Bell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Bell surname arose independently from several different sources. In some instances, it comes from the Old English word “belle” meaning “bell,” and was most likely an occupationalname for a bell ringer. It may have also been a name for someone who lived near a bell. Bell is also known to have arisen from the English and Scottish given name Bel, which derived from the Old French “beu” or “bel,” meaning “handsome.” [1]

“From Le Bel, a surname which frequently occurs in Normandy.” [2]

Early Origins of the Bell family

The surname Bell was first found in Dumfriesshire. “John Bell appears as a notary in St. Andrews, 1248. A family of the name appears to have been hereditarily connected with the church of Dunkeld. Master David Bell was a canon there, 1263, and William Bell appears as dean, 1329-42. William Bel, vicar of Lamberton, witnessed a charter to Coldingham Priory, 1271.” [3]

At one time, the Clan Bell was well known on the Scottish West March of the Scottish and English borders. But in 1587, the Parliament of Scotland passed a statute: “For the quieting and keping in obiedince of the disorderit subjectis inhabitantis of the borders hielands and Ilis.” This statute disolved the Clan status. [4]

Early references to the name in England include Ailuuardus filius Bell listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 in Suffolk; Hugo Bel who was in Winton, Hampshire in 1148; Serlo Belle listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1190; as well as Roger del Bel, who was in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk of 1209. [5]

Robert le Bell was Mayor of Bristol in 1239. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had many entries for the name typically with the Old French spelling: Nicholas filius Bele in Bedfordshire; Ralph le Bele in Cambridgeshire; and Hugh le Bel, in Oxfordshire; Thomas le Bel in Suffolk. [6]

Early History of the Bell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bell research. Another 268 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1069, 1340, 1350, 1463, 1528, 1587, 1587, 1603, 1896, 1590, 1618, 1577, 1668, 1640, 1648, 1562, 1607, 1647, 1711 and are included under the topic Early Bell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bell Spelling Variations

The name, Bell, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Bell, Belle and others.

Early Notables of the Bell family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was The Blessed Arthur Bell (1590-1618), also known as Francis Bell, who was a Franciscan and English martyr; Sir Robert Bell (d. 1577) of Beaupre Hall, Norfolk, Speaker of the House of Commons; William Bell (died ca. 1668)… 
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bell World Ranking

In the United States, the name Bell is the 58^th most popular surname with an estimated 290,979 people with that name. [7] However, in Canada, the name Bell is ranked the 78^th most popular surname with an estimated 31,373 people with that name. [8] And in Australia, the name Bell is the 41^st popular surname with an estimated 42,630 people with that name. [9]New Zealand ranks Bell as 58^th with 5,090 people. [10] The United Kingdom ranks Bell as 48^thwith 83,942 people. [11] South Africa ranks Bell as 920^th with 7,585 people. [12]

 Migration of the Bell family to Ireland

Some of the Bell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

 Bell migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the “White Sails” which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the “coffin ships.” Among the early settlers bearing the Bell surname who came to North America were: