Surname Beall/Bell - Meaning and Origin
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Beall/Bell: What does the surname Beall/Bell mean?
The surname Beall/Bell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a variant of the name Belle, which has its roots in Latin and Old French. The name is believed to be derived from the Latin word belle, meaning “beautiful”. This could have been used as a first or last name to describe someone who was physically beautiful. The surname Beall/Bell is also thought to be derived from the Celtic root “bael” meaning “chief” or “leader”. This could indicate that the original bearers of this surname were large and powerful men who had authority and control over their surroundings.
The name Beall/Bell has spread worldwide, and is found in many countries and cultures, especially in Great Britain and North America. In the United States, the name is most common in the Midwest region, especially in Michigan and Wisconsin. Beall/Bell is also very popular in Scotland, where it was sometimes pronounced as “bell”. In general, the Beall/Bell surname has been associated with nobility and grandeur, and the people who bear the name have been overwhelmingly affluent and prestigious.
Overall, the name Beall/Bell is a noble and distinguished surname that has a deep and long-standing history. Because of its Latin roots, it is sometimes associated with beauty and elegance. Meanwhile, its Celtic roots indicate that it was used to identify and honor powerful and important individuals, who were often given strong authority and control.
Order DNA origin analysisBeall/Bell: Where does the name Beall/Bell come from?
The surname Beall/Bell is common today throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many other countries. With a few slight spelling variations, it is found in all parts of the world. The Beall/Bell surname is especially common in Scotland, where it is the 42nd most frequent surname. The name typically originated in Scotland from a Celtic term for 'fair skinned' or 'fair haired.' It is unclear whether the origin of the name is from personal description or inheritance of land.
In the United States, Beall/Bell is one of the most common surnames, currently ranking as the 103rd most frequent surname. It is especially plentiful in the south and Midwest, with greater numbers in states such as Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia. It can also be found in all other regions of the US, including the southwest, west coast, and northeast. Today, the bell surname is prominent in other parts of the world as well, including Canada, Australia, and England.
Aside from its sheer frequency, the Beall/Bell name is known most for its rich pedigree of history. The name was made famous in England with the rise of Elizabethan author Anthony Munday, who adopted the surname Bell. There are also many prominent Beall/Bell families whose namesakes have achieved great renown in the realms of law, art, and business.
Today, the Beall/Bell name is carried by people around the world who trace their ancestry back to Scotland or other regions of Britain—all of whom take great pride in carrying their distinguished surname into the future.
Variations of the surname Beall/Bell
The surname Beall/Bell has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Common variations of this surname include Beele, Beal, Beall, Belle, Bael, Baal and Baill. These spellings can also be seen with other variations, such as Beale, Bealie, Bealle, Beaill, Bayle, Bayll and Bail.
Beall and Bell are both names of English and Scottish origin. As surnames, Beall and Bell have been used since the fourteenth century. The surname Beall has an Old English origin and was commonly found in the south of England, particularly in counties such as Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Sussex. The surname Bell comes from the Middle English word 'belle' meaning "beautiful". It was commonly found in Lancashire and Yorkshire in the north of England.
The surnames Beall and Bell both stem from the Johnston, Johnstonn, Jonson, or Johnson families, which originated in Scotland. They were a prominent family who owned large estates and were seen as a powerful landed gentry.
The Beall surname has a Gaelic origin, set by Scots who settled in Ireland during the Middle Ages. The Gaelic spelling for Beall is 'Mac an Ghail'. It is also known as 'MacGill', and is a variant of the Scottish surname MacGill/MacGille.
Overall, Beall and Bell are two closely related surnames that both derived from the same source. There are various spellings and variant forms for the same name, so people with either surname may have different heritage and lineages.
Famous people with the name Beall/Bell
- Madelaine Bell: a British stage and film actress
- Nyle Beall: an American art director and production designer
- Tom Beall: a former American hardball pitcher
- Jody Beall: an American television writer
- Katie Bell: a fictional character from the Harry Potter franchise
- Hunter Bell: an American Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist
- Bill Bell: an actor and writer known for appearing in films and TV series
- David Bell: a former Major League Baseball player
- Joe Bell: an American silent film actor
- Paul Beall: an American playwright
- Tom Bell: an English actor
- Mason Bell: an American Major League Soccer player
- Nora Bell: a fictional character from the movie Frozen
- Andre Bell: an American film and television director
- Tom Bell: an English television, film and theatre actor
- Abigail Bell: an athlete who competed in the 2012 Olympics
- Michael Bell: an American film and television actor
- Tige Bell: an American actor
- Steve Bell: an English singer-songwriter
- Dexton Bell: an American professional basketball player