HARROLD
Harrold is a surname of English origin, originally an Anglicisation of the given name Harold. The name Harold itself was derived from the Old English personal name Hereweald, a compound of the elements here meaning “army” and weald meaning “rule” or “power”. Consequently, the surname Harrold may be interpreted to mean “ruler of the army” or “powerful warrior”. It is therefore a patronymic surname, employed in medieval England to denote the descendants of a man named Harold.
The linguistic roots of Hereweald are shared with a number of Germanic names across continental Europe. Historical records point to a common Germanic personal name formed from the elements heri or hari, meaning “army”, combined with wald meaning “rule”. The Roman historian Tacitus recorded a figure named Carivolda among the Batavi in the first century AD, illustrating the early presence of the heri‑wald element in Europe.
Two main historical pathways have been identified for the appearance of the surname Harrold in Britain. The first is a direct lineage from the Old English personal name Hereweald and its Latinised forms, which were introduced to the island during the Norman settlement. Early documentary evidence of the name in England includes a reference to Radulfus Harold in the Feet of Fines of Yorkshire in 1196 and to Philip Harald in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327. The first recorded spelling of the family name in the English record is that of Ralph Harold, dated 1171, in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire during the reign of King Henry XI.
The second potential origin is occupational, derived from the Middle English forms of “herald”, such as Herauld, and the Old French spelling Herault. In this context the surname would denote an official herald, with the same Germanic elements heri plus wald being used as a common noun rather than a personal name.
Over the centuries the spelling of the surname has varied. Known variants include Harold, Herold, Harald, Harrel, Herring, and Heralds. These fluctuations arise from regional dialects and orthographic practices; they all point back to the same underlying Germanic compound.
In terms of geographical distribution, the surname Harrold remains relatively uncommon within the British Isles today. In the United States it is more prevalent, ranking as the 6563rd most common surname. The name can also be found in Australia, Canada, and Ireland, reflecting patterns of migration from the British Isles.
Although the surname is not among the most common in England or Scotland, its presence is still significant in genealogical records and legal documents dating back to the medieval period. The historic linkage to a personal name meaning “ruler of the army” reflects the martial and leadership connotations that were valued in early medieval society and provides a clear linguistic connection to its Germanic and Anglo‑Saxon heritage.
Typical given names associated with the Harrold surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Barbara
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Fiona
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Lucy
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Pauline
- 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 Harrold in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 2,777 people named Harrold in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,221st most common surname in Britain. Around 43 in a million people in Britain are named Harrold.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Harrold
- Glenn Harrold - Hypnotherapist
- Matt Harrold - Football player
- Ruby Harrold - Artistic gymnast
- Grant Harrold - Businessman
- William Harrold - Golfer
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.