Surname Peel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Exploring my Celtic Roots and Connecting with the Peel Clan: My iGENEA DNA Test Journey
Discover the exciting journey of using the iGENEA DNA test to uncover the origins of the Peel surname, trace back to ancient Celtic roots, and connect with distant relatives sharing the same heritage and surname across the globe.
I. Peel
read morePeel: What does the surname Peel mean?
The surname Peel is of English origin and it traces back to medieval times. It is derived from the Old English term 'pil' meaning 'stick' or 'post' used a marker for boundary, such as in a fence or encampment. The name suggests that the original bearers of the surname Peel were likely living near or responsible for the maintenance of such a landmark. Alternatively, it may have been used to describe someone living near a 'peel tower', a type of fortification built in or near border regions, popular in the north of England and in Scotland. The name may also have occupational roots relating to someone who used a long, flat wooden tool or 'peel' to remove bread from an oven, a common job in the Middle Ages; it was someone who baked or sold bread. Noteworthy bearers of this surname include Robert Peel, who founded London's Metropolitan Police and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisPeel: Where does the name Peel come from?
The last name Peel is an old Anglo-Norman surname originating from the French word "peel" meaning "small monitoring tower or fort". It is commonly found in the United Kingdom, especially in the English counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. It is also common in other parts of Europe, including France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
In the United States, the last name Peel is found in many parts of the country. It is especially common in southeastern states, including South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. This is likely due to the fact that many settlers with the last name Peel arrived in the south as part of the British colonization of the region.
The last name Peel is also found in other parts of the world, including Jamaica, Australia, and Canada. The highest concentration of people with the last name Peel are located in the United Kingdom. In England, it is ranked 63rd, with over 73,000 people sharing the name.
Overall, it appears that the last name Peel is a relatively common name all across the world. Its popularity is largely due to its English roots, but also because it is found in various regions of the world, due to the migrations of people with the last name Peel throughout history.
Variations of the surname Peel
The surname Peel has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. While the most common related form refers to the British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, other variants used throughout history include the spellings Peele, Pele, Pil, Peeler, and Peeles.
The origin of the surname is thought to have been French, from the Old French word "pel", meaning either a "stake" or a "pale," which was an "outdoor boundary based on a long stick or a stake." It comes from the Middle English word "pile." In some cases, it was a metonymic occupational surname for a maker of wooden stakes or somebody who worked with metal bars. In Ireland, the name is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name "Ó Píoll," which comes from the personal name “Píoll.”
Variations of the name can be found all around the world, from Britain and Ireland to the United States and Australia. It is also common in Scotland, where it is spelled Pele or Peel.
In the United States, the spelling Peale is also present, deriving from the Dutch "Van de Peel". It is believed to refer to a family that originated in Peel, Netherlands.
Surnames related to Peel include Peeler, Pele, and Pell. In Scotland the surname is sometimes accompanied by a prefix, such as MacPile and MacPell.
Overall, the surname Peel has many spellings and related names, which all have their own unique origins.
Famous people with the name Peel
- Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), British Prime Minister, founder of the modern Conservative Party
- Mike Peel (born 1953), British news journalist
- Julian Alexander Le Grand Peel (1915-1996), Welsh politician
- Phee Hudnall, Jr., (1942-2019), American civil rights activist
- Henry Peel (1820-1882), British inventor
- George Peel (1832-1961), English educator
- Ray Peel (1935-2010), former Australian cricket captain
- Marcus Peel (born 1969), British historian
- David Peel (born 1943), American folk musician
- Charlotte Peel (born 1991), Australian actress