Surname Arrundel - Meaning and Origin

Arrundel: What does the surname Arrundel mean?

The last name Arundel is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational surname, meaning it is derived from a geographical location associated with the bearer. Specifically, Arundel is associated with the town and castle of Arundel, located in the county of Sussex, England. The name Arundel itself comes from the Old English words 'earn', which means eagle, and 'dell', which means valley. Thus, the surname Arundel can mean 'Eagle's Valley', denoting a characteristic of the landscape where the individual or family once resided or held lands. Names were often derived from one's associated locations before the advent of surnames around the 13th century. Moreover, Arundel is a historically significant name as it is associated with the Dukes of Norfolk, who hold the subsidiary title, Earl of Arundel. The current heir to the dukedom uses the courtesy title Earl of Arundel. Therefore, the name is not only a geographical surname, but it has also played a significant role in English nobility.

Arrundel: Where does the name Arrundel come from?

The surname Arrundel is of Norman origin. It was brought over to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name is territorial, deriving from the town of Arundel in Sussex, southern England. The FitzAlan family (from Brittany, Northern France) that held the earldom of Arundel, in the medieval period, adopted this name and consequently established it among the English elite. The earliest record of this name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Harundell'. The spelling 'Arrundel' is a variant of 'Arundel', and such variations were common in the Middle Ages due to a lack of standardization in the English language.

Today, the surname Arundel (and its variant, Arrundel) can be found worldwide, primarily in English-speaking countries such as England, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The distribution remains highest in England, particularly in the regions of Southern and Eastern England which includes the original location of Arundel, Sussex. However, it is not a common surname compared to many other English surnames.

Variations of the surname Arrundel

The surname Arrundel is believed to be of Norman origin, derived from a geographical location named Arnouville in France, or perhaps from the English town of Arundel in West Sussex. Variants of this surname have evolved over centuries and depend heavily on the region where it was adopted and language preferences.

Some of the various spellings include: Arundell, Arundel, Arrundell, Arundle, Arondel, Arondell, Orundell, and Erundell. These variations can be attributed to phonetic translations and local dialect influences.

Early records show the Arundel surname first appearing in the Doomsday Book of 1086 as Rogerius de Arundel. It's also common to find historical documents with the name spelled differently for the same person due to inconsistencies in recording names.

Additionally, it's common for surnames to carry prefixes indicating specific familial relationships or statuses, like 'de' or 'le'. So, you may find older forms of the name spelled as 'de Arundel' or 'le Arundel'.

It's important to note that while all these variations may derive from the same root, they may not always indicate the same lineage or heritage, as families may have adopted similar variations independently.

Famous people with the name Arrundel

There are not many globally recognized celebrities with the last name Arrundel. However, the historical Howard Family, which holds the title of the Duke of Norfolk, are often known as the Earls of Arundel, which is similar in spelling. Some prominent family members include Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, who was a prominent political figure in the 17th century England, and Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel, who was canonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Another historical figure with a similar surname is George Arundell, a 16th-century English Jesuit. The lack of famous individuals with the exact surname “Arrundel” could be due to the general rarity of the name.

Other surnames

Arrundell