Ravenell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Ravenell is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Ravenell family lived in Herefordshire. Their name, however, is a reference to Revenel, Normandy, the family’s place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1 The place name in Normandy literally means “hanneton, small rave, yellow flower, clove.”2 However, another source claims the name is from Ravenhill in the North Riding of Yorkshire “or some other ‘raven-hill.'” 3

“Jordan de Revenell and Thomas his son witnessed a charter of Richard de Luvetot, confirming his father’s grants to Worksop Abbey. This was in the reign of Stephen. The name occurs in the Duchy. ” 1

Two sources claim the name is a local name as in “the Hill frequented by Ravens.” 4 5 And another source comments on this claim “this is easy enough to write, and, of course, it is well-nigh impossible to contradict the statement. At the same time I cannot discover a hill so called, nor any entry with a local prefix. Yet the surname is a familiar one, there being eight in the London Directory alone. The following entries prove the surname is patronymic from the persona name, Ravenchil. There may also be connections to Rauenchil, Yorkshire. ” 6

Early Origins of the Ravenell family

The surname Ravenell was first found in Herefordshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Rovenhall.

However, we must look to the ancient county of Kent, “The Garden of England,” home of Canterbury Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury for this first records of the family. For it is there, that the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Mariota Ravenild and Robertus Ravenild. 6

Later in Yorkshire, the Subsidy Rolls of 1297 listed Willelmus filius Rauenilde. In Cheshire, Matilda Rafenild was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. The Pipe Rolls of 1230 included an entry for Nicholas de Rauenhill in Herefordshire. 3