Aart is a Dutch short form of the given name Arnold. It is predominantly used in the Netherlands and among Dutch-speaking communities. The name Arnold itself derives from a Germanic name meaning "eagle power", composed of the elements arn "eagle" and walt "power, authority". Etymology and History The root name Arnold was introduced to England by the Normans, where it replaced the Old English cognate Earnweald. After the Middle Ages, Arnold fell out of use in England but was revived in the 19th century. In Dutch, the name took on the short form Aart, which has been used as an independent given name for centuries. Notable Bearers Several notable individuals have borne the name Aart, particularly in the Netherlands. These include Aart Alblas (1918–1944), a Dutch navy officer and resistance member during World War II; Aart van Antum (1580–1620), a marine painter; Aart van Asperen (born 1956), a television director; Aart den Boer (1852–1941), an architect and contractor; Aart Brederode (1942–2020), a field hockey player; Aart van Dobbenburgh (1899–1988), a graphic artist; Aart Jansz Druyvesteyn (1577–1627), a lawyer, painter, and mayor of Haarlem; Aart de Geus (born 1954), a Dutch-born American computer businessman; Aart Jan de Geus (born 1955), a Dutch politician and chairman of the Bertelsmann Foundation; Aart van den IJssel (1922–1983), a sculptor, painter, and draftsman; Aart Klein (1909–2001), a photographer; Aart Koopmans (1946–2007), a businessman; and Aart van der Leeuw (1876–1931), a writer. Related Names Variants of Aart include Arno and Noud. In other languages, cognates include Arnau (Catalan), Arnold (Polish), Arn and Arnie (English), Arnaud (French), and Arend (German). Surname descendants include Aarts, Arts 1, and Artz, all of Dutch origin. Meaning: Eagle power (via Arnold) Origin: Germanic, via Dutch Type: Short form of Arnold Usage Regions: Netherlands, Dutch-speaking communities