Surname Arnhold - Meaning and Origin
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Arnhold: What does the surname Arnhold mean?
The last name Arnhold is German in origin and is derived from the word “arn” meaning “eagle” and “hold” meaning “dweller”. Thus, the surname Arnhold roughly translates to “dweller of the eagles”.
The name likely originated as an occupational name for a falconer, or one who bred and trained hunting birds, particularly eagles. It is possible that the name was derived from the surrounding region or “Hold” where the Arnhold family resided and is more a geographic designation than a family name.
The Arnhold family, having been around since the 13th century, has a long history in Germany and is quite common in the region. Arnhold is also among the top 100 surnames in Austria.
In modernity, the name is still quite popular in Germany, yet it has spread throughout much of Europe and is quite common in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, France, and the United States.
The Arnhold family is also well-known for its philanthropic and charitable endeavors. The Arnhold family has started numerous charitable foundations in both Europe and the United States to support worthy causes ranging from education to the arts, to health and environmental issues.
Order DNA origin analysisArnhold: Where does the name Arnhold come from?
The last name Arnhold is a German name with roots in the Middle Ages. It is most commonly found in the northern regions of Germany, such as Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Berlin. It is also found in parts of the Netherlands and Denmark.
Today, the surname Arnhold is more spread throughout the German-speaking world and beyond. It is especially prevalent in the United States, where it is the 575th most common last name. In Australia, it is within the 1000 most common names. In other parts of Europe, Canada, South America, South Africa, and New Zealand, Arnhold is also found.
In the United States, researchers have found that Arnhold is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, where it is the 232nd most popular surname, followed closely by Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, and New York. Other states in which the name is common include Virginia, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Florida.
Immigrants who settled in the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries have had a large impact on the prevalence of this last name in the US today. Their descendants, along with people with German ancestry, have contributed to the growing population of Arnholds in the United States.
Overall, the last name Arnhold is most common in German-speaking countries but is found in numerous other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Arnhold
The surnames Arnhold, Arnshold, Arnholt, Arnsholt, Arnold, and Arnholz all have their roots in the German surname Arnhold. The spellings of the surname have changed over the years, likely due to changes in spelling conventions, but the core name remains the same.
Historically, Arnhold is a habitational name typically used to refer to someone from one of several places called Arnhold in Germany, such as Arnhold (now a part of Oberbergisch Gladbach) or Arnholdshausen (now a part of Werdohl). The word "arnhold" is said to stem from the old German word arobald, meaning a field cleared of trees.
Arnhold is sometimes used as a spelling variant of Arnold, but the two surnames are ultimately distinct from one another. Arnold has Germanic and English origins, while Arnhold and its variants are pure German in origin.
Today, the surname Arnhold is commonly found in Germany, Austria, and other parts of Europe, as well as the United States. The version of the surname used most often in the U.S. is likely to be Arnold, the English variant, rather than Arnhold or its variants. Despite that, it is still quite common for people of German descent in the U.S. to have Arnhold or its variants as part of their surname.
Famous people with the name Arnhold
- Robert Arnhold: Founder of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, Inc. a New York based investment management and venture capital firm.
- S. Falk Arnhold: German entrepreneur who founded the Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, Inc. firm.
- Marie Arnhold: Singer and musician who released two albums in 2005 and is known for covering songs from the ragtime era.
- Rupert Arnhold: Film Producer and President of Verona Pictures.
- Kristina Arnhold: Former German politician who served as the Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony from 2008-14.
- Bertram Arnhold: German theatre and opera director who was an artistic consultant for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
- Marcel Arnhold: German classical composer who wrote the opera "The Vajantri" which was performed at the Salzburg Festival.
- Wolfgang Arnhold: German entrepreneur who founded the Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, Inc. firm.
- Markus Arnhold: Former German long distance runner who won a gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics.
- Antoine Arnhold: French artist known for his landscape paintings.