Surname Kimbell - Meaning and Origin

Kimbell: What does the surname Kimbell mean?

The last name Kimbell is of English origin. It primarily derived from the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. The name is made up of two elements: 'Cyme' meaning comely or handsome, and 'beohrt' meaning bright or famous. Hence, it could be potentially interpreted as 'bright and handsome.' It is also thought to be a habitation name from any of the several places named Kimberley, meaning 'woodland clearing of a man named Cynebald'. The surname Kimbell may have been first established in Suffolk, England, where the Kimbell family held a family seat since ancient times. Variations of the surname Kimbell include Kimberley, Kimberleigh, Kimberlee, Kimberly, Kimbrell, and others. Like many other surnames, over centuries, the spelling of the name has often changed depending on factors such as regional accent, literacy level, and cultural changes. The surname distribution data reveals that the surname Kimbell is most prevalent in the United States, followed by England and Australia. Some notable people with the surname Kimbell include British naval officer Sir James William Kimbell, and American businessman and philanthropist Kay Kimbell.

Kimbell: Where does the name Kimbell come from?

The surname Kimbell is of Anglo-Saxon origin that traces back to the ancient chronicles of England. It is believed to be derived from an Old English personal name, Cynebald, meaning "royal bold” which was later converted to Kimbald and eventually became Kimbell. It is also thought to be locational, from places named with the Old English pre 7th Century elements "cyn(e)", royal, and "beorg", hill; hence, "royal hill".

The Kimbell name started to spread across Europe following the Norman Conquest in 1066 and was first recorded in the famous Domesday Book. It made its way to Scotland and Ireland, and later, with the expansion of the British Empire, to Australia and America.

Today, the Kimbell surname is most prevalent in the United States, although it is also common in England and Australia. In the U.S it is mostly found in the states of Texas, California, and Florida. It is less commonly found in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Regardless of where they live, most Kimbells are of English descent.

Variations of the surname Kimbell

Kimbell is an English-origin surname that has several variants, especially based on regional differences, changes over time, and translation or transcription errors.

Common variants and related surnames include Kimbol, Kimble, Kimball, Kimbrell, and Kemble.

Kimble might be the most common variant of Kimbell. The name Kimball is a common American variation. Kemble has an old English origin, indicating geography: "kem" for edge and "ball" for open land. Kimbrell could be a very old, Germanic variant.

Similar surnames such as Campbell may have been confused or interchanged with Kimbell due to phonetic similarities. This can lead to spelling or transcription variations that are not always predictable.

Spelling variants may also exist due to historical changes in the written language, such as Kimberll, Kimboll, Kembell, Kemball, and so forth.

The spectrum of variations on the name Kimbell, therefore, reflects a combination of factors including geographical, historical, phonetic and transcription influences. Their true origins and interconnections may be complex and hard to trace, as is typical with historical linguistics.

Famous people with the name Kimbell

• Norman Kimbell: British film and television actor known for roles in television series such as Casualty and Holby City and for films such as Notting Hill and The Others.
• Jenny Kimbell: an Australian television, film and stage actress, most notably appearing as a regular cast member in the drama series SeaChange.
• Simon Kimbell: British professor and theoretical physicist, author of numerous works on quantum mechanics and the physics of plasmas.
• Lewis Kimbell: late American actress, dancer, and choreographer, best known for appearing in the Broadway musicals A Chorus Line, The Wiz, and 42nd Street.
• Lydia Kimbell: British actress and comedian, best known for appearances on stage, television, and film.
• Charlie Kimbell: American singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work with Carly Rae Jepsen, Bruno Mars, and Dua Lipa.
• Grant Kimbell: British bassist and songwriter, best known as a member of the progressive rock band Pendragon.
• Catherine Kimbell: Scottish stage and television actress, best known for playing Dr. Sandy Harman in the long-running BBC medical drama series Holby City.
• Chloë Kimbell: English singer-songwriter, best known for the hit single “That Ain’t Love”, which peaked at number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.
• Peter Kimbell: Australian actor, appearing in various television series, most notably as Sargeant Robert 'Scooby' Scott on Home and Away.

Other surnames

Kimbel