Surname Berrell - Meaning and Origin
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Berrell: What does the surname Berrell mean?
The surname Berrell is thought to be of Old English origin, possibly a habitational name derived from the compound 'Beorh-Heall', meaning a 'fortified hill'. Alternatively, Berrell may be a version of the surname Berrill, a variant of Burrell, which is a diminutive of the Old French personal name Bur(r)el, from the Old German 'Burghgeri'.
Berrell is a fairly uncommon name in Britain as well as the United States, although a few families do bear the name in both countries. In the 1891 census, Berrell was only found in seven counties in England, with the highest number being in Essex (four). In the United States, it was first found in Massachusetts in1630 and has since spread to other states and is found more commonly than its British counterpart.
One notable family of Berrells was the scientist sisters Evelyn and Alice, daughters of Douglas Berrell, a British industrial chemist. Alice was a leading biophysicist, whose work in biophysics mad contributions to the understanding of sound. On the other hand, Evelyn was a x-ray crystallographer who crystallised insulin and explored the structure of protocrystalline lipid complexes.
On a more spiritual side, the Berrell name is associated with the Scottish Bobolinks group, a Christian denomination which follows practices derived from the teachings and traditions of the Quakers and Shakers. The Berrells are not members of the group, but the name is still used as part of their 'signature songs' and is thought to signify peace and joy.
Overall, the surname Berrell is an uncommon name with a variety of possible origins. Over time, the variations of the name have been used by both distinguished scientists and spiritualists, reflecting its many interpretations.
Order DNA origin analysisBerrell: Where does the name Berrell come from?
The surname Berrell is primarily found in the United Kingdom. It is rare but not uncommon. It is believed to have derived from the personal name of Bernard and the well-known Old English prefix of ber meaning 'bare'. This means the original bearer of the name was likely someone with a very short hair style.
In 2020 the most popular spelling of the name Berrell was found in the counties of East Sussex, Suffolk, Devon and Essex. It is also popular in parts of the northern England and southern Scotland.
The name Berrell has spread around the world with immigrants who left England. Today, the name Berrell is present in Northern Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A few notable people with the last name Berrell include 17th century British politician Sir Robert Berrell, 1st Baronet, American actor and screenwriter Casey Berrell, and British racecar driver Nathan Berrell.
In terms of populations, the name Berrell is most common throughout England, being the country of origin, but there is a presence of the name throughout the rest of the United Kingdom and in the Commonwealth countries.
Variations of the surname Berrell
The surname Berrell is thought to have two main possible origins. The first is derived from the Old French word "beeral", which means "shrub". The second possible origin lies in the Germanic name Berhild, which means "bright battle maiden".
Variants, spellings, and surnames related to Berrell include:
Berrel, Berriel, Berriell, Beryll, Beryle, Berrall, Berill, Berril, and Berryl.
Berrel is believed to stem from the Middle English personal name Berel, which can itself be dated back to the Old English pre-7th Century name 'Beorhthelm'. The modern surnames Berrel, Berriel, Berriell, Beryll, and Beryle are thought to be derived from "ber" meaning "resin" and "hild" meaning "battle maiden".
The name Berrall is a variant of Barrell and may have been used interchangeably in some cases. It is generally understood that Berrill is an anglicised form of the Gaelic personal name "Barrfhile", a combination of "Barr" and "fhile", meaning "spear/lance" and "man of prudence".
Finally, the variant Berill is believed to come from the Old German word "bueron", meaning "warrior". Additionally, the names Berril and Berryl are thought to be diminutives of the name Berrell.
It is important to note that the intention of this answer is to provide information about the different variants, spellings, and surnames related to Berrell. This list is by no means exhaustive, as further research and study may reveal additional spellings and variants.
Famous people with the name Berrell
- Tony Beurrell: A former professional basketball player who played 11 seasons in the NBA from 1985 to 1996 and was a member of the 1990 championship team, requiring the Chicago Bulls.
- Jackie Berrell: An American professional softball and former basketball player who is an athletic director and head coach of women's basketball at Coastal Carolina University.
- Richard Berrell: An Australian biologist and science fiction author.
- Amanda Berrell: A British singer-songwriter from London who has released numerous studio albums and National and International tours.
- Cole Berrell: An English actor best known for his roles as Ben on the HBO series Game of Thrones and Private Andy Gunn in Foyle's War.
- Mark Berrell: An American actor who has appeared in such films as The Benchwarmers and Bubble Boy.
- Craig Berrell: An American film and television actor and photographer, who notably portrayed Peter Petrelli on the NBC series Heroes.
- Lara Berrell: An Australian actress known for her roles in the television series Wentworth and Home & Away.
- Ronny Berrell: An American rock singer and songwriter based in Nashville.
- Dean Berrell: An American comic book artist and writer best known for his work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures and Ghostbusters.