Surname Powill - Meaning and Origin
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Powill: What does the surname Powill mean?
The last name Powill is derived from the Norman personal name Puille, Puill, or Puillel, which is believed to be a diminutive of Paul. Paul is a Latin name derived from the word "paulus" which literally means "small." It is thought to have been a popular Norman personal name and is found in several forms.
As far as Powill goes specifically, it is believed to be a nickname-type surname, which is a characterization given to a person based on a physical or personal trait. In this case, the trait in question is that of being small in stature. It is an occupational surname, referring to a domestic servant or an innkeeper.
Today, the name Powill is relatively rare and can be found mainly in England, with the highest concentrations found in certain parts of Yorkshire, Surrey, and Derbyshire. On the whole, families that hold the Powill surname are thought to have a long history of deep English roots, stretching back to the time of the Normans and the Domesday Book, when surnames were first adopted.
Order DNA origin analysisPowill: Where does the name Powill come from?
The last name Powill is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. It is thought to have originated in Scotland, although there is no definitive evidence of this. Many records indicate that the family has been quite widespread over the centuries.
In the present day, most people with the surname Powill live in Scotland, England, and Wales. They also appear to be quite dispersed in North America, where the name has been present since the early 1700s. There is also evidence of a few families with this surname living in Australia and New Zealand.
Analysis of the surname suggests that it could have been derived from the old Gaelic word “pow”, which translates as “war”, or “strength”. It is also thought that it could come from the Old English words “powel”, or “pouall”, meaning “little hill”. These linguistic origins indicate that the surname may have been in use since at least the 13th century.
Although the name is rarely found in the modern day, it appears that the Powill family has an impressive history, with a past that stretches back for centuries across the UK and beyond. The Powill history may hold more secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Variations of the surname Powill
Powill is a surname that is also sometimes spelled as Povah, Powel, Powell, and Powells. This variety in spelling can be attributed to the fact that it is an English toponymic surname, derived from "the pool" - the deep water source, often from which fresh water is taken.
One of the most common variants for the surname Powill is Powell. This comes from the diminutive of the name Paul, which was commonly associated with the Welsh variants of the surname. It is also sometimes seen combined with other surnames such as Powell-Jones or Powell-Williams.
Occasionally, the surname Powill can be seen spelled as Poel or Poell. This spelling could refer to the Dutch variant of the surname, which is derived from the Middle Dutch words ‘pool’ or ‘poel’ meaning ‘a pool’ or ‘a small lake’.
The surname Powill can also be seen as Pauel. This variant of the surname is mainly found in Germany, and it can be derived from the Middle High German names 'Pawel' or 'Pauhel.'
In addition, the surname Powill can be seen as Paullee, Paull, Pauley, and Paulley. These are all variation of Paul, which is a common source of many surnames based on toponymic locations.
Overall, the many variants of the surname Powill show how versatile and common this surname is, while also providing insight into its many origins.
Famous people with the name Powill
- Corinne Powill: British actress
- Wil Powill: Puerto Rican mixed martial artist
- Daniel Powill: American actor
- Kevin Powell: American author and activist
- Kim Powill: Canadian Paralympian
- Lou Powill: Australian comedian
- Krista Powill: Canadian soccer player
- Paul Powill: British artist
- Sara Powill: UK radio presenter
- William Powill: British actor