Harold is an English personal name. The modern name Harold ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic *harja-waldaz, meaning 'military-power' or 'army-ruler'. The name entered Modern English via the

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th ...

from Hereweald, which retained the same meaning and was prevalent in

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons were a cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo-Saxons happened wit ...

England. The name's popularity in

Viking Age The Viking Age () was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonizing, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. It followed the Migration Period and the Germ ...

England would also have been bolstered by the use of the Old Norse form Haraldr among Scandinavian settlers in the Danelaw.

Ancient

* Chariovalda (d. 16), Batavian chieftain and Roman ally, killed near the River Weser

Medieval

* Hagrold (fl. 944–954), also known as Harold, Scandinavian chieftain in Normandy * Harold Harefoot, or Harold I (c. 1015–1040), King of England from 1035 to 1040 * Harold Godwinson, or Harold II (c. 1022–1066), the last Anglo-Saxon king of England and Earl of Wessex *

Harold, son of Harold Godwinson Harold ( 1067 – 1098) was a son of Harold Godwinson, King of England. He was driven into exile by the Norman conquest of England, and found refuge at the court of the king of Norway. Birth and parentage Harold's family was one of the mos ...

(fl. 1067–1098) *

Harold of Gloucester Harold of Gloucester (died 1168) was a supposed child martyr who was falsely claimed by Benedictine monks to have been ritually murdered by Jews in Gloucester, England, in 1168. The claims arose in the aftermath of the circulation of the f ...

(died 1168), supposed child martyr and saint, allegedly murdered by Jews *

Harald Fairhair Harald Fairhair no, Harald hårfagre Modern Icelandic: ( – ) was a Norwegian king. According to traditions current in Norway and Iceland in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, he reigned from 872 to 930 and was the first King of No ...

(850-932), the first King of Norway *

Arioald Arioald was the Lombard king of Italy from 626 to 636. Duke of Turin, he married the princess Gundeberga, daughter of King Agilulf and his queen Theodelinda. He was, unlike his father-in-law, an Arian who did not accept Catholicism. Arioald de ...

, king of the Lombards

Modern name

* Harold Abrahams, British Olympic champion sprinter and subject of '' Chariots of Fire'' *

Harold Achor Harold Edward Achor (November 16, 1907 – February 5, 1967) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge who served as a justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from January 3, 1955 to December 12, 1966.Minde C. Browning, Richard Humphrey, and ...

(1907–1967), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court * Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, British Army officer who served with distinction in both the First World War and the Second World War and, afterwards, as

Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada (french: gouverneure générale du Canada) is the federal viceregal representative of the . The is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but resides in oldest and most populous realm ...

, the 17th since Canadian Confederation *

Harold Arroyo Harold Arroyo (born February 18, 1961) is a retired boxer from Puerto Rico. He won the silver medal in the Men's Super Heavyweight (+ 91 kg) division at the 1991 Pan American Games. Arroyo also represented his native country at the 1988 Summ ...

, Puerto Rican boxer *

Harold Bailey (gridiron football) Harold Craig Bailey (born April 12, 1957) is a former American football wide receiver who played two seasons with the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Oilers in the eighth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Ba ...

(born 1957), American football player *

Harold Walter Bailey Sir Harold Walter Bailey, (16 December 1899 – 11 January 1996), who published as H. W. Bailey, was an English scholar of Khotanese, Sanskrit, and the comparative study of Iranian languages. Life Bailey was born in Devizes, Wiltshire, an ...

(1899–1996), British linguist * Harold Baines (born 1959), American baseball player *

Harold Baker (photographer) Harold Baker (1860–1942) was a British photographer who was based in Birmingham, England. Life and career Baker was born in Birmingham in 1860, the son of Samuel Henry Baker, an artist and member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists ...

(1860–1942), British photographer *

Harold Baker (politician) Harold Trevor Baker (22 January 1877 – 12 July 1960) was a British scholar and Liberal politician. Background Baker was born on Portsea Island, the son of Louisa and Sir John Baker, MP for Portsmouth. He was educated at Winchester College an ...

