Surname Turrell - Meaning and Origin
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Turrell: What does the surname Turrell mean?
The surname Turrell originates from England, derived from a Norman personal name Thuriel. It has also been suggested that the name may also originate from the village of Turel in Old French, with the meaning of “thorns” or “brambles”.
As a patronymic surname, Turrell indicates a link to a male ancestor, and often was derived from the first-name of a father or ancestor of the initial bearer. Turrell is a variation of an existing English surname, Terrill, or Tirel, which has its origins in Normandy, France.
Early bearers of the Turrell surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The earliest records appear to be of Thomas Turrell in the 1323 "Subsidy Rolls of Somerset". In 1790, the first recorded immigration of someone with the surname Turrell was to Cape May County, New Jersey. Henry Turrell is recorded as living in New York in 1820.
The use of the last name Turrell has been noted in various records of Scottish origin, including the parish of Logie in Aberdeenshire. Variations seen in Scottish records are Tirrell, Tirrill and Tyrrel. Many bearers of the family name eventually migrated to the United States of America and Canada, mainly during the first half of the 19th century.
Today, people with the last name Turrell can be found living in many parts of the world. It is a prominent surname in English- speaking countries and represents a proud heritage of many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisTurrell: Where does the name Turrell come from?
The surname Turrell is most common in the United States, where it is found within the top 1000 surnames. It is particularly concentrated in the northeastern states, including Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. Outside of the US, Turrell is most common in the United Kingdom, which is the likely place of origin for the surname. The Turrell surname in the United Kingdom is most prominent in the city of London, where it is ranked in the top 1,000 surnames. In Australia, the surname is prominent in the states of Tasmania and Victoria. Finally, the last name Turrell is also widely found in Ireland.
The etymology of the Turrell surname can be traced back to the Old English "Thurhil," which means "thorn hill." Given the vast geographical reach of the surname today, it is likely that many of its modern bearers are distant descendants of the original bearer of the name.
Variations of the surname Turrell
Turrell is a surname of English origin. It is derived from the Old French word ‘torril’ which means “tower hill”. It likely originated in North Wales or the Welsh borders.
Variations of the name include Turrell, Turrill, Toorill, •Tyrrel, Tyrell, Tearell, Terrills and Terrell. Other variants of the name can also be found.
Though the spelling of Turrell is the most commonly seen variant of the name, some people with the surname may have had their spelling altered in an attempt to make them more ‘American’. For example, the spelling of Torrelle may be found in some cases.
Similarly, an Americanized spelling of the name may be Terrill or Terrell; Terral is another variant that has been seen.
Like many surnames, Turrell may be found in different countries around the world. It is noted that some variants of the name can be found in Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Overall, the many variations and spellings of the Turrell surname can offer clues about its linguistic and migration origins. It can also highlight its history of being adapted to fit different cultures across the globe.
Famous people with the name Turrell
- James Turrell: an American artist known for creating light art installations.
- Kayte Christensen Turrell: an American heptathlete and Olympic medallist.
- Bob Turrell: an English cricketer who played for Bedfordshire and the MCC.
- Harold Turrell: a Canadian zoologist who discovered the Turrell spiny rat.
- Jordan Turrell: an English cricketer who played for Herefordshire.
- Andrew Turrell: an English cricketer who played for Shropshire.
- Chris Turrell: an Australian cricketer who played for South Australia.
- May Turrell: a former English cricketer who played for Essex.
- Russell Turrell: an Australian architect, urban designer and artist known for creating sustainable living spaces.
- Dorothy Turrell: an English artist known for her oil paintings and watercolor works.