ARNOTT

Arnott is a surname of Scottish origin that is tied to both personal and geographical roots within the British Isles. The name is found among the records that date as far back as the late thirteenth century and has survived into the present day with a number of recognised spelling variants.

The original Gaelic elements that are often cited in the discussion of the name are àrn, meaning “eagle,” and neòtt, which suggests a nest or a shelter. From these elements one possible interpretation is “eagle’s nest,” a description that may allude to a dwelling situated on a hill or in a high place, or to a reputation for protection and authority. A second possible derivation comes from the Pictish personal name Arnold, itself formed from the Germanic elements arn (eagle) and wald (rule), giving a meaning that can be read as “ruler of the eagles” or “eagle power.”

The surname is also identified as a locative name, taken from a place called Arnot in the parish of Portmoak in Kinross-shire, and less frequently from a site near Leslie in Fife. The place name is generally taken to mean “barley place” from the Gaelic word ornacht, and it was a habit in medieval Scotland for local landowners or the lord of the manor to be identified by the name of their estate. When a person moved away, the place name became their surname.

Historical documents confirm the use of the surname in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. One record from 1284 names Michael de Arnoth in the Memorials of the Browns of Fordell, a document that dates to the reign of King Alexander I of Scotland (1249–1286). In 1296 a David Arnot of Fife is found rendering homage to the Crown. The garrison of Edinburgh Castle in 1337 is recorded as including a Michael de Arnot, and in 1395 a knight named Henricus de Arnot attested to the boundaries of Kyrknes and Louchor in the Calendar of Documents relating to the Priory of St. Andrew. In 1417 a John de Arnot is mentioned as a jury member in the parish of Stewarton, Ayrshire, and in 1429 the lands of Arnot in the sheriffdom of Fife are given to a John de Arnutis. The name was also borne by the historical writer and advocate Hugo Arnot, who published a History of Edinburgh in 1779.

Over time the spelling of the surname has varied. Common variants include Arnald, Arnatt, Arnaud, and simply Arnot. In some English records the surname has also appeared as Arnet, Arnote, Earnet, Earnot and Ernot. The divergence of spellings is largely attributed to regional pronunciation differences and the fact that many names were recorded phonetically in antiquity.

In the modern era the surname remains most common within Scotland, particularly in the area of Fife, though it is also found in England. Greater emigration over recent centuries has brought bearers of the name to Canada, the United States, Australia and other parts of the Commonwealth, yet the surname is still comparatively uncommon when measured against more widespread surnames.

Typical given names associated with the Arnott surname

Male

• Andrew
• David
• Ian
• James
• John
• Michael
• Robert
• Stephen
• Thomas
• William

Female

• Brenda
• Catherine
• Claire
• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Jean
• Jennifer
• Linda
• Margaret
• Mary
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Arnott in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Scotland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Famous people named Arnott

• Jake Arnott - Writer
• Jonathan Arnott - Politician
• Dougie Arnott - Scottish football player
• James Fullarton Arnott - Academic (1914 to 1982)
• Struther Arnott - Scottish academic (1934 to 2013)
• Kevin Arnott - Football player
• William Arnott - Australian businessman (1827 to 1901)
• John Arnott - Football player (1932 to 2017)
• Walter Arnott - Scottish football player (1861 to 1931)
• W. Geoffrey Arnott - Classical scholar (1930 to 2010)
• Trevor Arnott - Welsh cricketer (1902 to 1975)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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