Surname Arnhölter - Meaning and Origin

Arnhölter: What does the surname Arnhölter mean?

The last name Arnhölter is derived from the Old German words 'arn' and 'hölter,' meaning eagle and hunter respectively. This suggests that the original bearer of this last name had a profession related to hunting birds, such as pheasants or partridges, and may have used trained golden eagles to assist them in their work.

This type of bird hunting was popular with wealthy aristocrats in medieval Germany, as it was seen as a sign ofstanding and wealth. Thus, it is likely that the original bearer of the Arnhölter last name was an affluent hunter in the area of German speaking Europe.

Though the Arnhölter name is primarily associated with Germany, records show that there are individuals with this name scattered around the globe, suggesting that the family has a storied international history. The name is most common in the United States, where it is found in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. It is also found in other countries such as Austria, France, Poland, and Switzerland.

The Arnhölter name is an important example of the complex and diverse history of German speaking Europe, where many family names were adopted or changed as families moved between countries and monarchies throughout the centuries.

Arnhölter: Where does the name Arnhölter come from?

The last name Arnhölter appears to originate in Germany, particularly in and around the state of Bavaria. Today, Arnhölter is still relatively common in Germany and can be found particularly in the regions of Lower Saxony, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Bavaria. Interestingly, many Arnhölter families today still live in the small Bavarian town of Amberg where records of the last name date back as far as the 16th century, suggesting that many have descended from one common ancestor.

Beyond Germany, records of the Arnhölter surname can be found in other countries like France, Austria, and Liechtenstein. However, in comparison, the degree of spread in each of these countries is relatively small. In other words, the largest concentration of Arnhölter outside of Germany appears to be in French-speaking Alsace and Lorraine which are relatively close to the Bavarian border.

In North America, records of this surname are sparse. The highest concentrations appear to be in the United States, with a presence in several states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. Canada also has a few Arnhölters, but only Quebec appears to have higher concentrations.

Thus, the surname of Arnhölter today still appears to be most closely associated with Germany, particularly Bavaria, but is also found to a lesser extent in other countries of origin like France, Austria, and Liechtenstein as well as in North American countries like the United States and Canada.

Variations of the surname Arnhölter

Arnhölter is a German surname, stemming from the words ‘arn’ meaning eagle and ‘hölter’ meaning holder. The surname is used by several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Common variants of the surname Arnhölter are Arnholter, Arnhölter, Arnsolter, Arnsohld and Arnhölld. Spellings of the same origin include Arnholt, Arnhold, Nothelt and Arnhöl.

The most popular variants of the surname Arnhölter can be found in Germany, but the surname is also used in other countries outside of the German cultures. For example, Arnholter is commonly found being used in the United States, Arnhölter in Switzerland and Arnhold in Austria.

Variants of the surname, such as Arnholt, Arnhold and Arnsolter, are forms derived from added suffixes or prefixes to the original spelling. A common suffix used in Germany is ‘-en’ and a common prefix used in Austria and Switzerland is ‘-el’.

Surnames with the same origins of Arnhölter include Arndt, Arnold, Arnsperger and Arntzen. These surnames are closely related to the original spelling as they each have ‘arn’ as their origin and ‘-d’, ‘-old’, ‘-sperger’, and ‘-tzen’ as their respective suffixes.

Overall, Arnhölter is a versatile surname that is used in many countries around the world. Variants of the surname include Arnhold, Arnholt, Nothelt, Arnsohld and Arnsolter, and many other surnames also have the same origins.

Famous people with the name Arnhölter

• Claus Arnhölter: German actor known for 'In July', 'The Ninth Day', and 'Tannbach'.
• Günter Arnhölter: German photographer and painter active in the post-WWII era.
• Karl-Heinz Arnhölter: German actor known for 'St. Pauli Nacht' and 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'.
• Linda Arnhölter: German composer and harpist.
• Robert Arnhölter: German actor known for 'The Great Bank Rescue', 'Despair', and 'The Never Ending Story II'.
• Hanna Arnhölter: Swiss skier specialized in Giant slalom.
• Angelika Arnhölter: German ceramic artist and sculptor.
• Hildegard Arnhölter: German economist and professor of international business.
• Christian Arnhölter: German football player who last played for SpVgg Bayreuth.
• Max Arnhölter: German painter, lithographer and author.

Other surnames

ArnholtArnholtz