A male name. Old English Hereweald, compound of here ‘host’, ‘army’, and weald ‘power’. But the actual source of the modern name was probably the corresponding Old Norse Harivald, mod Norse Harald, or it was amongst the Anglo- Danes that it particularly flourished, the most notable bearer of it being Harald Godwinson who contested the kingdom with William of Normandy. The name is found from time to time in the 12th and 13th C but was not common and seems to have died out altogether. It was revived in the 19th C.

Harald, Haraldus, Harold, Arold, Herold, Herald, Heral, Eral, Herould, Herolt, Hairaud Domesday Book 1086. Haroldus Curia Regis Rolls 1201-13.

In Danish Harald, and Haraldr in Norse (it is essentially, predominantly a Norse name), it is a compound denoting ‘warrior-power’, hence probably ‘powerful warrior’. It owes its English prevalence to Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings,—the title of Bulwer Lytton’s historical novel published in 1848. This king was Harold II and he has been even more finely celebrated in Tennyson’s strangely neglected drama, Harold, 1876,—but then Tennyson’s three historical dramas, nervous and arresting, are too little read in C20. There was also ‘a Christian child’—now St. Harold—‘put to death by Jews infuriated against Christianity, at Gloucester (1168). This strange outbreak ... is also held responsible for the martyrdoms of St. William of Norwich and St. Robert of Bury’ (Benedictines).

The same with the Middle High German names Ariold, Harhold, and with Cariovalda, dux Batavorum apud Taciturn, Annal. xi. 11, which Wachter translates ‘powerful in battle (ger-walt).’

Teutonic (masculine) - Beloved leader.

A Teutonic name, meaning: Powerful warrior. (Anglo-Saxon) Leader: champion.

A Gaelic name: Harailt, Middle Irish Aralt, from Norse Haraldr (same in roots and origin as English herald). Hence Mac-raild.