom) UrkStyria 17; 928 Herolt (nom) ibid. 18; 931 Herolt (nom) ibid. 20
Belgium
Latin
1120 Haroldi (gen) CartStBert 9; 1133 Haroldi (gen) ibid. 13
Czech Republic
Middle High German
1318 Herolt (nom) Rössler1 45
England
Latin
1189 Haroldus (nom) GASurv p. 182; 1554 Haroldus (nom) StMartF p. 58
France
Latin
1030 Airaldo (abl) StVdM-II 712; 1064x1079 Airaldus (nom) ibid. 690; 1067x1086 Airaldus (nom) CartNDSaintes XIV; 1147 Airoudi (gen) clairvaux-12thc 18; 1350 Haraldi (gen) SDHK no. 6017, Haraldus (nom) ibid. no. 6017; 1378 Heraudi (gen) hanquetvol1 569
Germany
Latin
1218 Heroldus (nom) hennes-vol1 30; 1219 Heroldus (nom) ibid. 40
Ireland
Latin
fin12thC Haraldi (gen) MunDocIr III, p. 18, Haraldus (nom) ibid. III, p. 15
Scotland
Latin
1070x1093 Araldo (abl) ESC X
Sweden
Latin
1350 Haraldo (dat) SDHK no. 6001
Old Swedish
1383 Haral SRA-vol2 no. 1903, Haralder ibid. no. 1938, Haralders (dat) ibid. no. 1946, Haraller ibid. no. 1925; 1407 Harald (nom) SDHK no. 16880; 1409 Haral (gen) ibid. no. 17265, Harald (gen) ibid. no. 17268, Harals (gen) ibid. no. 17263, Haralz (gen) ibid. no. 17341
Cite as: J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Harold". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2017, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2017/1/name/Harold.