Surname Jarrell - Meaning and Origin

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Through the intricate lens of iGENEA DNA analysis, I embarked on a fascinating journey tracing the origin and history of my surname Jarrell. The test exposed intriguing aspects of my lineage, unveiling long-lost stories and migration patterns of my ancestors, thus providing a deeper insight into my identity.

I. Jarrell

Jarrell: What does the surname Jarrell mean?

The surname Jarrell is believed to have derived from the personal name Gerald, which is of Germanic origins. Gerald consists of the elements "geri," meaning "spear", and "wald," meaning "rule". It would, therefore, be inferred that Jarrell might mean "rule of the spear."

The name became popular in the British Isles after the Norman Conquest of 1066 brought the name 'Gerald' to England. Over time, the name underwent several spelling changes and variations, resulting in surnames like Jarrell, Jerrold, Jarratt, and others.

Like many surnames, Jarrell is also a geographical surname. The Hebrew meaning of Jarrell is "God will uplift," and it can also be found used as a first name. With the surname widely disseminated in the UK and America, it is difficult to trace a precise ethnic origin, but it is common among people of English, Irish, and Welsh descent.

Regardless of the exact meaning and origin, the Jarrell surname is now carried by several individuals and families worldwide, each adding their unique significance and history to the name.

Jarrell: Where does the name Jarrell come from?

The surname Jarrell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the personal name Gerald, which comes from the combination of the germanic elements "geri" or "gari" meaning spear, and "wald" meaning rule. The name Gerald was introduced to Britain by the Normans during the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name then underwent various phonetic changes and became Jarrell.

Popular variants of the surname include Jarell, Jarratt, and Jarrett. It is commonly found in the United States and England. According to Forebears, a genealogical research site, as of 2014, the highest frequency of the surname Jarrell was in the United States with over 12,000 individuals bearing the surname. In England, it was most prevalent in the region of the South East, but the numbers were significantly lesser than in the United States. Outside of these countries, the surname Jarrell is sparsely found.

Variations of the surname Jarrell

The surname Jarrell is of English origin and has numerous variations and alternate spellings.

The surname can be traced back to the Old French names Gerald, Geraldine, or Gerard. Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, these names became assimilated into English society and were anglicized into various forms such as Jarrell, Jarell, Jarrall, Jarrel, Jerrall, Jerrell, among others.

In addition, the surname may also have variations with additional or less letters, such as Jarel, Jarral, Jerrel, Jerrelle or Jerel. In some instances, due to phonetic spelling, the name can be found as Garrall or Gerral.

Furthermore, it's also found with prefixes and suffixes such as McJarrell, O'Jarrell, Jarrells, Jarrelson.

In terms of surnames of the same origin, one can consider names that essentially originated from Gerald. These might include Fitzgerald, Geraldson, Garrard. However, these surnames may not necessarily share a direct lineal relationship with Jarrell.

Remember that the variations of the surname could be geographically influenced, changing with the translation and unique pronunciation in different regions and countries.

Famous people with the name Jarrell

• Randall Jarrell: An esteemed American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist. He served as the 11th Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a position that today is known as U.S. Poet Laureate.
• Robert Jarrell: A Singapore-based author and poet originally from Australia, known for his book "The Beatles and How They Changed the World.".
• Nathan Jarrell: A seasoned entrepreneur who is also an operating partner in J5 investments, and founder of Nouvola, a performance testing platform.
• Brian Jarrell: A professional golfer who has played apx. 14 seasons on various golf tours.
• Emily Jarrell: A recognized voice actress who has worked in several English-language versions of Japanese anime series.
• Bobby Jarrell: A professor in the Biology department at Gettysburg College, appreciated for his teaching style.
• Landon Jarrell: An American Basketball player who played as a guard in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball.
• Kadeem Jarrell: A talented footballer who has made his name in English football, having played for clubs in the English Premier League and Championship.

Other surnames

JarrelJarrett