Surname Russell - Meaning and Origin

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U. Russell

Russell: What does the surname Russell mean?

Russell is a surname with both French and English origins. In Old French, "Rousel" meant reddish or red-haired, indicating the name might have initially been a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. The Normans introduced it to England, where it evolved into Russell. It's also theorized that Russell could come from "rus" the Old English term for "red," with the same implications for its original use. Over the centuries, it has been used as both a first name and a surname. It is borne by several notable people in various fields, further solidifying its recognition and usage. Thus, the last name Russell typically signifies a historical reference to a characteristic feature, i.e., red hair or a ruddy complexion.

Russell: Where does the name Russell come from?

The last name Russell is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the US census taken in 2019, the Russell surname is the 97th most common surname in the country with an estimated population of approximately 379,724 people. It is most frequently found in the Southern states such as Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, but can also be found in other parts of the US.

The name Russell may have derived from a place name in England, which was a nickname given to someone with red hair. The English people, who lived in this area, began to adopt the last name Russell in the 12th century. As they moved to the US, the name went with them and it continues to remain popular in the United States today.

The Russell surname is a common name in the entertainment industry. Examples of famous people who share the Russell last name include director Ridley Scott, actor Kurt Russell, filmmaker and actor Russell Simmons, and many more.

Overall, the Russell surname is mainly popular in the United States, but it can also be found in other parts of the world such as the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries. It is derived from the place name in England and is shared by a large number of famous people.

Variations of the surname Russell

The surname Russell is derived from a French nickname which means "Little Red One". The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Russel, Russill, Russelle, Roussel, Russelle, Ro(u)sell, Ruscel, Rousselle, Ruskell, Ruskelle, Russel, Russelle, Russill, Russl, and Russwll.

Russel and Roussel are French, originating from Old French roussel, a diminutive of rou, meaning ‘red‘. These spellings are considered archaic. Russelle is French, meaning “son of Russell”. When this name was first established, it was quite usual for the son to add an “le” suffix to a father’s name to create a patronymic surname. Ruscel is German, from Middle High German ruscel, meaning “fox”, and is thought to have been a nickname for a crafty person.

Rousselle is a French patronymic version of Russell, derived from Roussel, a nickname that derived from the Old French rou, meaning “red”. Another variant of this surname is Ruskell, which can either be derived from Rousselle, or Ruscel. Ruskelle is another variant of the Russel surname, and often occurs as a double-barrelled surname in combination with the name Russelle.

Russwll is another variant of this name, specifically a Welsh patronymic form, derived from the personal name "Ryce", an Old Welsh form of the name Richard. In a similar vein, there is also the Welsh form of Russell, Russel or Rusl, which derives from the Old Welsh given name Riuric or Rhiuric, meaning “powerful ruler."

Famous people with the name Russell

• Kurt Russell: actor
• Tonea Harold Stewart: American actress
• Rick Russell: entertainer
• Bernie Russell: former ice hockey player
• Tom Russell: American folk singer-songwriter
• Bill Russell: former basketball player
• Yazmin Russell: English actress
• Ray Russell: English actor
• Griff Rhys Jones:British comedian and actor
• Michael Russell: Scottish politician
• Dave Russell: American baseball player
• Cora Russell: English actress
• William Russell: comic book writer
• Damien Russell: American artist
• P-Nut Russell: American rapper
• Billy Russell: British actor
• Malik Russell: American football player
• Ethel Russell: English actress
• Stevens Russell: British actor
• Craig Russell: Canadian comedian and actor

Other surnames

RusseRussel