Surname Tirrell - Meaning and Origin
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Tirrell: What does the surname Tirrell mean?
The surname Tirrell is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the medieval personal name 'Terry', itself a diminutive form of various old Germanic personal names such as Theodoric, Dietrich and Theirn. The suffix 'ell' could be an endearing diminutive. Therefore, the name Tirrell roughly translates as "little Terry" or "one who is like Terry". The name might have originally been a nickname that over time turned into a surname. The first existence of the name was found in county Somerset, England, during the 13th century. It’s also said that many of the people with surname Tirrell had moved to Ireland during the 17th century. Like other surnames, it can have variations in its spelling, including Tyrell, Terrell, Terrill, Turrell, and others. As a surname, it has been borne by various notable people over centuries, adding to its recognition and use.
Order DNA origin analysisTirrell: Where does the name Tirrell come from?
The Tirrell surname is most commonly found in the United States today. The surname is derived from a place-name in the English county of Devon, located in the south-west of England, near Cornwall. The Old English words ‘Tīra’ and ‘Hylle’, which mean “dry hill”, form the basis of the name Tirrell.
Tirrells are first found in Devon during the earliest days of feudalism, when English families replanted their roots in their new homeland in America. The Tirrell family migrated to North America during the 1600s and 1700s, beginning with the original surname holder Thomas Tirrell who arrived in 1635.
Today, the Tirrell surname is most commonly found on the East Coast of the United States in the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. According to the 2020 United States census, 27% of Americans with the Tirrell surname lived in Massachusetts. Within the same state, 21% lived in Rhode Island and 15% lived in Connecticut. Thanks to the global reach of the internet, the presence of Tirrells can now be felt far beyond America’s eastern seaboard, with Tirrells now living in virtually every corner of the United States and all around the world.
Variations of the surname Tirrell
The surname Tirrell is an Anglicized version of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Ó Tírghaile. This name was derived from the personal name Tírghail, which is a combination of the Gaelic elements tír meaning “land” and gail, meaning “valor” or “promise”.
Variants of Tirrell include: Tirryl, Tirryle, Tirryll, Tirrill, Torrill, Terrill, Terrel, Terrelle, Terrell, Terril, Tirrill and Tyrel. Spellings of the name include Tirrel, Torrell, Tyriel and Tyrelle.
Surnames derived from Ó Tírghaile include: O’Terrill, O’Terrell, O’Tirell, O’Tirrell, Harrill, Harrel, Harrell, Herrell, Herrill, Herral, Sherrell, Terrall, Tarrel, Turrelle, Tirrelly and Torrealba.
The surname Tirrell is common throughout Ireland and is most heavily concentrated in County Mayo. It has also spread throughout other parts of the world with people of Irish descent.
Famous people with the name Tirrell
- Robert Tirrell: American sculptor, painter and potter.
- Michael Tirrell: American actor, screenwriter and producer.
- Billy Tirrell: American stand-up comedian and actor.
- Dina Tirrell: American gospel recording artist.
- Malcolm Tirrell: Australian professional rugby league footballer.
- David Tirrell: Irish cricketer and politician.
- Justin Tirrell: American actor, director, writer, and producer.
- Howard Tirrell: American Hall of Fame Basketball coach.
- Richard Tirrell: Canadian acrobatic gymnast.
- Trahaearn Tirrell: British Army officer and cricketer.
- Drew Tirrell: American Country Music Singer-songwriter.
- Jude Tirrell: English footballer and coach.
- Kristen Tirrell: American stage actress and singer.
- Sidney Tirrell: Canadian politician.
- Robert Tirrell Browne: African-American poet.
- Sarah Tirrell: American chess grandmaster.
- Michael Tirrell Beyer: American genealogist.
- Hannah Tirrell: American musical theater performer.
- Stephen Tirrell: American business executive and philanthropist.
- Malia Tirrell: American novelist and educator.