TURNBULL
Turnbull is a surname of both English and Scottish provenance, with its earliest documented presence in the British Isles.
The name derives from the Anglo‑Saxon words turne, meaning "to turn", and bald, meaning "bold". It originally functioned as a nickname for a person of a bold or daring disposition, and it was later adopted as a hereditary family name.
In the Middle English period, spanning the years 1200 to 1500, the elements turn(en) and bul(l)e were combined to form the surname. The first recorded spelling was that of William Turbolle, appearing in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk during the reign of King Edward (1307‑1327). This early instance demonstrates the surname’s existence in both northern England and Scotland.
A tradition within Scottish lore recounts a man named Rule who saved King Robert the Bruce by turning back a charging bull. For this act he was bestowed the name Turnbull and was granted the lands of Bedrule. Although the anecdote is appealing, it is likely to have been devised to explain the name rather than recorded as fact.
The Turnbull surname is prominently associated with a number of historical figures, most notably William Turnbull, who, as bishop of Glasgow in 1447, founded Glasgow University in 1451. The family coat of arms, granted to the clan, depicts a silver shield with a green ear of rye flanked by three black bulls’ heads, all erased, with the crest comprising a black bull’s head cabossed and armed green. The family motto, “Courage”, embodies the vigorous spirit that the name suggests.
Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing the surname Turnbull have dispersed beyond Scotland, taking their heritage to other English‑speaking countries. The name remains a testament to the warrior or bold individuals whose deeds, whether recorded or traditionally ascribed, have earned it a lasting place in genealogical registers.
Typical given names associated with the Turnbull surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- William
Female
- Alison
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jean
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- 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 Turnbull 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 Turnbull are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Ginger snap.
There are approximately 22,314 people named Turnbull in the UK. That makes it the 382nd most common surname in Britain. Around 343 in a million people in Britain are named Turnbull.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Turnbull
- Bill Turnbull - Journalist and presenter
- Ross Turnbull - Football player
- Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull - Civil servant
- Stephen Turnbull - Historian
- John Turnbull - Pop and rock guitarist and singer
- Michael Turnbull - Bishop of Rochester; Bishop of Durham
- David Turnbull - Football player
- William Turnbull - Scottish artist (1922 to 2012)
- Jordan Turnbull - Football player
- Eddie Turnbull - Scottish football player and manager (1923 to 2011)
- Colin Turnbull - American anthropologist (1924 to 1994)
- Paul Turnbull - Football player
- Richard Turnbull - Colonial governor and the last governor of the British mandate of Tanganyika from 1958–1961 (1909 to 1998)
- Lee Turnbull - Football player
- Josh Turnbull - Welsh rugby union player
- Phil Turnbull - Football player
- Stephen Turnbull - Football player
- Sandy Turnbull - Scottish football player (1884 to 1917)
- John Turnbull - Film actor (1880 to 1956)
- Maurice Turnbull - Cricket player of England. (1906 to 1944)
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.