Surname Horrell - Meaning and Origin

Horrell: What does the surname Horrell mean?

The surname Horrell is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It's a topographical name for someone who lived by a patch of ground that was hore, an old term for grey or dirty, combined with hyll, which means a hill in Old English. Therefore, the name Horrell can be understood to depict someone who lived by the 'grey hill' or the 'dirty hill'. However, like many English surnames, over centuries and generations, the meaning of the name may have lost its original relevance. The answer might slightly vary from one region to another due to varied cultural interpretations and linguistic transformations. The biggest proportion of people with the last name Horrell live in the United States, the UK, and a few in Canada.

Horrell: Where does the name Horrell come from?

The last name Horrell is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word “herle,” which means nobleman or warrior. Its use can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era in England. It is therefore considered to be a patronymic surname, essentially meaning "son of Herle."

Today, the surname Horrell continues to be most common in England, particularly in areas such as Somerset and Devon. It can also be found in other English-speaking countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand through immigration from England over the years. However, even in these countries, it remains a relatively rare surname. It is important to note that variations of the surname may exist, which can be an indicator of familial branches or distinct family lines.

Variations of the surname Horrell

The surname Horrell originates from the Anglo-Saxon tribe. It is considered a patronymic type of surname derived from the baptismal name "Horold".

Several variants and spellings stemmed from this surname due to translation and pronunciation variations through the centuries. These variations include Harrell, Harral, Harrell, Harle, Harl, Harle, Harill, Harell, Harel, Harol, and Haroll.

Families with these surnames often migrated to different countries, creating more versions such as Harailles, Harailles, Harals, Harleau, Herold, Herol, Herault, Arrell and Arol in places like France, Germany and other European countries.

In some cases, the surnames have been anglicised to Carroll, Harrell or Herald which, although they have the same phonetic sound, have entirely different origins. Therefore, people bearing these surnames may or may not be related to the Horrell family.

Given the changing nature of language and dialects, these names may be subject to further variations, and thus it is often challenging to trace the accurate lineage of surnames. However, a traditional approach is used, supported by historical documents and genetic genealogy testing.

Famous people with the name Horrell

• Mark Horrell: Famous for his works as an adventure and mountain climbing writer, Mark gives detailed insights into the highs and lows of mountaineering in his books.
• Bill Horrell: Known as an expert in executive leadership and author, Bill Horrell has left a lasting impression in academia.
• Ian Horrell: The Managing Director of the Dalmore Supports, Ian is well-known for his contributions to the care service industry.
• Antony Horrell: A prominent figure in the financial world, Antony is the CEO of Securities finance International.
• Steve Horrell: A skilled musician, Steve is known for his work on the bass guitar in the band The Hardliners.
• Katie Horrell: She is a known US Navy Captain, who has had an impressive career in military service.
• Adam Horrell: Adam has left his mark in the technology industry as a CEO of a fiber broadband company. Please note that these are people who have made significant contributions in their respective fields and may not necessarily be "famous" in the conventional sense of being widely known by the general public.

Other surnames

Horre