The village was first mentioned in 1471 as Eerndwaud. The etymology is unclear. It was sometimes called "Arendswoude" (forest of the eagle), however that is merely a corruption of the Frisian name. Earnewâld developed in the 18th century as a
peat excavation village. The Dutch Reformed church was built in 1794. Earnewâld was home to 310 people in 1840. The village was isolated until 1860 when a road to
Garyp was constructed. It is home to a shipping wharf for historic ships. ==Economy==