ERNESTO.  Italian form of German Ernst (q.v.), or the older Arnust (q.v.), which is probably a form of Old Norse Arnstein (q.v.), meaning "eagle stone." (History of Christian Names, Yonge, 1884).

    Thoinan, Erneste, pen-name of Antoine-Erneste Roquet, b. Nantes, Jan. 23, 1827; d. Paris, in May, 1894.  A business-man in Paris, and a thoughtful student of music.  He collected a fine mus. library. (A Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Baker, 1905).