Surname Gunnell - Meaning and Origin
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Gunnell: What does the surname Gunnell mean?
The surname Gunnell, derived from the ancient Norse language, is believed to be a locational name, which means “of the Gunn river”. Gunn is thought to refer to a body of water, most likely a river, meadow stream, or small stream. Originally, the name may have been Gunegil, meaning “Gunn’s stream”.
The name is recorded in various forms in English records from the 12th century onwards. Examples include Gounel, Gugnel, Gunel, and Gunnell, all of which are thought to originate from the same root.
The Gunnell family is believed to have held land around the Gunn river in the original area of residency; including Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland in England. Records show one Gunnell family in Somerset as early as 1327, and another branch situated in County Durham in 1461. The Gunnell name is also found in Ireland; descendants of this family are believed to be from an old Scandinavian name, or from a family who emigrated from England.
Today, Gunnell is a relatively widespread surname in the British Isles, and there are many families that still bear the name. There is no coat of arms associated with the Gunnell name, and it is not part of any clan or sept.
Order DNA origin analysisGunnell: Where does the name Gunnell come from?
The surname Gunnell is most commonly found today in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the US, Gunnell family surnames are mainly concentrated in western and central states such as Texas, Arizona, California, and Illinois. Many counties that are located in these states also have high concentrations of Gunnell families. In the UK, Gunnell surnames are predominantly distributed in the East Midlands, with strongholds in counties like Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Leicestershire.
In addition to the US and UK, Gunnell is also a very common surname in other countries of the world, such as Canada, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and New Zealand. It is also popular in Sweden and Norway, particularly in notable cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö.
Overall, although the Gunnell surname is found in small numbers in some areas, it is still considered rather common worldwide, particularly within North American and European populations.
Variations of the surname Gunnell
The surname Gunnell is derived from the Old English personal name Gunnul. It is thought that this name was originally a pet form of the name Gunnhildr which meant “battle maiden”. Gunnell is thought to have first been used as a surname in the 13th century. Variants and spellings of the surname include Gunal, Gunell, Gunel, Gunill, Gunnal, Gunnello, Gunnel, Gunnell, G onion, Gunnar, Guinnell, Gwynell, Gynell, and Gynell.
It is also possible that Gunnell is derived from the Old Norse element “gunnr” which means “battle”. This variant of the surname is found mainly in Norway and Sweden. Variants and spellings of this variation of the surname include Gunele, Gunila, Gunila, Gunnila, Gunnla, Gynla, and Gynla.
In addition, Gunnell may have originated as a habitational name from locations in England, such as Gunnill in Devon. The place name is derived from the Old English elements “gunnet” meaning “gun”, and “halh” meaning “nook or hollow”. Variants of this surname include Gunhall, Gunhale, Gunhales, Gunnalls, Gunnales, and Gunnhales.
Related surnames include Gunson, Gunter, and Gunnison. Gunson is an English surname derived from the Old English personal name Gunnhildr which also originated as a nickname for a person of ginger hair. Gunter is a German and Dutch surname derived from the Old High German personal name Gundhar which is derived from the element "gunth" meaning "battle". Gunnison is an English toponymic surname derived from Gunniston in Yorkshire and Gunstone in Lincolnshire.
Famous people with the name Gunnell
- Chris Gunnell: Bassist in the British alternative/indie rock group Swervedriver;
- Elmer Gunnell: American Inventor who invented the advanced Alcohol Thermometer;
- Torben Gunnell: Danish Professional Footballer who has played for numerous clubs in Europe including FC Copenhagen, Everton F.C., and Feyenoord;
- Ed Gunnell: Professional American Racing Driver who competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain in 2012;
- David Gunnell: English Actor and Musician who has performed with numerous bands including The Jam and Ocean Colour Scene;
- Ann Gunnell: British Author and Speaker who has written several books on faith, spirituality, and the power of the mind;
- Chris Gunnell: Professional British Cyclist who has competed in many cycling competitions and is currently racing with the Sorefi-AG2R Team;
- Tiffany Gunnell: Former Professional American Volleyball Player and Coach who is currently the head coach of the Rutgers University Women's Volleyball Team;
- Brett Gunnell: American Professional MMA Fighter and competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship;
- Steve Gunnell: British Musician and Singer-Songwriter who has released numerous critically acclaimed albums and singles.