History of your Surname
Get access to Arnold family records.Start a free trial

Arnold Family History

Arnold Name Meaning

English and German: from a very widely used personal name of Germanic origin, composed of the elements arn ‘eagle’ + wald ‘rule’. In addition, it has probably absorbed various European cognates and their derivatives (for the forms, see Hanks and Hodges 1988). English: habitational name from either of the two places called Arnold (see Arnall). Jewish (Ashkenazic): adoption of the German personal name, at least in part on account of its resemblance to the Jewish name Aaron.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Harold, Armold, Arnoldi, Arnall, Arno, Honold, Appold, Menold, Arnott

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Arnold family from?

You can see how Arnold families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Arnold family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Arnold families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 3,142 Arnold families living in London. This was about 18% of all the recorded Arnold's in the UK. London had the highest population of Arnold families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Arnold surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Arnold ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the UK named Arnold. 6% of Arnold men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Arnold women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Arnold were Bricklayer and Private Means.

View Census data for Arnold | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations in 1939

  • General Labourer
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    2%

Top Female Occupations in 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Arnold family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Arnold. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Arnold census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Arnold

Passenger Lists

There are 87,000 immigration records available for the last name Arnold. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Arnold immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 210,000 military records available for the last name Arnold. For the veterans among your Arnold ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Arnold military records

You've only scratched the surface of Arnold family history.

Discover More

What is the average Arnold lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Arnold life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Arnold in 1940 was 25, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Arnold

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Arnold family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial