Surname Metherall - Meaning and Origin
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Metherall: What does the surname Metherall mean?
The last name Metherall has an interesting and complex history. It is believed that it originated in England during the medieval period, with two possible origins. The first likely comes from the Old English ‘mȳd’ which means middle or main, and ‘æthere’ which means an open space; together these would refer to someone who lived in the middle of a common area, or an open space. The second possible origin for this surname is that it may have been derived from the name ‘Metherall’, which is a location in Essex, England which was first mentioned in the Doomsday Survey of 1086.
It is believed that the name first began appearing in written records in the 1300s in England, and that by the 1600s, the surname had become widespread in the West Country, especially in Devon and Cornwall. By the 19th century, it is believed that the Metherall family had emigrated from England to the United States and Canada, taking their surname with them.
Today, the name Metherall is still relatively rare, although it can be found in the United States, Canada, and other English-speaking countries throughout the world. It is believed that those bearing the surname are mostly of English, French, and Irish heritage. Over time, the Metherall surname has come to symbolize a long and complicated history, and to tell the story of an enduring family who, despite a long and varied journey, remain connected through a shared name.
Order DNA origin analysisMetherall: Where does the name Metherall come from?
The last name Metherall is most commonly found throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland today. It began as a Norman French name and spread to England with William the Conqueror. Most people bearing the name in the UK hail from areas such as Devon in the southwest, Cornwall in the far southwest, and Gloucestershire on the Welsh border. It is also quite commonly seen in Ireland, particularly in Cork, Waterford, and Kerry.
The Metherall name is an Anglicization of the Norman French name Meraudel. This in turn came from an old Germanic name, Mauradal, meaning 'people of the sea.' It is a relatively uncommon name, with records showing fewer than 500 people in the UK and Ireland bearing it. The Metherall surname also appears in the United States, Australia, and Canada, likely due to immigration from the UK or Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Though not as widespread or common as many other surnames, the Metherall name is still seen today, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It gives a link to a rich history and an ancestry that dates back to before the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Variations of the surname Metherall
The surname Metherall has a few variants, spellings and related surnames, that are all of the same origin.
The main spelling of the surname is Metherall, which can also be spelled as Mederall, Metherrell, Mathrell, Metharrell and Methrall. There is also a shorter version of the surname, which is Mether.
These spellings can be found in certain parts of the English-speaking world, such as in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia.
Related surnames to the Metherall surname include Matherall, Mathewall, Matherall, Matheweall, Marthal, Matherall, Marthale, Mathewele, Mathrowe, Mewerall, Marthaler, Marsters, Metherell, Marstalls, Metherel, Mouthing and Marthalls.
The Metherall surname is thought to be of Old English origin, and is believed to have originally been derived from a personal name, Matorh. It has been suggested that the name was originally a place-name, and was derived from the Old English word "mator" which means "marsh".
The surname has been found in recorded records as far back as the 16th century. It is possible that the name is of ancient Norman origin, although this has not yet been proven.
In the northeast of England, the name is often found as Metherell, and this may be the result of a dialectal variation.
Another possible origin of the surname is from the area of Brittany in France. The name may have originally been "Mac Tairchell" from the Gaelic terms “Mac” which means “son” and “tairchell” which means “throat” in some dialects. It is possible that the name was given to someone who was an exceptionally good vocalist.
In conclusion, the surname Metherall can be spelled in many different ways, and has several related surnames and spellings of the same origin. The exact origin of the surname is unknown, but it is thought to have either been of Old English origin or of Norman French origin.
Famous people with the name Metherall
- Graham Metherall: Canadian Football player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League.
- John Metherall: a musician, and owner of the Metherall Music label.
- William Metherall: an English actor who appeared in films such as Human Traffic and The Three Musketeers.
- Tony Metherall: a British artist, known for his large-scale abstract paintings.
- Stephen Metherall: an Emmy award winning producer, director and cinematographer.
- James Metherall: a founder of the British Watercolour Society.
- Sally Metherall: a British artist, best known for her intricate and detailed watercolours.
- Alexandra Metherall: a New York-based model and actress.
- Leonard Metherall: a British author and broadcaster, best known for his novels, including the popular series, The Moonstruck Horse.
- Rachel Metherall: a Canadian singer-songwriter and humanitarian ambassador.