Ancient history

Where does the surname Arnold originate?

Arnold is a surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old High German personal name Arnolt, which is composed of the elements arn ("eagle") and wald ("power, rule"). The name Arnold was first recorded in the 12th century, and it has been used continuously since then. It is a common surname in many countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.