Arthur

A1R1T1H4U1R1
UK/ˈɑːθə/US/ˈɑɹθɚ/archaic, dialectal/ˈɑːɹtəɹ/

proper noun

A male given name from the Celtic languages.

OriginMiddle English Arthure ← Medieval Latin Arthurus ← Old Welsh arth →
CommonScrabble 9
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Meanings

Arthur1

proper nounArthur (countable and uncountable, plural Arthurs)

plural Arthurs

  1. countableuncountableA male given name from the Celtic languages.

    Young Arthur is alive: this hand of mine / Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand, / Not painted with the crimson spots of blood.

    Act IV, Scene II
    2 more examples

    "Is his name Arthur?" "Arthur James." "It’s quite an old-fashioned name." "We’re an old-fashioned family. His mother was fond of Tennyson."

    1951, Graham Greene, The End of the Affair, Viking Press, page 96

    "It will not be his only name," Mr. Saporta said, and his glance hoped he had found an acceptable solution. "We shall also call him 'Aaron'. That will be his Jewish name. But for everyday purposes—Arthur."

    1966, Patrick White, The Solid Mandala, Avon Books, published 1975, →ISBN, page 270
  2. countableuncountableA surname originating as a patronymic.
  3. A number of places in the United States:
    1. countableuncountableA village in Douglas County and Moultrie County, Illinois.
    2. countableuncountableA census-designated place in Patoka Township, Pike County, Indiana.
    3. countableuncountableA minor city in Ida County, Iowa.
    4. countableuncountableA village, the county seat of Arthur County, Nebraska.
    5. countableuncountableA ghost town in Elko County, Nevada.
    6. countableuncountableA minor city in Cass County, North Dakota.
    7. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Paulding County, Ohio.
    8. countableuncountableA ghost town in Stephens County, Oklahoma.
    9. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Claiborne County, Tennessee.
    10. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Grant County, West Virginia.
    11. countableuncountableA town in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
    12. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in the town of Lima, Grant County, Wisconsin.
  4. countableuncountableA former rural municipality in Manitoba, Canada, now part of the municipality of Two Borders.
  5. countableuncountableA community in Wellington North township, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada, named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

Arthur2

nounArthur (uncountable)
  1. IrelandinformaluncountableGuinness stout.

Origin

Arthur · proper noun

  1. Old Welsharth“bear”
  2. Medieval LatinArthurus
  3. Middle EnglishArthure
  4. EnglishArthur

From the name of the legendary king, from Middle English Arthure, from Medieval Latin Arthurus, probably from Middle Welsh arth (“bear”). Other suggestions include Old Welsh arth (“bear”) and ur (“man”), or a Latinized (Romano-British) name; compare Latin Artorius, itself possibly of Etruscan origin, or more likely Messapic-Illyrian related to Proto-Albanian *artsa (“bear”).

More words from Middle English, Medieval Latin, Old Welsh

Full word history & related roots →

Arthur · noun

After Arthur Guinness, a famous brewer.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic آرْثَر
  • آرْثَر (ʔārṯar)male given name
Bulgarian Арту́р
  • Арту́р (Artúr)male given name
Catalan Artur
  • Arturmale given name
Chinese Mandarin 阿瑟, 亞瑟 /亚瑟
  • 阿瑟 (Āsè)male given name
  • 亞瑟 /亚瑟 (Yàsè)male given name
Czech Artur
  • Arturmale given name
Danish Arthur
  • Arthurmale given name
Dutch Arthur
  • Arthurmale given name
Esperanto Arturo
  • Arturomale given name
Estonian Artur
  • Arturmale given name
Finnish Artturi
  • Artturimale given name
French Arthur
  • Arthurmale given name
German Arthur
  • Arthurmale given name
Greek Αρθούρος
  • Αρθούρος (Arthoúros)male given name
Hebrew ארתור
  • ארתור (ártur)male given name
Hungarian Artúr
  • Artúrmale given name
Irish Artúr
  • Artúrmale given name
Italian Arturo
  • Arturomale given name
Japanese アーサー
  • アーサー (Āsā)male given name
Korean 아서
  • 아서 (Aseo)male given name
Latin Arthurus
  • Arthurusmale given name
Latvian Arturs, Artūrs
  • Artursmale given name
  • Artūrsmale given name
Norwegian Arthur
  • Arthurmale given name
Persian آرتور
  • آرتور (ârtur)male given name
Polish Artur
  • Arturmale given name
Portuguese Artur
  • Arturmale given name
Russian Арту́р
  • Арту́р (Artúr)male given name
Scottish Gaelic Artair
  • Artairmale given name
Slovak Artúr
  • Artúrmale given name
Spanish Arturo
  • Arturomale given name
Swedish Artur
  • Arturmale given name
Tamil ஆர்த்தர்
  • ஆர்த்தர் (ārttar)male given name
Ukrainian Арту́р
  • Арту́р (Artúr)male given name
Welsh Arthur
  • Arthurmale given name
Cite this entry
APA

Arthur. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Arthur

MLA

“Arthur.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Arthur. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Arthur,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Arthur.

Source: Arthur on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.