Fact Check: Is Arnold Schwarzenegger legally dropping part of his last name?

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral social media post claims Arnold Schwarzenegger is dropping part of his famous surname and will now go by “Arnold Schwarzen.” The post also attributes a surprising explanation to the actor, saying he made the alleged change because his original surname could offend Black people.

Claim: Arnold Schwarzenegger is dropping part of his surname

The rumor originated with an X user named HoopsCrave, who claimed that Arnold Schwarzenegger is legally dropping part of his last name. 

The post said, “Arnold Schwarzenegger is legally removing ‘negger’ from his last name and will now go by Arnold Schwarzen: ‘I realized it could be offensive, so I decided to remove it. I love Black people.’”

At the time of writing, the post had garnered more than 1.7 million views, with several users reacting to the alleged name change. 

One user joked, “Shoulda at least changed it to Schwarzenator like I called him as a kid.” Another wrote, “Your name is your name, sir! We've been saying it for over 40 years...you'll be ok and we most definitely will be okay!!!”

Other users questioned the alleged change. One commenter wrote, “Wait, wait, wait, nobody would think of that, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's your last name, and people have to learn to respect that.” 

The commenter added that calling the name “offensive” was “an exaggeration.” Several users also questioned the authenticity of the post and asked whether the claim was real.

Fact Check: The claim is false

The claim is false. The source, @HoopsCrave, is a parody account. Its bio clearly states that it is a “parody account not affiliated with @PopCrave.” The account regularly shares made-up celebrity and entertainment news for humor.

No credible evidence supports the claim. Searches of news outlets, official records, Wikipedia, and Schwarzenegger’s own social media accounts found no reports, legal filings, statements, or announcements about a name change. 

Recent coverage continues to identify and credit him as Arnold Schwarzenegger, his full name being Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger has also made no such announcement on his official X account, @Schwarzenegger. His recent posts focus on fitness, motivation, and other topics, with no mention of changing his surname.

The surname “Schwarzenegger” also has no connection to a racial slur. It is a German-Austrian surname linked to places called Schwarzenegg or similar names. 

The name comes from “schwarz(en),” meaning “black,” and “Egg,” referring to a corner, edge, or ridge. Some folk explanations translate it as “black plowman,” but these interpretations do not connect the surname to a racial slur.

Jokes about the similarity between part of the surname and a racial slur have circulated online for years, but they do not indicate that Schwarzenegger plans to change his name.