REVELL

Revell is a surname of English origin that appears in the British Isles, particularly in England. It is a habitational name derived from places such as Revel in Devon and Revells in Warwickshire, which were in turn named after the Old English word hrifel or the Middle English word revel meaning a hand bell used to give notice of an event.

In medieval documents the surname is recorded in several spellings, including Revell, Revelle, Revel, Revill, Reavell and others. The first recorded spelling is that of Robert Revel in the Pipe Rolls of Essex, dated 1177, during the reign of King Henry the Eighth. A later early nameholder was Sir Richard Revell, or Rivell, Sheriff of Devonshire and Cornwall in the reign of King Richard I (1189–1199). The name also occurs in the Danelaw Documents of London in 1154, as Revel de Tetenia, and was well documented in Yorkshire from the late 14th century; an example is Margaret Revill, who married Robert Cawthorne at Rotherham in 1590.

The surname has several plausible meanings. It may have originated as a nickname for one who enjoyed celebrations, derived from the Middle English word revel meaning “to feast” or “to make merry.” It could also have been a locational surname for someone living near a place associated with revels or festivities, or it might have referred to a person who rang the bell during community celebrations. Another possibility is that it was a nickname for a rebel or unruly person, again stemming from the same Middle English root. The varied interpretations reflect different family histories and regional usages.

In terms of heraldry, the Revell coat of arms is described as an ermine shield charged with a red chevron between three golden mullets, and a border engrailed, sable. This imagery is associated with the family and appears in historical records.

Geographically, the surname is most common in southern England but can also be found in Herefordshire, especially around the village of Brampton Bryan. Its presence in other English-speaking countries—Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Scotland and Wales—dates from nineteenth‑century migration from the British Isles. In the United States the name is predominantly found in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri and Texas, reflecting patterns of settlement by British emigrants.

Revell has numerous variants and related surnames. In addition to the spellings already mentioned, common variants include Ryle, Ryall, and Reeve – the latter particularly noted in the West Midlands and in parts of Wales and Ireland, derived from the Anglo‑Saxon administrative title gerefa. Other surnames sharing the same origin are Ravell, Ravel, Raevell, Revills, Revely, Rille, and Raesly. These variants are normally found in eastern and southern England, illustrating the surname’s broad diffusion across the country.

Typical given names associated with the Revell surname

Male

• Andrew
• Anthony
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter

Female

• Caroline
• Claire
• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Jacqueline
• Jane
• Julie
• Karen
• Linda
• Margaret
• Patricia
• 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 Revell in...

Braille

⠗⠑⠧⠑⠇⠇

Morse

.-.....-..-...-..

Semaphore

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 Revell

• Alex Revell - Football player
• Jessica Revell - Actor
• Andy Revell - Musician
• Charlie Revell - Football player (1919 to 1999)

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.

Your comments on the Revell surname