Find out how popular the last name Arnott is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Arnott.

Arnott, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Arnott surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Arnott in America

Arnott is the 12861st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Arnott surname appeared 2,394 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Arnott.

We can also compare 2010 data for Arnott to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Arnott

The surname Arnott is believed to have originated in Scotland, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words 'earn' meaning 'eagle' and 'hoth' meaning 'ridge' or 'promontory'. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill where eagles were known to nest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arnott can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'Arnot', suggesting a slight variation in spelling from the modern form.

The Arnott surname has been present in various historical records throughout the centuries. For instance, in the 16th century, a certain John Arnott was mentioned in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland for his involvement in a land dispute.

Place names have also contributed to the development of the surname. The village of Arnothill, located in Fife, Scotland, is believed to have been named after an early bearer of the Arnott name, further solidifying the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Among notable individuals bearing the surname Arnott throughout history, we can mention:

1. Sir John Arnott (1555-1616), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
2. Hugo Arnott (1749-1786), a Scottish poet and essayist known for his contributions to the periodical The Mirror.
3. Samuel Arnott (1756-1838), a Scottish physician and author who wrote extensively on the subject of heat and its effects on the human body.
4. Neil Arnott (1788-1874), a Scottish physician and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the waterbed and the smoke jacket.
5. William Arnott (1808-1875), a Scottish businessman and founder of the Arnott's Biscuit Company, which became a renowned brand in Australia and New Zealand.

The surname Arnott has a rich history rooted in Scotland's past, with connections to both geographical features and notable individuals who have left their mark across various fields, from literature and medicine to business and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Arnott

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Arnott.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Arnott was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Arnott has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Arnott was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Arnott, please contact us.

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