CORNELL

Cornell is a surname of multifaceted etymology, rooted in English, French and Latin tradition. It belongs to the class of surnames that originated from a geographical feature or a locational marker within the British Isles, more specifically England, where the name first gained prominence in medieval records.

The name derives from the Old French word cornelle, a term for the cornelian cherry – a small red stone fruit that also yields a particular red gemstone. It may also stem from the personal name Cornelius, which in turn is based on the Latin word cornu meaning “horn.” These derivations give rise to two plausible explanations for the surname: it could have been bestowed as a nickname on an individual with a reddish complexion, or it could have been an occupational marker for someone who worked with horns or horned animals.

During the Middle Ages the French influence softened the Latin root into the form corneille, a word which also denotes a crow. Thus the surname came to be used as a nickname for a talkative person, in keeping with the crow’s reputation for chatter. The Norman Invasion of 1066 introduced the name into England, after which it spread rapidly across Northern Europe, reaching Russia and giving rise to a wide range of spellings such as Cornel, Quernel, Nilles, Cornlissen and Kornilyev.

The earliest surviving reference to a person bearing the name is that of Herbert Corneilla, dated 1148 in the charters of Hampshire; this record is the first known spelling of the family name anywhere in the world. Subsequent documentary evidence includes William Corneille, recorded in the pipe rolls of Oxford for the year 1206, and Henry de Cornell, mentioned in the Poll Tax Records of Staffordshire in 1229. These early instances confirm that England was the first country to adopt hereditary surnames on a widespread basis.

In the early eighteenth century the surname crossed the Atlantic. A Fleming named Pierre Cornille – who received special dispensation to emigrate to Virginia in 1621 – is noted in the colonial records as a wine dresser. This instance illustrates the surname’s presence among the early settlers to the New England colonies of America.

Today, Cornell remains a surname of considerable historical depth, its multiple origins reflecting the intertwined linguistic and cultural histories of the English, French and Latin worlds. Its varied spellings and long documentary pedigree underscore the rich tapestry of surname development in Europe and beyond.

Typical given names associated with the Cornell surname

Male

• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Mark
• Paul
• Peter
• Robert
• Stephen

Female

• Amanda
• Barbara
• Claire
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Jacqueline
• Jennifer
• Joanne
• Lesley
• Lisa
• Margaret
• 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 Cornell in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Did you know?

According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Cornell are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Hobnob.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Cornell

• Chris Cornell - American singer-songwriter, musician (1964 to 2017)
• Paul Cornell - Writer
• David Cornell - Football player
• Frederick Carruthers Cornell - South African writer (1867 to 1921)

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.

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