Recorded in several forms as shown below, this is a medieval surname of French origins. It derives either from the word "revel," a nickname for a fun-loving, boisterous person, or from the personal name of endearment Revel. This was very popular in both England and France as shown in the recording of one Revel de Tetenia, in the Danelaw Documents of London in the year 1154. Another early nameholder was Sir Richard Revell or Rivell. He died in 1222, and was the sheriff of Devonshire and Cornwall during the reign of King Richard 1st, known as Lionheart, 1189 - 1199.
The surname spellings include Revell, Revelle, Revel, Revill, Reavell, and others. The surname is said to have been particularly well recorded in Yorkshire from the late 14th century an example being that on July 12th 1590, Margaret Revill who married Robert Cawthorne at Rotherham. The coat of arms associated with the name has the blazon of an ermine shield, charged with a red chevron between three golden mullets, and a border engrailed, sable. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Revel. This was dated 1177, in the Pipe Rolls of Essex, during the reign of King Henry 11nd, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname revell is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of revell.
The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname revell provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname revell, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of revell developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname revell.
We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about revell and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname revell were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname revell, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.
The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of revell are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of revell.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of revell, and at the same time, of surnames in general.