(1877–1960), British politician, Financial Secretary to the War Office 1912–1915 * H. A. Baker (1881–1971), American author and Pentecostal missionary *

Harold Baker (cricketer) Harold Frank Baker (4 May 1884 – 5 May 1954) was an English cricketer who played two first-class games for Worcestershire in 1911. He made his first-class debut in the same match as the slightly more successful James Turner. Baker scored a ...

(1884–1954), English cricketer * Shorty Baker (1914–1966), American jazz musician * Harold Baker (judge) (born 1929), federal judge on United States District Courts in Illinois *

George Harold Baker George Harold Baker (November 4, 1877 – June 2, 1916) was a lawyer, political figure, and soldier from Quebec, Canada. He represented Brome in the House of Commons of Canada from 1911 to 1916 as a Conservative Member of Parliament. He is t ...

(1877–1916), lawyer, political figure, and soldier from Quebec, Canada *

Harold Brooks-Baker Harold Brooks Baker (later Brooks-Baker; 16 November 1933 – 5 March 2005), was an American-British financier, journalist, and publisher, and self-proclaimed expert on genealogy. Early life and education Born a United States citizen, the son of ...

(1933–2005), American-British financier, journalist, and publisher, and self-proclaimed expert on

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...

* Harold Bekkering (born 1965), Dutch cognitive psychologist * Harold Bloom, American literary critic * Harold Budd (1936–2020), American composer and poet *

Harold Craxton Thomas Harold Hunt Craxton (30 April 188530 March 1971) was an English pianist, teacher and composer. Born in London, and growing up in Devizes, Craxton began studying piano with Tobias Matthay and Cuthbert Whitemore in 1907, and made a name for ...

(1885–1971), British composer and pianist *

Harold Camping Harold Egbert Camping (July 19, 1921December 15, 2013) was an American Christian radio broadcaster and evangelist. Beginning in 1958, he served as president of Family Radio, a California-based radio station group that, at its peak, broadcast t ...

(1921–2013), President of Family Radio * Hal Daub (born 1941), American politician * Harold Danko (born 1947), American jazz pianist * Harold Demsetz (1930–2019), American economist * Harold de Soysa (1907–1971), first indigenous Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka * Harold Diamond (1926–1982), American art dealer * Harold Ely (1909–1983), American football player * Harold Faltermeyer (born 1952), German musician * Harold H. Fisher, (1901–2005), American church architect *

Harold Ford, Jr. Harold Eugene Ford Jr. (born May 11, 1970) is an American financial managing director, pundit, author, and former U.S. Congressman who served from 1997–2007 in the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic Party f ...

, U.S. Congressman, candidate for U.S. Senate * Harold Frost (1921–2004), American orthopedist and surgeon *

Harold Goldsmith Harold David Goldsmith (born Hans Goldschmidt), known as Hal (July 20, 1930 – March 13, 2004) was an American Olympic foil and epee fencer. Early and personal life Goldsmith was born in Gensungen, Felsberg, Hessen, Germany, and was Je ...

(1930–2004), American fencer *

Harold Hart Harold Jerome Hart (born July 13, 1952) is a former American football running back who played four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants. He was drafted by the Raiders in the eleventh round of ...

(born 1952), American football player * Harold Helgeson (1931–2007), American geochemist * Harold Herath (1930–2007), Sri Lanka Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1991-1993 *

Hal Holbrook Harold Rowe Holbrook Jr. (February 17, 1925 – January 23, 2021) was an American actor, television director, and screenwriter. He first received critical acclaim in 1954 for a one-man stage show that he developed called ''Mark Twain Tonight!'' ...

(born 1925), American actor * Harold Holt, Australian Prime Minister * Harold Holt (impresario), South African-English impresario *

Harold Houser Harold Alexander Houser (March 31, 1897 – September 3, 1981) was a United States Navy Rear admiral, and the governor of American Samoa from September 10, 1945, to April 22, 1947. Biography Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia to Emmett a ...

