Surname Astell - Meaning and Origin

Astell: What does the surname Astell mean?

The surname Astell is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from personal names such as "Estall" and "Estelle". The name appears to have locational roots as well, possibly relating to places named Aston or Easton in the United Kingdom. Essentially, the name indicates a dweller in the east part of a town or from the eastern territories. However, like many surnames, meanings can evolve or change over time based on migration and linguistic development. Also, various families with this name may have different origins and meanings attached to it. The surname Astell is relatively rare, but it's quite notable due to individuals like Mary Astell, an English feminist writer, and philosopher. Thus, the Astell surname carries a historical connotation of intellectual and feminist pursuits.

Astell: Where does the name Astell come from?

The last name Astell is of English origin. It traces back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is believed to be a locational surname, deriving from some lost or unrecorded place, believed to have been in the county of Yorkshire. The surname comes from the Old Norse word 'eist', meaning east, and 'holt', meaning a wood or forest. So the original Astell was likely a dweller 'east of the wood'.

There appears to be a significant presence of the surname Astell in England even today, particularly across parts of Yorkshire, London, and Nottinghamshire. The name may have spread to other parts of the world such as Australia, Canada, and the United States, due to migration over generations. However, it is less common in these regions compared to the United Kingdom. The surname Astell is not very common overall. As of 2014, it was recorded as the 140,259th most common surname in the world.

Variations of the surname Astell

The surname Astell may have varied forms, spellings, and origins due to influences from different regions, cultures or languages. Variants can include Astle, Astill, Astel, Astles, and Astells. These variants are very common, especially in English-speaking countries.

Similarly, Astell can also be spelled somewhat differently while retaining its phonetic essence. Some of these alternate spellings could include Asthle, Astele, Asthelle, or even Acstelle as a rare form.

Surnames with the same origin as Astell generally refer to those derived from the Old English elements 'east' (east) and 'hyll' (hill). Therefore, surnames like Easthill, Ashill, Eashill, or Eastell could be of the same origin as Astell.

Always, to establish a conclusive link between these surnames, a thorough genealogical research is necessary because the origin and derivations of surnames can be influenced by numerous factors and may not strictly stick to their direct linguistic roots.

Furthermore, there could be cases where these surnames have appeared because of transcription errors, Anglicization or other such alterations in the historical documents or data. Hence, one could also come across even more varied spellings or forms of the Astell surname.

Famous people with the name Astell

• Mary Astell: An eminent English feminist writer and rhetorician, Mary Astell is known for her early advocacy of women's rights, particularly in education and marriage. Her works have had a significant impact on feminist philosophy.
• Nancy Astell: A British television presenter and journalist, she has worked on various news and current affairs programs on the BBC.
• Peter Astell: A Canadian actor, known for his roles in films like "Water" and "Love and Death on Long Island". Please note that some of these figures may not be globally recognized but they are notable people with the last name Astell in their respective fields.

Other surnames

Astel