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Listen to Siuil A Run by the Chieftans and Sissel while you read the text.
Meaning and Origins of the name bell
Bell Name Meaning and a few interesting facts
Scottish and northern English: from Middle English belle ‘bell’, in various applications; most probably a metonymic occupational name for a bell ringer or bell maker, or a topographic name for someone living ‘at the bell’ (as attested by 14th-century forms such as John atte Belle). This indicates either residence by an actual bell (e.g. a town’s bell in a bell tower, centrally placed to summon meetings, sound the alarm, etc.) or ‘at the sign of the bell’, i.e. a house or inn sign (although surnames derived from house and inn signs are rare in Scots and English).
Scottish and northern English: from the medieval personal name Bel. As a man’s name this is from Old French beu, bel ‘handsome’, which was also used as a nickname. As a female name it represents a short form of Isobel, a form of Elizabeth.
Scottish: Americanized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhaoil ‘son of the servant of the devotee’ (see Mullen 1). Jewish (Ashkenazic): Americanized form of one or more like-sounding Jewish surnames.
Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead in western Norway named Bell, the origin of which is unexplained. Scandinavian: of English or German origin; in German as a habitational name for someone from Bell in Rhineland, Germany, or possibly from Belle in Westphalia. Americanized spelling of German Böhl or Böll (see Boehle, Boll).
Bell - The name is common in Southern Scotland, especially in Dumfries County. Adams in his “Scottish Clans,” says it is the anglisised from McGilveil (Mac Giolla=Mhaioil), a branch off the Clan McMillin which is quite plausible. This is most likely where my Bells originated before they came to Ulster. In 1890, long after they had left for Canada Ulster had 197 Bells. Of that number 169 were from Ulster.
Clan MacMillan International Bell - The name origin.
Scottish and northern English: from the medieval personal name Bel. As a man’s name this is from Old French beu, bel ‘handsome’, which was also used as a nickname. As a female name it represents a short form of Isobel, a form of Elizabeth.
Scottish: Americanized form of Gaelic Mac Giolla Mhaoil ‘son of the servant of the devotee’ (see Mullen 1). Jewish (Ashkenazic): Americanized form of one or more like-sounding Jewish surnames.
Norwegian: habitational name from a farmstead in western Norway named Bell, the origin of which is unexplained. Scandinavian: of English or German origin; in German as a habitational name for someone from Bell in Rhineland, Germany, or possibly from Belle in Westphalia. Americanized spelling of German Böhl or Böll (see Boehle, Boll).
Bell - The name is common in Southern Scotland, especially in Dumfries County. Adams in his “Scottish Clans,” says it is the anglisised from McGilveil (Mac Giolla=Mhaioil), a branch off the Clan McMillin which is quite plausible. This is most likely where my Bells originated before they came to Ulster. In 1890, long after they had left for Canada Ulster had 197 Bells. Of that number 169 were from Ulster.
Clan MacMillan International Bell - The name origin.
*Origins
During the last few weeks I have been delving into the origins of my paternal ancestors. As a young girl I was always led to believe they were Irish. This probably only partly true. My research has brought me to a new conclusion. (September 2017)
*Getting a Focal Point
Understanding history can be challenging at times but I have found when I began researching my 3X great grandfather William Bell (1777-1839) family from the Townland of Derryvullan, Parish Drumbulkin, Barony Lang, County Fermanagh, Ireland, I had my work cut out for me.
William left Ireland sometime after 1821 and before 1837, for Canada with his son Hugh (1809-1866). I have successfully traced the family forward from Ireland but going back has been a challenge. There was a large migration in 1833, and it was possible they left around that time.
My information about the Bell family in Ireland stops there. Many records are lost so to find the father of William could be a greater challenge. If Hugh was his first son, and from others born to the couple, it would appear he is then according to Irish naming protocol William’s father should have been Hugh. Yet there appears to be no Hugh in the area that I can find.
Did William's family live in Ireland prior to his birth? Was William even born in Ireland? For that we must do some historical research into the settling of the Northern parts of Ireland, considering all the information I can gather. I am coming to some new ideas recently. For more information go to the individual's pages.
Theories (explained above in "Bell Name Meaning")
There are several theories to consider and I would imagine one can adopt the theory they consider most pertinent to their family.
Over the next few weeks I will post several blogs on what I have found. For now I must sort out the information (which is intriguing) and put together a blog of interest. Check out the following link
William left Ireland sometime after 1821 and before 1837, for Canada with his son Hugh (1809-1866). I have successfully traced the family forward from Ireland but going back has been a challenge. There was a large migration in 1833, and it was possible they left around that time.
My information about the Bell family in Ireland stops there. Many records are lost so to find the father of William could be a greater challenge. If Hugh was his first son, and from others born to the couple, it would appear he is then according to Irish naming protocol William’s father should have been Hugh. Yet there appears to be no Hugh in the area that I can find.
Did William's family live in Ireland prior to his birth? Was William even born in Ireland? For that we must do some historical research into the settling of the Northern parts of Ireland, considering all the information I can gather. I am coming to some new ideas recently. For more information go to the individual's pages.
Theories (explained above in "Bell Name Meaning")
There are several theories to consider and I would imagine one can adopt the theory they consider most pertinent to their family.
- The name Bell originated from Belle a town in France.
- From Frenchmen named Gilbert La Fitz Bel and later William Le Bel.
- From a shortening of Isabel.
- From the sign of a bell on an inn.
- From the priests of the Druid agricultural deity Baal
- From the moors of Denmark to the dales of Norway
Over the next few weeks I will post several blogs on what I have found. For now I must sort out the information (which is intriguing) and put together a blog of interest. Check out the following link
Varients of the name
BEALL, BEL, BIL, RELL