Surname Berrill - Meaning and Origin
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Berrill: What does the surname Berrill mean?
The last name Berrill is an English/Irish surname, derived from the Anglo-Saxon/Breton name Beorhthelm. This origin traces to a personal name composed of the Old English elements beorht, meaning “bright” or “famous”, and helm, “helmet” or “protection”. This suggests that the Beorhthelm family was descended from a noble or famous warrior.
The Berrill surname has multiple variants and spellings, the most common being Burrill, Burrell, Burrall, and Burrel. These variations emerged over time most likely due to differences in the spelling and pronunciation of the name as it was passed down from generation to generation.
The Berrill name is a rather uncommon one, found mostly in England, Ireland, and Scotland. In the United States, the name is most prevalent in the New England states, especially Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
In conclusion, the last name Berrill is an English/Irish surname, with variants including Burrill, Burrell, Burrall, and Burrel. It is derived from the Old English elements beorht, meaning “bright” or “famous”, and helm, “helmet” or “protection”, and is most commonly found in England, Ireland, Scotland, and the New England states in the U.S.
Order DNA origin analysisBerrill: Where does the name Berrill come from?
The last name Berrill is most commonly found in English-speaking countries today. In the United Kingdom, Berrill is found throughout England, Wales, and Scotland. The name has also been found in Canada, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
In the United States, Berrill is found most often in states located in the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It is also found in Florida, Pennsylvania, and many other states.
The name is also found on various genealogy sites, most of which trace the name back to areas in England such as Kent, Sussex, and Oxfordshire. Records indicate that some Berrill families have been present in the United States for more than 200 years.
Today, people with the last name Berrill can be found in most parts of the world. Research suggests that the name is derived from a Middle English term meaning 'son of Bereyl.' It is also possible that the name originated from a region of France known as Berry.
The last name Berrill is associated with many notable figures from history, including American inventor and poet Elbert Berrill and Australian politician John Berrill. In the United States, Berrill is an uncommon name, but it can still be found in many countries across the world.
Variations of the surname Berrill
The surname Berrill is a variant of the surname Berryhill. It is most commonly found in the English-speaking countries of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Berrill is believed to be derived from the Old English word ‘beorhhylle’, which means hill where berries grew. It may have been a descriptive name for someone who lived in such an area, or it may have been a nickname for someone of an assumed character, such as a fruit-loving person.
Variants of the surname Berrill include Berryhill, Berill, Berhil, Berkill, Berril, Berrille, Beryl, Beryll, Berelle, Beryle, Burille, Berehylle, and Barrille.
The surname Berrill is occasionally found in spellings such as Berabwe and Berliw.
In Scotland, the surname is sometimes found spelled as Barhill, Berahill or Berrohl.
Surnames of similar origin include Berrien, Buresh, Beel, Berral, Berrell and Barroll.
Famous people with the name Berrill
- Abigail Berrill: American politician who was the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in New York's 13th Congressional District in 2018.
- Chris Berrill: English footballer who played for Burnley and then Morecambe.
- Dave Berrill: Former baseball player who played for five Major League Baseball teams.
- William Berrill: British science fiction writer and author of numerous stories, collections, and books.
- Daniel Berrill: Former barrister specialising in family, criminal, and civil law.
- James Berrill: Award-winning Canadian actor best known for his roles in The Levelling and Orphan Black.
- Chip Berrill: U.S. Army veteran and Veterans of Foreign Wars leader.
- Robert Berrill: English American colonial-era Massachusetts politician and military leader.
- Malcolm Berrill: Australian politician who was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1976 and 1981.
- Andrea Berrill: Canadian television writer and producer.