Archibald History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Archibald

What does the name Archibald mean?

Archibald comes from the is a Boernician region of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is a name derived from the personal name Arcebold or Arcenbald which means "right bold", "precious bold" or "holy prince". 1

'So frequent was it (Archibald) in the houses of Campbell and Douglas, that, with its contractions of Archie and Baldie, it has become one of the most commonly used in Scotland, recalling many a fierce worthy, from old Archibald Bell-the Cat downwards.' 2

Early Origins of the Archibald family

The surname Archibald was first found in Roxburghshire, about 30 miles southeast of Edinburgh. They had been settled from very ancient times in the Kelso area. Before the name became a surname, there was mention of an "Achebaldus filius Swani de Forgrunde," during the reign of King William, the Lion, of Scotland (1143-1214). 1

"Thomas, the brother of Erkenbaldus, witnessed the gift of the church of Kilmaurs to the Abbey of Kelso before 1189 and Arkembaldus de Duffus was witness to an agreement between the bishop of Moray and John Byseth concerning the churches of Coneway and Dulbatelauch between 1203-1234. Robert Archebalde had a charter of the Hospital of Roxburgh in 1390 from Robert III and John Archibald was a witness in St. Andrews in 1545." 1

Early History of the Archibald family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Archibald research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1390, 1545, 1650, 1785, 1822, 1870 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Archibald History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archibald Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries and printing presses went into use in the last few hundred years, spelling, particularly of names, was a largely intuitive matter. Consequently, many spelling variations occur in even the simplest names from the Middle Ages. Archibald has been spelled Archbold, Archbald, Archibaldson, Archibald, Archibold, Harchbald, Arkanbaldus, Archebald and many more.

Early Notables of the Archibald family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Archibald Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archibald Ranking

In the United States, the name Archibald is the 3,453^rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Archibald family to Ireland

Some of the Archibald family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Archibald migration to the United States +

The east coasts of the United States and Canada are still populated by many of the descendents of the Boernician-Scottish families who made that great crossing. They distributed themselves evenly when they first arrived, but at the time of the War of Independence those who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. This century, many of their ancestors have recovered their past heritage through highland games and other Scottish functions in North America. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that many immigrants bearing the name Archibald or a variant listed above:

Archibald Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Archibald, who received a land grant in Virginia in 1676

Archibald Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Archibald who arrived in New Hampshire in 1728
John Archibald, who landed in New England in 1730 4
Thomas Archibald, who arrived in America in 1791 4

Archibald Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Archibald who arrived in Truro, Nova Scotia before 1800
Robert Archibald, aged 26, who landed in New Jersey in 1812 4
James Archibald who settled in Philadelphia in 1823
James Archibald, who landed in New York in 1825 4
Helen Louisa Archibald, who landed in New York in 1825 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Archibald migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Archibald Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

James Archibald, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1627

Archibald Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Archibald, Sr., U.E., United Empire Loyalist, who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 355 on board the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on Novemer 14, 1783 at East River, New York, married to Sarah was passenger 478 5
Mr. John Archibald, Jr., U.E., United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1769), aged 14, who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 c. 1783 son of John Archibald, Sr. was passenger number 545 on board the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, believed to have received land in Digby 5
Miss Peggy Archibald, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1768), aged 15, who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 c. 1783 daughter of John Archibald, Sr. was passenger number 544 on board the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 5
Miss Jane Archibald, U.E., aka "Jennie", United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1766), aged 17, who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 c. 1783 daughter of John Archibald, Sr. was passenger number 543 on board the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, married Phineas Arnold 5
Miss Sarah Archibald, U.E., United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1764), aged 19, who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 c. 1783 daughter of John Archibald, Sr. was passenger number 581 on board the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, may be mother to David Archibald, Sarah commited suicide in 1797 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Archibald Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Ann Archibald, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1830

Archibald migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Archibald Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Archibald, (Watson), Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
Mr. Walter Archibald, (Archbald, Archbold), (b. 1797), aged 20, Irish labourer who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for robbery, transported aboard the "Chapman" on 25th May 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia transported on to Tasmania 7
Thomas Archibald a cabinet maker, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Navarino" in 1837 8
Mr. James Archibald who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island 9
Marion Archibald, Scottish convict from Stirling, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on October 4, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 10

Archibald migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mary Ann Archibald, aged 31, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Phoebe Dunbar" between 1841 and 1850

Archibald Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Alexander Archibald, aged 41, a labourer, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849
James Archibald, aged 5, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849
Mary Ann Archibald, aged 2, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849
Alexander Archibald, aged 8, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849
Mr. Archibald, British settler travelling from United Kingdom aboard the ship "Dominion" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 28th September 1851 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Archibald (post 1700) +

William C. Archibald, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Chañaral, 1927-29 12
Thomas Archibald, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Warren County, 1834 12
T. D. Archibald, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Sydney, 1861-65 12
Robert G. Archibald, American politician, Mayor of Rexburg, Idaho, 1911-15, 1921-23 12
Norm Archibald, American politician, Mayor of Abilene, Texas, 2013 12
John Archibald, American politician, Mayor of Cohoes, New York, 1906-07 12
Julius A. Archibald, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Senate 21st District, 1953-54 12
James Putnam Archibald (1912-2006), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1948; Justice of Maine State Supreme Court, 1971-80 12
J. S. Archibald, American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 8th District, 1866 12
J. M. Archibald, American politician, Member of Minnesota State Senate 18th District, 1876-77 12
... (Another 23 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Archibald family +

Vimy Ridge

W. A. Archibald (d. 1917), Canadian Lance Corporal in the 13th Battalion who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917
William Archibald (1899-1917), Canadian Private in the 73rd Battalion who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917

The Archibald Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ut reficiar
Motto Translation: That I may be replenished.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 20th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/chapman
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) NAVARINO 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Navarino.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1851 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1851
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html