Arlott Family History

From Old French herlot, harlot, arlot meaning ‘rascal, scoundrel, vagrant’, hence Middle English harlot, harlet, herlot meaning ‘vagabond, beggar, idle rogue’. It was used by Chaucer both as a term of derision (‘ye false harlot’) and also ironically for a good fellow (‘he was a gentil harlot and a kynde’).

In the 14th century, it came to denote also an itinerant jester, buffoon, or juggler; also a male servant, attendant, or menial. The sense ‘female prostitute’ is not recorded before the 15th century, so Muriel Arlot and Matilda le Harlot probably bear their husbands' surnames.

Possibly from the Old French personal name Arlot, a pet form of Arlaud, a French version of the Continental Germanic personal name Arlwald (of which the second element is *wald- ‘rule’).

However, there is no certain evidence that this personal name was ever used in medieval England. See Arlett.