Arnoul

Arnoul is a masculine given name and, less commonly, a surname used in French-speaking regions. It is a regional form of the Germanic name Arnold, which arrived in the Romance-speaking world through medieval contact between Frankish and Norman cultures and local vernacular development.

Etymology and forms. The name derives from Germanic elements meaning “eagle” (arn) and “ruler” or “power” (wald), yielding a meaning akin to “eagle ruler.” In French and related languages, Arnoul has given rise to cognate forms in various languages, including Arnault (a French surname) and Arnaud or Arnoud as given names; outside French, forms such as Arnold and Arnoldo appear in other traditions.

Usage and distribution. Historically, Arnoul appears in medieval French charters, chronicles, and literature as a name for several figures in the knightly and administrative spheres. In modern France and other Francophone areas, the given name Arnoul is now rare, though it persists in genealogical and regional records. As a surname, Arnoul or its variants may be found in families with historical ties to French-speaking communities, and related forms like Arnault circulate in contemporary populations due to immigration and cultural exchange.

See also. Related names in the same linguistic and cultural sphere include Arnold, Arnaud, Arnoud, and Arnault, all sharing the same Germanic origin and a common lineage in medieval European naming practices.