, American admiral and 35th Governor of American Samoa * Hal Jeffcoat (1924–2007), American baseball player * Harold George Jeffcoat (born 1947), American academic *

Harold A. Jerry, Jr. Harold Anderson Jerry Jr. (March 2, 1920 – June 9, 2001) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Life He was born on March 2, 1920, in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York. He graduated from Princeton University in 1941. During W ...

(1920–2001), New York politician * Harold Keller (1921–1979), American Marine and Iwo Jima flag raiser * Harold La Borde, Trinidadian circumnavigator *

Harold Landry Harold Antonio Landry III (born June 5, 1996) is an American football outside linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College and was drafted by the Titans in the second r ...

(born 1996), American football player * Hal Lindsey (born 1929), American evangelist and Christian writer * Harold Lloyd, American film actor * Harold C. Luther (1915–1973), New York politician * Harold MacMichael (1882–1969), British Colonial administrator *

Harold Macmillan Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, (10 February 1894 – 29 December 1986) was a British Conservative statesman and politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. Caricatured as " Supermac", ...

, Prime Minister of Great Britain *

Harold McCartney Harold McCartney (birth registered second ¼ 1945) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s. He played at club level for Castleford ( Heritage № 478).David Smart & Andrew Howard (1 July 2000). "Images ...

, English rugby player * Harold James Nicholson, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer and a twice-convicted spy for Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) * Harold Nicolson, British diplomat, author, diarist, and politician * Harold Norse, American poet * Harold I. Panken (1910–1999), New York state senator *

Harold Peiris Harold Peiris (1904–1988) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, author, scholar, teacher, patron of the arts, and philanthropist. He was the co-founder of the Lionel Wendt Art Centre and its sole life-trustee.Harold Perrineau, American actor * Harold Pinter (1930–2008), British playwright *

Harold Prince Harold Smith Prince (born Harold Smith; January 30, 1928 – July 31, 2019), commonly known as Hal Prince, was an American theatre director and producer known for his work in musical theatre. One of the foremost figures in 20th century America ...

(born 1928), American theatrical producer and director * Harold Ramis (1944–2014), American film actor, director, writer and producer * Harold Reynolds (disambiguation), multiple people * Harold S. Roise (1916–1991), American Marine officer, double Navy Cross recipient * Harold G. Schrier (1916–1971), American Marine officer and Iwo Jima flag raiser *

Harold Schultz Harold Henry Schultz (January 28, 1925 – May 16, 1995) was a United States Marine corporal who was wounded in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. He was a member of the patrol that captured the top of Mount Suribachi and raise ...

(1925–1995), American Marine and Iwo Jima flag raiser * Harold Shipman (1946-2004), British general practitioner and serial killer *

Harold Solomon Harold Solomon (born September 17, 1952) is an American former professional tennis player who played during the 1970s and 1980s. He achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 5 in singles in 1980, and of No. 4 in doubles in 1976. Over the cours ...

(born 1952), American tennis player * Hal Steinbrenner (born 1969), principal owner, managing general partner and co-chairman of the New York Yankees baseball franchise * Harold Syrett (1913–1984), American executive editor of ''The Papers of Alexander Hamilton'', and president of Brooklyn College * J. E. Harold Terry, English novelist, playwright, actor and critic *

Harold Tucker Harold Tucker (1930-October 2015) was a British politician who was the Conservative Leader of the Opposition on Manchester City Council from 1973 to 1990 and Lord Mayor of Manchester from 1984 to 1985. He was Conservative Councillor for the Bar ...

, Lord Mayor of Manchester, England, from 1984–1985 * Harold I. Tyler (1901–1967), New York assemblyman * Harold R. Tyler, Jr. (1922–2005), federal judge in New York *

Harold Urey Harold Clayton Urey ( ; April 29, 1893 – January 5, 1981) was an American physical chemist whose pioneering work on isotopes earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1934 for the discovery of deuterium. He played a significant role in th ...

