Surname Greenal - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Greenal: What does the surname Greenal mean?
The surname Greenal does not seem to have a specific meaning available from available resources. It's possible that it could be a variant of "Greenall", an English surname which is believed to be of a locational origin from places called Greenhalgh in Lancashire or Greenhole in West Yorkshire. "Greenall" could mean "a green hall" or "a green nook of land." Keep in mind this is an educated assumption based on similar spellings and origins of surnames. The actual origin and meaning of "Greenal" is not definitively known or could be very obscure or personal, relating to an unknown family history or anecdote. It is always best to investigate one's own family tree or enlist the help of a genealogist for the most accurate and personal understanding of one’s surname.
Order DNA origin analysisGreenal: Where does the name Greenal come from?
The surname Greenal is of English origin, being a modern-day variation of the ancient name 'Greenhall.' The surname is most likely topographical, referring to a person who lived near a green hall, a common structure in medieval England. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Grenehalgh, which was dated 1251, in the "Assize Court Rolls of the county of Northumberland." Many variations of the spelling have been observed over centuries including Grenehalgh, Greenhalgh, Greenhow and more recently Greenal. Current usage of the surname Greenal is extremely rare, and it is not particularly common in any specific geographic region. The surname can be found in small numbers scattered globally, with a handful of people with this surname in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Its low frequency makes it difficult to map its commonality today.
Variations of the surname Greenal
The surname Greenal is quite rare and presents some challenges when determining variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It's most likely linked to the English surname "Green," which is derived from the Old English 'grene,' referring to the color or someone who lived near village green.
The addition of 'al' could suggest that 'Greenal' is an occupational surname for someone who worked on a 'green hill' or in a 'green valley', taken from the Old English words 'halh', 'healh' or 'heale', meaning 'nook', 'corner of land', or 'recess'.
Variations of the surname Greenal may include Greenall, Greenhalgh, Greenhall, Greenhill, and Greenhough, Greenhow, or even Grenhall. Some of these variations may have evolved due to local pronunciation differences or clerical errors in records. The spellings of surnames could often change from generation to generation, reflecting the phonetic nature of early written records. Some of these variations are more common in particular regions, suggesting that multiple distinct families may have taken on similar surnames.
Other possible surnames of the same origin might be Green, Greene, or Greening. However, due to the surname's rarity, these connections are purely speculative.
Famous people with the name Greenal
- Gavin Greenall, English musician
- Rachel Greenall, British theatre actress
- Georgia Greenall, Australian kickboxing champion
- Megan Greenall, Paralympic athlete from Great Britain
- Warren Little, British photographer and conservationist born Warren Greenall
- James Greenall, British former professional footballer
- Jackie Greenall, English former association football player
- Chris Greenall, British barrister, admiral in the Royal Anglian Regiment
- George Greenall, British former chairman of Carrick Rangers
- Charles Greenall, British composer and organist
- Mark Greenall, British game designer
- Julian Greenall, British politician
- Gilbert Greenall, British Conservative Party politician
- William Greenall, English architect
- John Greenall, English former footballer and manager