An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Herold

by Friedrich Kluge

Herold, m., ‘herald,’ late MidHG. only (14th cent.), hęralt, hęrolt (also ęrhalt), m., ‘herald’; undoubtedly an OG. military term, which, like a large number of others of the same class (comp. Hader, Kampf), became obsolete at an early period. Herold itself is derived from an OFr. term recorded towards the end of the 13th cent., héralt, ModFr. héraut (comp. Ital. araldo, MidLat. heraldus), which is based, however, upon an OG. *hęriwalto, *hariwaldo, ‘an army official,’ appearing in OSax. as a proper name, Hariold (OIc. Harald). OHG. harên, ‘to praise,’ does not occur in the compound.