What was Ark Royal named after?
Short answerThe name comes from an Elizabethan ship first associated with Walter Raleigh, renamed Ark Royal after the Crown acquired it, and used as an English flagship against the Spanish Armada.
NotesThe name comes from a large ship associated with Walter Raleigh and initially called Ark Raleigh. After the Crown acquired it, the ship became Ark Royal. It then served as an English flagship during the campaign against the Spanish Armada. The word 'ark' could also refer to a very large ship, helping explain the original naming. The answer turns a modern carrier name into a route back to Elizabethan naval history and the reuse of prestigious names across centuries.