The name Arturo is of Germanic origin, derived from the ancient name Arthur, which itself is derived from the Celtic words "artos" meaning bear and "viros" meaning man, translating to "bear man." The name can be traced back to the 6th century, when it was popularized by the legendary King Arthur of Britain.

The Arthurian legends, which first appeared in the 12th century, were instrumental in spreading the name across Europe. In these tales, Arthur is depicted as the rightful king who leads the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders. The name gained further prominence with the publication of Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" in 1485, which helped to cement Arthur as a iconic figure in literature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arturo can be found in the writings of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, who mentions a character named Arturo in his epic poem "The Divine Comedy" (1320). The name also appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Historia Regum Britanniae" (1136), which chronicles the lives of the British kings, including Arthur.

Notable historical figures named Arturo include Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957), the Italian conductor and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1920-1995) was an Italian classical pianist renowned for his interpretations of Romantic composers. Arturo Frondizi (1908-1995) was an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as the President of Argentina from 1958 to 1962.

In the literary world, Arturo Pérez-Reverte (born 1951) is a Spanish novelist and former war correspondent, best known for his historical fiction works such as "The Fencing Master" and "The Nautical Chart." Arturo Uslar Pietri (1906-2001) was a Venezuelan writer, intellectual, and politician, considered one of the most influential figures in Latin American literature of the 20th century.