Arendt

Arendt is a German-language surname. It is a variant of Arndt/Arend, derived from the given name Arnold, itself rooted in Old High German elements meaning “eagle” and “power” or “ruler.” The surname arose in German-speaking areas and is now found in Germany, Austria, and among descendants in North America and beyond. Variants include Arend, Arndt, and Arendt, reflecting regional spellings and transliterations.

The best-known bearer of the name is Hannah Arendt (1906–1975), a German-American political theorist. Born in Hanover, she studied philosophy in Germany and earned a doctorate in 1929. Fleeing Nazi persecution, she emigrated to the United States in 1941 and taught for many years at the New School for Social Research. Her work spans political theory, the nature of totalitarianism, and the conditions of public life. She is best known for The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), The Human Condition (1958), Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (1963), and The Life of the Mind (1971). Her concept of the “banality of evil” and her analysis of the public sphere have influenced fields from philosophy to history and journalism.

Note: The surname Arendt may appear in other contexts and in other individuals, but Hannah Arendt remains the most widely recognized bearer of the name.