Arnest History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Switzerland

Etymology of Arnest

What does the name Arnest mean?

The Arnest surname is thought to derive from the Old High German word "ernus," which meant "fight." As such, Arnest was most likely originally a nickname for a person or family whose defining characteristic is a serious demeanor or temperament. Nickname surnames were a class of German names derived from "eke-names," or "added names," that described people by a personal characteristic or other attribute.

Early Origins of the Arnest family

The surname Arnest was first found in Bavaria, where the family emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Arnest family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arnest research. Another 234 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1556, 1624, 1644, 1664, 1666, 1675, 1682, 1688, 1695, 1712, 1716, 1719, 1773, 1786, 1787, 1798, 1814, 1832, 1838 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Arnest History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arnest Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Arnest include Ernst, Ernste, Ernest, Errnst, Ernesten, Arnst, Aernst, Arnest and many more.

Early Notables of the Arnest family

Prominent among members of the name Arnest in this period include Georg Ernst of Limburg Stirum, (died 1666), Count of Limburg Stirum, Count of Bronckhorst, Lord of Wisch, Lichtenvoorde and Wildenborch; Christian Ernst of...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Arnest Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Arnest family

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Joseph Ernst, who settled in Georgia in 1735 with his wife Anna Maria and daughter Susannah. Felix Ernst settled in Pennsylvania in 1744 with his wife Elsbetha Weydmann, while Friedrich Ernest settled in Texas in 1846..