(1893–1981), American physical chemist * Hal B. Wallis (1898–1986), American film producer * Harold Walker (disambiguation), several people * Harold Washington, first African-American mayor of Chicago * Harold Weed, digital artist * Harold E. Weeks, American politician *

Harold Wellman Harold William Wellman (25 March 1909 – 28 April 1999) was an English-born New Zealand geologist known for his work on plate tectonics. He is notable for his discovery of South Island's Alpine Fault. Wellman became a Fellow of the Royal Society ...

(1909–1999), New Zealand geologist * Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister *

Harold G. Wren Harold G. Wren (1921 – June 13, 2016), known as "Hal," was a lawyer, law professor, and dean of three American law schools. In addition, he was the author of multiple editions of the well reviewed legal guidebook, ''The Of Counsel Agreement''."P ...

(1921–2016), American dean of three law schools * Harold "Butch" Wynegar (born 1956), baseball player * Harold Zent (1900–1951), member of the Washington House of Representatives

Fictional characters

*Harold the Helicopter, a character from the British television series '' Thomas and Friends'' * Healthy Harold, an Australian Giraffe sock puppet early educating Australian primary school children *

Harold Allnut A collective of fictional characters appear in American comic books published by DC Comics featuring the superhero Batman as the main protagonist. Since Batman's introduction in 1939, the character has accumulated a number of recognizable suppor ...

, from the ''Batman'' comic series * Harold Berman, from the Nickelodeon animated series ''Hey Arnold!'' * Harold Bishop, from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' *Harold Buttowski, from the Disney XD animated series '' Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil'' *Harold Chasen, from the film American black-comedy and drama '' Harold and Maude'' * Harold Finch (Person of Interest), a main character from the television drama ''Person of Interest'' * Harold Foster, a multibillionaire

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

n newspaper company chairman from Anthony Horowitz's ''Power of Five'' series * Harold Green, Red Green's nephew on ''The Red Green Show'' *Harold Hill, from the musical and movie '' The Music Man'' * Harold Hutchins, a main character in the ''Captain Underpants'' book series * Harold "Hal" Jordan, a fictional DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern * Harold Lauder, from Stephen King's '' The Stand'' *Harold Lee, from American film series '' Harold & Kumar'' * Harold "Happy" Loman, from the American stage play '' Death of a Salesman'' * Harold McBride, a supporting character from the animated series '' The Loud House'' * Harold Saxon, an alias of The Master from the British science-fiction series ''Doctor Who'' * Harold Smith, from the 1990s television drama

Twin Peaks ''Twin Peaks'' is an American mystery serial drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It premiered on ABC on April 8, 1990, and originally ran for two seasons until its cancellation in 1991. The show returned in 2017 ...

*Harold SquarePants, SpongeBob's father and Margaret’s husband from American television series ''

SpongeBob SquarePants ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' (or simply ''SpongeBob'') is an American Animated series, animated Television comedy, comedy Television show, television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It ...

'' *Harold Norbert Cheever Doris McGrady V, from the Canadian animated series ''

Total Drama ''Total Drama'' (often shortened as ''TD'') is a Canadian animated television series created by Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis that premiered on Teletoon in Canada on July 8, 2007, and on Cartoon Network in the U.S. on June 5, 2008. The s ...

'' *Harold, from the Cartoon Network animated series '' The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy'' *Harold, from the British television series '' Thomas & Friends'' *Harold, from the animated musical '' All Dogs Go to Heaven'' *Harold, a character played by Bill Murray in the 1993 crime comedy-drama film '' Mad Dog and Glory'' * Harold and the Purple Crayon from the children's books by Crockett Johnson * Hide the Pain Harold, a fictional identity in meme images based on photos of Hungarian engineer András Arató * King Harold of Far Far Away, from the films '' Shrek 2'' (2004) and '' Shrek the Third'' (2007) *Childe Harold, from the Byron poem '' Childe Harold's Pilgrimage''

References

{{given name Danish masculine given names English masculine given names Irish masculine given names Scottish masculine given names Welsh masculine given names French masculine given names German masculine given names Norwegian masculine given names Swedish masculine given names

Ancient

Medieval

Modern name

Fictional characters

See also

References