This interesting and unusual name with variant spelling Yarnell, Yarnall, etc. is a dialectal variant of "Arnold", which itself derives from two possible sources. Firstly, it may be from a Norman personal name composed of the Germanic elements "arn", eagle, plus "wald", rule, a compound form popular with the warlike tribes of the period. Alternatively it may originate as a habitational name from places called "Arnold", in both Nottinghamshire and Humberside. These are named from the Old English elements "earn", eagle, and "hald", neck or hollow. Examples of the name taken from early church records include William Yarnall of Claines, Worcester, a witness at the christening of his daughter Elizabeth on January 8th 1551, Thomas Yarnoll, who married Margaret Becoll at St. Olave's, Old Jewry, London, on November 4th 1591, and Richard, the son of Thomas Yarnoll christened at St. Johns, Hackney, on February 1st 1656. Others include Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Jane Yarnold christened at Sheriff Hales, Shropshire on February 21st 1756, and John, a son of Benjamin and Sarah Yarnold christened at Midhurst, Sussex on May 9th 1821. The surname was apparently first recorded in Worcestershire, as shown below, and clearly the persons concerned were of some considerable importance.
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John and Joan Yarnold, which was dated Circa 1460, Benefactors of the church of St James Oddingley, during the reign of King Henry VI of England 1422-1461.
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