Medieval forms include Old High German Erchambald, Erkanbold, Erkanbald and Anglo-Saxon Eorcenbald.
There is also a secondary association of its first element with the Greek prefix archi- meaning "chief, master", to Norman England in the High Middle Ages.
The form Archibald became particularly popular among Scottish nobility in the Late Middle Ages and the early modern period, whence usage as a surname is derived by the 18th century, found especially in Scotland and later Nova Scotia.
Variants include French Archambault, Archaimbaud, Archenbaud, Archimbaud, Italian Archimboldo, Arcimbaldo, Arcimboldo, Portuguese Arquibaldo, Arquimbaldo and Spanish Archibaldo, Archivaldo.
[2] In the late medieval and early modern period, the given name Archibald became popular among Scottish aristocracy in particular.