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.

The German vernacular form Arold is witnessed in 1391 in the place name Aroldishusen (LDFPUP1 p. 16).

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
Latin
1291 Heralt (nom) RTT-1.1 III
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; 1032x1100 Arraldus (nom) LDS LXV; 1064x1079 Airaldus (nom) StVdM-II 690; 1067x1086 Airaldus (nom) CartNDSaintes XIV; 1090x1101 Arroldus (nom) CartStPC XLIII; 1107 Arroldus (nom) ibid. XVII; a1108 Arroldus (nom) ibid. XXI; 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 Aroldus (nom) MunDocIr III, p. 24, Haraldi (gen) ibid. III, p. 18, Haraldus (nom) ibid. III, p. 15
The Netherlands
Latin
850 Herioldi (gen) OrkGZ no. 40
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; 1403 Haralder (nom) SDHK no. 16006; 1405 Harals (gen) ibid. no. 16468; 1407 Harald (nom) ibid. no. 16880, Haralds (gen) ibid. no. 16943; 1408 Haraldz (gen) ibid. no. 17116; 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 2023, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2023/1/name/Harold.