Meaning & History
Arnt is a Scandinavian masculine given name, predominantly found in Norway. It is derived from Old Norse or German roots and is either a short form of names beginning with Arn-, meaning 'eagle', or a shortened form of Arnold, meaning 'eagle power' (from Germanic elements arn 'eagle' and walt 'power, authority'). As such, Arnt shares its origin with related names like Arend and Arno.
Etymology and Historical Context
The name Arnt is a Norwegian form of Arend, itself a Dutch and German variant of Arnold. The name Arnold was brought to England by the Normans, where it replaced the Old English cognate Earnweald. It died out as an English name after the Middle Ages but was revived in the 19th century. In Scandinavia, however, forms like Arnt have persisted as traditional given names.
The Germanic elements arn ('eagle') and walt ('power') reflect qualities of strength and nobility, which may have contributed to the name's enduring popularity across various cultures. Early medieval saints bearing the name include an 8th-century musician in the court of Charlemagne and an 11th-century French bishop who is the patron saint of brewers. The name was also borne by Arnold of Brescia, a 12th-century Augustinian monk who rebelled against the Church and was eventually hanged.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals have carried the name Arnt, particularly in Norway. These include:
- Arnt Aamodt (1871–1936), Norwegian trade unionist
- Arnt Erik Dale (born 1960), Norwegian alpine skier
- Arnt Dolven (1892–1954), Norwegian agronomist and politician
- Arnt Eliassen (1915–2000), Norwegian meteorologist
- Arnt Erickson (1866–1932), Norwegian-born American businessman and politician
- Arnt Førland (born 1964), Norwegian motorcycle speedway rider
- Arnt Gudleik Hagen (1928–2007), Norwegian politician
- Arnt Haugen (1928–1988), Norwegian accordionist and music journalist
- Arnt Kortgaard (born 1957), Norwegian footballer
- Arnt J. Mørland (1888–1957), Norwegian ship-owner, World War II resistance figure
These examples illustrate the name's versatility across professions, from sports and politics to science and the arts.
Related Names and Variants
As a variant of Arnold, Arnt belongs to a family of related names across different languages and cultures. Besides Arend, these include Arnau (Catalan), Arnoud and Arnout (Dutch), Aart (Dutch), and Arno (German). The root name Arnold has also inspired modern notable bearers such as American golfer Arnold Palmer (1929–2016) and Austrian-American actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger (born 1947).
- Meaning: Eagle power (derived from Arnold)
- Origin: Norwegian, from Germanic elements arn ('eagle') and walt ('power')
- Type: Given name, masculine
- Usage regions: Norway, Scandinavia
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Arnt (given name)