Surname Kimbrell - Meaning and Origin

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Discovering and understanding your genetic heritage can be an enlightening experience that profoundly impacts your perception of personal identity. As I delved deeper into my lineage via the iGENEA DNA test, I realized how intrinsically my surname 'Kimbrell' is tied to my identity.

A. Kimbrell

Kimbrell: What does the surname Kimbrell mean?

Kimbrell is a surname with English and Irish origins, and is considered a variant of the name Kimball. The Kimball/Kimbrell surname itself originally derived from the Old English personal name Cynebald, which translates to "royal bold" or "bold kin". The surnames Kimball and Kimbrell were widely used in early medieval England, particularly in Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Lancashire and Yorkshire regions. As with many other surnames, Kimbrell has been subject to spelling variations over centuries, such as Kimbell, Kimble, Kimblin and more. Due to migration, colonization, and naturalization, the surname Kimbrell has spread outside of England and Ireland and is found in various parts of the world, including North America. Throughout history, people with the surname Kimbrell have been involved in different professional fields reflecting the diversity among individuals carrying this surname.

Kimbrell: Where does the name Kimbrell come from?

The surname Kimbrell is of English origin, deriving from the Old Norman personal name "Kimberel," which is a diminutive form of the Old English name "Cyneburg." Found in ancient Anglo-Saxon scripts, the name "Cyneburg" is a compound of "cyne," meaning royal, and "burg," translating to fortress. Over time, "Cyneburg" transformed into the surname Kimberel, which later became Kimbrell.

Another possibility is that Kimbrell may have originated from the Gaelic word "cinnbéal," which means parrot. In ancient Gaelic culture, personal names were often created as nicknames. A person with this name might have had a predisposition to talk a lot or had a colourful nature, much like a parrot.

The surname Kimbrell is rather rare and distributed unevenly worldwide. It is more commonly found in the United States, particularly in the southern region. This is probably due to immigration patterns from the British Isles to America. Aside from the United States, the surname is also found in small pockets of populations in England.

Variations of the surname Kimbrell

The surname Kimbrell is of English origin and is believed to have been originated from the place-name Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire or from Kimble in Buckinghamshire.

The surnames Kimble, Kimbell, Kimbley, and Kimbly are noted to be variants and similar variants of it. Additionally, Kimberley and Kimberly, although usually considered first names, can also be the variations of the same surname.

There are different spellings for the same origin due to the varied phonetic translations over the centuries. Other alternate spellings include Kimbler and Kimball. Certain differences in spelling may be attributed to regional dialects or personal preference in the past.

The above are mainly prevalent in English-speaking countries, and have been widely used in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand over the centuries. Including all the spelling variations, this surname is reasonably common throughout these countries. Meanwhile, the exact distribution and regional popularity might vary.

As with most surnames, localization can occur leading to the creation of even more variations, especially when the name is adopted in non-English speaking countries. You might see some less-known variations then.

Famous people with the name Kimbrell

• Sam Kimbrell: Sam Kimbrell is a former two-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car driver from Spartanburg, South Carolina.
• Vaughn Kimbrell: Vaughn Kimbrell was an American sprint car driver who raced in the United States' Midwest region from the mid-1930s to early 1950s.
• Gregg Kimbrell: Gregg Kimbrell is an American contemporary Christian recording artist and songwriter.
• Jerry Kimbrell: Jerry Kimbrell is a former American football coach and college athletics administrator.
• Bo Kimbrell: Bo Kimbrell is an American professional wrestler and promoter, currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
• David Kimbrell: David Kimbrell is an American songwriter and record producer. He is a two-time Grammy award-winning country music producer, having worked with Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Sugarland.
• Joe Kimbrell: Joe Kimbrell is a former American football center. He played college football at the University of South Carolina and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 1982 NFL Draft.
• Don Kimbrell: Don Kimbrell is a former American football player. He played college football at South Carolina and professionally with the Baltimore Colts of the NFL.
• Toby Kimbrell: Toby Kimbrell is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at East Carolina University and professionally in the ABA for the Carolina Cougars and Denver Rockets.
• Amy Kimbrell: Amy Kimbrell is a former American soccer player. She was the captain of the 2003 U.S. Women’s U-19 team that won the U-19 FIFA Women's World Championship.

Other surnames

KimbrelKimbrew