Surname Arrundell - Meaning and Origin

Arrundell: What does the surname Arrundell mean?

Arrundell is a surname of English origin, indicating a person originally from a place called Arundel. The toponym Arundel is derived from the Old English "earn", meaning eagle, and "dell", indicating a small valley or the old form of dale. Thus, the place-name could be interpreted as "valley of the eagle". The town of Arundel in Sussex, England, is associated with the Duke of Norfolk's family line, who used Arundel as their family name during the Middle Ages. Therefore, someone with the last name Arrundell is likely to have ancestral connections to the area of Arundel, or to the medieval line of the Dukes of Norfolk. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of surnames can alter, and Arrundell is likely just a variant of Arundel. As surnames became hereditary, people moving to other areas carried their original place-name with them, spreading it out far from its initial geographic location.

Arrundell: Where does the name Arrundell come from?

The surname Arrundell is of English origin, derived from the place name Arundel in Sussex. The name Arundel itself means 'eagle dell' in Old English, signifying a valley of eagles. The name is closely associated with the Earls of Arundel, whose family name was Fitzalan-Arundel.

Historically, this name has been especially prevalent in regions within and around Sussex due to the influence of the Earls of Arundel. Today, like many surnames, Arrundell or Arundel can be found dispersed globally due to historic migration patterns. It is likely to be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom among descendents of English emigrants. However, its occurrence will vary, and it is not considered common or widespread.

Furthermore, variations of the name might exist because English spelling rules have changed over centuries. Immigrants to other countries, their descendants or clerical errors could have changed spelling, contributing to the existence of similar but differently spelled surnames such as Arundell, Arundale or Arundal.

Variations of the surname Arrundell

The surname Arrundell has various variants and spellings generated through the years due to regional accents, translation, and transcription errors. Some of these include Arundel, Arundell, Arundle, Arundale, Arousdale, Aroundel, Roundel, and Harundel. It's worth noting that these alternate spellings are often used interchangeably, thus one individual may be found under different variations in different records.

The surname Arrundell derives from the town called Arundel in the county of Sussex, England. It's a locational surname, a type of surname that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Such names were usually linked with the place of origin of the initial bearer especially when they moved to another area. The name Arundel translates to 'swallow's hill' in old English.

Pedigree charts indicate that some of the families changed the spelling to become the Ernle or Erneley family. Therefore, it could be inferred that Erneley, Ernley, Earnley, and other similar spellings could have the same origin as the surname Arrundell. However, direct connections to these surnames would necessitate further genealogical research.

Famous people with the name Arrundell

• Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour: A prominent English nobleman, diplomat and soldier during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
• John Arundell: There have been several notable people named John Arundell, including Sir John Arundell of Trerice, a British naval commander during the Tudor period, and John Arundell, 2nd Baron Arundell of Trerice, a British peer and Member of Parliament in the 17th century.
• Matthew Arundell: He was an English politician and member of Queen Elizabeth I’s court, who notably converted to Catholicism.
• Mary Arundell: A known English noblewoman and book collector from the 16th century.
• Blanche Arundell: Known for her legendary defense of Wardour Castle in England during the English Civil War.
• Cecily Arundell: She was a prominent English noblewoman from the prominent Arundell family during the 16th century.
• Henry Frederick Howard, 22nd Earl of Arundel: An English nobleman, known for his title of Earl of Arundel. Please note that there might not be any contemporary celebrities or public figures with the last name Arundell/Arrundell due to its rarity.

Other surnames

Arrundel