Meaning & History
Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The name is used across many European languages, including Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, and Welsh.
Etymology
The meaning of Arthur is unknown. It could be derived from the Celtic elements *artos "bear" (Old Welsh arth) combined with *wiros "man" (Old Welsh gur) or *rīxs "king" (Old Welsh ri). Alternatively, it could be related to the obscure Roman family name Artorius. The earliest attestation of the name Arthur is in the early 9th-century Welsh-Latin text Historia Brittonum, where it refers to a circa 5th-century Romano-British general who fought against the invading Saxons, and who later gave rise to the famous King Arthur of medieval legend and literature. A possible earlier mention is in the epic Welsh poem Y Gododdin by Aneirin, which some scholars assign to the late 6th century, though this is debated and the poem only survives in a late 13th-century manuscript.
Historical and Legendary Context
Arthur is the name of the central character in Arthurian legend, a 6th-century king of the Britons who resisted Saxon invaders. He may or may not have been based on a real person. He first appears in Welsh poems and chronicles (perhaps briefly in the 7th-century poem Y Gododdin and more definitively and extensively in the 9th-century History of the Britons). However, his character was not developed until the chronicles of the 12th-century Geoffrey of Monmouth. His tales were later taken up and expanded by French and English writers.
Popularity and Notable Bearers
The name came into general use in England in the Middle Ages due to the prevalence of Arthurian romances, and it enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 19th century. Famous bearers include German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), mystery author and Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), and science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008).
Variants and Related Forms
Common spelling variants include Artur (used in Swedish, Ukrainian, and other languages) and Arturo (Spanish and Italian). Diminutives include Art and Artie in English, and Tuur in Dutch. Other language forms include Ardo (Estonian), Artturi, Arto, and Arttu (Finnish), and Artúr (Hungarian). Surname descendants include Arthurson (English) and Arthursson (Swedish).
- Meaning: Unknown; possibly from Celtic "bear" + "man" or "king", or from Roman Artorius
- Origin: Celtic / Roman
- Type: First name
- Usage Regions: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Welsh, Arthurian Cycle
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Arthur