Surname Cashel - Meaning and Origin

Cashel: What does the surname Cashel mean?

The surname Cashel is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word Caiseal, meaning "stone fort" or "castle." It originally referred to people who lived in or near such structures. Notably, Cashel is also the name of a town in County Tipperary, Ireland, known for the historic "Rock of Cashel," a site with significant ecclesiastical buildings and monuments. It's possible that bearers of the surname may also hail from this town. Thus, the surname Cashel is primarily geographical, linking bearers of the name to a specific historical place or structure in Ireland. As with many surnames, variations in spelling may exist due to local dialect and pronunciation or anglicization over time.

Cashel: Where does the name Cashel come from?

The surname Cashel is of Irish origin and primarily related to a geographical location. The name is derived from the Irish "Caiseal," which means "stone fort" or "castle". It refers to an ancient town Cashel famous for the Rock of Cashel, a historic site in Ireland. There, the Kings of Munster used to reside in the early Middle Ages. Over time, individuals or families who lived near or at this location might have adopted Cashel as their surname.

As with many surnames, people with the Cashel surname have spread across the world due to migration and diaspora, settling in new lands and taking the name with them. While the name may still be found in Ireland, it is also encountered in countries where Irish people emigrated, especially the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Hence, these are the places where the surname Cashel might be more common today. Nevertheless, it's not as widespread as some other surnames of Irish origin. The distribution may vary and names may disappear or become extremely rare due to factors like marriage, name changes, and lineage discontinuation.

Variations of the surname Cashel

The surname Cashel is predominantly Irish and its variants and similar spellings can be found in traditional Irish genealogy. Variants could include Cashell, Casheal, Casheil, Cachell, or even Keshel, reflecting the phonetic transcription of the name. It can also be correlated with the surname Castillo due to similar pronunciation in some dialects or accents.

"Cashel" itself could have been an anglicised version of the Gaelic O'Caiseal, derived from word "Caiseal" meaning "Stone Ringfort". It's noteworthy to mention that Cashel is a place name in Ireland (County Tipperary) famous for the historic site "The Rock of Cashel", hence, it's feasible that the surname could have originated as a geographical indication.

Several families with the name Cashel might have picked up different surnames after emigrating from Ireland, yet tracing these could be quite challenging given the lack of precise records. As with many surnames, variations in spelling largely depended on the interpretation by clerks or other officials who were responsible for recording the names in official documents which has led to various forms over time.

Famous people with the name Cashel

• Siobhan Cashel: Irish Actress
• Mike Cashel: Former Secretary of the Air Force
• Christopher Cashel: Actor, known for roles in Dick Whittington and His Cat and Pilgrimage
• Donal Cashel: Irish traditional musician
• Donal Cashel Mac Cashel: Irish politician and former senator
• Eileen Cashel: Professional bead worker and jewelry maker
• Ciaran Cashel: Award-winning Environmental Scientist
• Gráinne Cashel: Irish actress best known for her portrayal of Maire O’Casey in the miniseries Brides of Christ
• Arthur Cashel: 15th century Anglo-Irish nobleman
• Patrick Cashel: Irish writer, poet, and revolutionary

Other surnames

CashellCasher