ANGEL
Origin of the surname Angel can be traced to the Latin word angelus, meaning “messenger” or “angel”. The term entered medieval Europe through Greek angelos, also meaning “messenger”. In the British Isles the name was brought into use during the Middle Ages as a nickname for a person who possessed, or was thought to possess, angelic qualities such as kindness, gentility or a reputation for conveying messages on behalf of others.
Early evidence of the name in England appears in the Kent Pipe Rolls of 1193, where a man named Warinus Angelus is recorded. The earliest surviving spelling of the family name in the United Kingdom is therefore at least two centuries older than the modern English usage of Angel as a surname.
The name was also recorded in a variety of forms, most commonly Angel, Aingell, and Angell. For example, Robert Angell was christened at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street, London, on 28 August 1539; Richardus Angell married Janna Foster at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, on 16 September 1565; and Michael Angell appears on the register of the University of Oxford in 1578.
Spelling variations and usage reveal a pattern of adaptation. The name Angel was sometimes employed as a pageant title during religious mystery plays, where an actor might portray an angelic figure. It was also used for those who served as messengers or ambassadors for religious institutions, in line with its literal meaning.
Across Europe the surname spread, finding particular prevalence in the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and the United States. In the American context the name is found in populations of European settlers and immigrants. Certain Jewish communities have adopted the surname as an anglicised form of names such as Engel, Anghel or Anjel; however, it should be recognised that the Jewish usage is separate from, and not necessarily related to, the Christian and medieval English origins of the name.
The genealogy of the Angel surname is further illustrated by records such as the 1764 witness statement of Michael Aingel and his wife Mary at the christening of their daughter Ann at St. Leonards Church, Shoreditch, and by examples in municipal archives where the name appears in its various forms.
In contemporary societies the surname Angel is employed in a range of English-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries, retaining the original connotation of a divine messenger. Its continued usage is a testament to the enduring influence of religious terminology and the medieval practice of nicknaming individuals after perceived virtues or roles.
Typical given names associated with the Angel surname
Male
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Angela
- Barbara
- Christine
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Gillian
- Julie
- Laura
- Lisa
- Lynne
- Margaret
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Angel in...
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Morse
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There are approximately 2,876 people named Angel in the UK. That makes it roughly the 3,100th most common surname in Britain. Around 44 in a million people in Britain are named Angel.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Angel
- Vanessa Angel - Actress, model
- Heather Angel - Actress (1909 to 1986)
- Dave Angel - Techno musician
- Mark Angel - Football player
- Roger Angel - American astronomer
- John Angel - American artist (1881 to 1960)
- Liam Angel - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.