The name Oswald is of Old English origin, derived from the elements "os" meaning "god" and "weald" meaning "power" or "rule". It can be translated as "divine power" or "rule by God". The name dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, around the 5th to 11th centuries.

Oswald was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxon nobility and royalty. It gained prominence with Saint Oswald, the King of Northumbria from 634 to 642 AD. He was renowned for his efforts in spreading Christianity throughout his kingdom and was eventually venerated as a saint and martyr after his death in battle.

The name Oswald can be found in various ancient texts and historical records from the Anglo-Saxon era, including the Venerable Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English People" and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Oswald, the son of King Ethelred of Mercia, who lived in the 7th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Oswald of Worcester, an English bishop and scholar who lived from around 925 to 992 AD.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Oswald:

1. Saint Oswald (604-642 AD), the King of Northumbria and a Christian martyr.
2. Oswald of Worcester (925-992 AD), an English bishop and scholar.
3. Oswald von Wolkenstein (1376-1445), an Austrian nobleman, diplomat, and poet.
4. Oswald Spengler (1880-1936), a German philosopher and historian.
5. Oswald Mosley (1896-1980), a British politician and leader of the British Union of Fascists.

The name Oswald has remained in use throughout the centuries, although its popularity has waxed and waned in different regions and time periods. It has been particularly common in English-speaking countries, as well as in parts of Germany and Austria.