Surname Bell/Beall - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'B'
Bell/Beall: What does the surname Bell/Beall mean?
The surname Bell is of Scottish and English origin and primarily denotes someone who lives by or works at a bell. This can refer to someone who works as a bell ringer, in a bell foundry, or at an inn or shop that had a sign in the shape of a bell. Bell also has origins from the medieval personal name derived from the Old French "bel," meaning "handsome."
The surname Beall, on the other hand, is also of Scottish origin and is associated with the Gaelic personal name "Bael," a derivative of "baile," meaning "home." People with this surname were likely descendants of an ancient chieftain of the Scottish clan named Beall, inhabiting a location known as the lands of Beall.
However, Beall is also often considered an alternative spelling of Bell, therefore, it can share the same English meanings. Both surnames Bell and Beall have various spellings and have spread across different countries due to migration.
Order DNA origin analysisBell/Beall: Where does the name Bell/Beall come from?
The surname Bell/Beall is of Scottish origin, derived from the term "beall," meaning "beautiful." The Bell surname was first found in Dumfriesshire, a region in southern Scotland. Through migrations and subsequent invasions, the Bell or Beall clan expanded its reach to the English borders and northern Ireland.
In the 17th century, many members of the Bell family migrated to North America, seeking religious freedom or in search of wealth during the colonization era. There are multiple distinct lineages of the name Bell/Beall in the United States, resulting from these different branches of the family that emigrated from Europe.
Today, the Bell surname is particularly common in English-speaking countries. According to Forebears, a website providing information on surnames, including frequency and ethno-geographic distribution data, the Bell surname ranks 58th in England, 60th in the United States, 65th in Australia, 68th in Scotland and multiple positions in the top 100 across other countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and Northern Ireland. The variant "Beall" is considerably less common, ranking 5828th in the United States, which holds the majority of the world's Bealls.
Variations of the surname Bell/Beall
The surname Bell/Beall is of Scottish and English origin and has several variants and forms that developed over time due to regional pronunciations and spelling changes. Some variants of the surname include Beale, Beales, Beal, Beel, Biele, Biel, Beall, Beals, Beil, Boell, and Bole. These can be especially seen in places where Scottish and English people emigrated, such as Canada, the United States, Australia, and South Africa.
The surname Bell is also found in some parts of France and in these areas, the Bell surname variants include Belle, Bel, and DeBel.
In the Scottish Highlands, the name often comes from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Mhaoil," meaning son of the servant of the devotee. From this, many different spellings and surnames have derived, such as MacGill, MacGille, MacIlle, MacIllea, MacIlwee, MacIlwain, MacKil, MacKill, MacKilley, etc.
It is also important to note that in some cases, the surname Bell or its variants could be an anglicized form of foreign surnames with similar sound or meaning, thus complicating the tracing of its origin. For example, the German surname Glocke (meaning bell) could have been anglicized to Bell.
Famous people with the name Bell/Beall
- Alexander Graham Bell: He is best known as the inventor of the telephone. He was a Scottish-born scientist, inventor and engineer who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone.
- Jake Beall: He is an American actor known for his roles in films such as 'Unfriended', 'Camp Manna', and 'The Clovehitch Killer'.
- Graham Beall: He is an American basketball player who currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- John Bell Hood: He was a Confederate general in the American Civil War who had served under Stonewall Jackson.
- John Beall: He was an American naval officer who served during the War of 1812 and took part in the Battle of New Orleans.
- Mary Bell: She is an English murderer who committed two murders as an 11-year-old girl in 1968.
- Larry Bell: He is an American sculptor and graphic artist known for his works of art that explore the relationship between optical phenomena and motor movement.
- Sidney Beale: He was a British general in the Second World War who was instrumental in the planning of the allied landings in Normandy.
- Graham Bell: He is a British actor best known for his roles in 'The Bill', 'Midsomer Murders', and 'Silent Witness'.
- Sarah Bell: She is an American actress known for her roles in films such as 'Beneath the Planet of the Apes', 'The Eiger Sanction', and 'Case of the Full Moon Murders'.