Archibald

English

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman Arcebald, Arcenbald or Ercenbald, from Old French Archaunbault, from Proto-West Germanic *Erknabalþ, from *erkn (“pure, holy, genuine, precious”) +‎ *balþ (“strong, bold”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑː(ɹ).t͡ʃɪ.bɔːld/, /ˈɑː(ɹ).t͡ʃɪ.bəld/

Proper noun

Archibald (plural Archibalds)

1. A male given name from the Germanic languages.
   • c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], signature A.2, verso:

     On holly rode day the gallant Hotſpur there, / Yong Harry Percy, and braue Archibold, / That euer valiant and approued Scot, / At Holmedon met, […]

     Referring to Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas.

2. A surname originating as a patronymic.

Usage notes

• Used as an anglicization of Scottish Gaelic Gilleasbuig (literally “servant of the bishop”), which is also often anglicized as Gillespie.

Derived terms

• Arch
• Archie

Translations

male given name

• Catalan: Arxibald
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 阿奇博爾德 / 阿奇博尔德 (Āqíbó'ěrdé)

• French: Archambault (fr) m, Archenbaud m, Archibald (fr), Archaimbaud m, Archimbaud m

  Old French: Archaunbault m

• German: Archibald
• Greek: Αρχίβαλδος m (Archívaldos)
• Italian: Arcibaldo (it), Arcimboldo m, Archimboldo m, Arcimbaldo m
• Latin: Archibaldus
• Marathi: आर्चिबल्ड m (ārcibalḍa)
• Old English: Eorcenbald m
• Old High German: Erkanbald, Erkenbald, Erchanbald, Erchimbold
• Portuguese: Arquibaldo m, Arquimbaldo m
• Spanish: Archibaldo m