Surname Auld - Meaning and Origin
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Auld: What does the surname Auld mean?
The last name Auld is thought to have two possible origins. The first is a Scottish one, derived from the Gaelic personal name ‘Ald’, as a contraction of ‘Mac Alpin’, which was a popular name for early kings of Scotland; the second origin is English and derived from the Old English word 'ELD' meaning a ‘Holder of Property’ or ‘Age’.
The name Auld is found in Scotland, England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. People with this surname are spread out across the world, especially to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
In Scotland, Auld is most often found in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Fife, Lanarkshire, Midlothian, and Kinross. It is also fairly common in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.
In England, the name is mainly found in Northumberland, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumberland, and Durham.
In the United States, Auld is most commonly found in the states of Kansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Given its various origins, the surname Auld likely has no central, unifying meaning or interpretation, however, the two possible meanings of 'eld' and 'Mac Alpin' are both linked to power and leadership and could suggest that those with the surname are descendants of great leaders.
Order DNA origin analysisAuld: Where does the name Auld come from?
The surname Auld is still commonly found today mostly throughout Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and North America. It is also established in mainland Europe in Germany, France, and Belgium.
In terms of Scotland, Auld is a well documented name in North East Scotland particularly in Aberdeenshire once the home of many Aulds as documented in the census' of 1841, 1851 and 1861. It is also strong in Angus and further south in Perthshire. In the past, the English surname was linked to the Scottish town of Auldearn.
In England, the surname Auld has a presence mostly in the North East of the country, especially in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, and Cumberland.
Northern Ireland also has a strong presence of Aulds with the majority clustered around Fermanagh, Derry, and the city of Belfast.
More recently, there has been immigration of individuals with the surname Auld who have made their homes in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
Overall, the surname Auld has retained a strong presence in the British Isles since the 13th century and is still commonly found in many of the countries mentioned above.
Variations of the surname Auld
The surname Auld has several variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin. Some of them include Old, Ould, Awld, Awlde, Olt, Ald, and Awldous.
Auld is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "auld" meaning old or ancient. It is often seen as a nickname for someone who was "old" for their time or appeared wise. It was also used to describe someone who was an elder in the community. In Scotland, the name Auld originated in the Northern Highlands, mainly in Argyll and the Islands of the Clyde.
Variant spellings of Auld are Ould and Awld, which were used in parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Olt, Ald, and Awldous versions are more modern spellings, probably derived from the original name.
Surnames deriving from the same origin include Olld, Owld, Ollde, and Owlde. These derivations are found mainly in the United Kingdom. Other variants to the name are Alder, Aldred, and Oldham.
The surname Auld is found in records as far back as the 13th century, when one William Aulde was recorded in the County of Yorkshire in 1275. It has since spread around the world, reaching South Africa, Canada, United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Auld is both a Scottish and an English surname. It is still relatively rare, but there are many people today who bear the name, across the world.
Famous people with the name Auld
- Dave Auld: an English professional football manager and former player
- Gordon Auld: a Canadian voice actor
- Robert Auld: a former Australian rules footballer
- Robbie Auld: a Scottish former professional footballer
- Tom Auld: an English former professional footballer
- Daniel Auld: a Canadian television actor, director, writer, producer and musician
- Levon Auld: a Canadian television and film actor
- Sam Auld: a British actor and presenter
- Dave Auld: a former Australian politician
- Jack Auld: a Canadian lacrosse player