The name Harold is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old Norse name Haraldr. It is composed of the elements "har" meaning "army" and "valdr" meaning "ruler" or "leader." The name can be traced back to the 9th century and was particularly popular among the Vikings and other Scandinavian peoples.

Harold was a common name among the ruling classes in medieval England, after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The most famous bearer of this name was Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, who was defeated by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This historical event marked a significant turning point in English history and contributed to the popularity of the name.

In the 11th century, the name Harold appeared in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an important historical record that documented events in England from the 9th to the 12th centuries. The name was also mentioned in various medieval literary works, such as the Old English poem "Beowulf" and the Icelandic sagas.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Harold was Harold Fairhair, the first king of Norway, who ruled from around 872 to 930 AD. Another notable figure was Harold Bluetooth, the king of Denmark and Norway, who lived from around 935 to 986 AD and was responsible for uniting the two kingdoms.

Throughout history, several other prominent individuals have borne the name Harold. These include Harold Hardrada (c. 1015-1066), the King of Norway who was defeated by Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Another notable bearer was Harold I (c. 1016-1040), the King of England from 1037 to 1040.

In the modern era, some famous individuals with the name Harold include Harold Pinter (1930-2008), the British playwright and Nobel Prize winner in Literature, and Harold Wilson (1916-1995), the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976.