Meaning & History
The meaning and origin of the first element in this Germanic name is rather uncertain, and so there are various possibilities to the name's meaning. The most likely possibility is that the first element is derived from Proto-Germanic aran or arna "eagle" (ara in Gothic and arn in Old High German). However, it might also come from Old High German êra "honour, respect" (see Eraric) or from Old High German hari "army" (with reduction of the "h"). The second element has similar uncertainty. We know that it comes from gis (the original form was possibly gîs), but we don't exactly know where gis itself comes from. But there are a few possibilities. It might come from Gallo-Celtic gaiso "spear" (see Gaiseric) or it might be a short form of gisel, which means "hostage" or "pledge" (see Giselle).