A male name. Old German Ercanbald, compound of ercan ‘genuine’, ‘simple’ and bald ‘bold’. Like other names in ercan (see E. Förstemann, Altdeutsches Namenbuch) It developed A- forms which were influenced by the supposed analogy with Greek names in Archi- (cf. Theodoric), and such forms as Archembald, Archimbalt appear at an early date. The name was brought to England at the Norman Conquest and appears in Domesday Book as Arcebaldus, Arcenbaldus, Erchenbaldus, while later versions are Erkenbaud, Erchebald, Herchembaut. There was a corresponding Old English name Eorconbeald in use in the East Anglian royal family, many of whose members bore names compounded with eorcan, and some of the post-Conquest examples may represent a survival of it. St Eorkonweald (d. 693) is sometimes at a later date referred to as St Archibald. Archibald survived in occasional use in England, especially in the North, and gave rise to the surnames Archbell, Archbold. But it was only in Scotland that it took permanent root and became really common. It has always been a particular favourite with the Campbells and Douglases. The usual abbreviation is Archie. Like Algernon q.v. it is taken by comic writers as a typical aristocratic name.

Arcebaldus, Arcenbaldus, Erchenbaldus Domesday Book 1086. Erkenbaud Curia Regis Rolls 1201-3. Erchebaldus Feudal Aids 1303. Archebald or Erchenbald Lyford 1655.