Surname Narwills - Meaning and Origin
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Narwills: What does the surname Narwills mean?
The last name Narwills is of English origin and is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It was believed to have been derived from the Old English language, and could have many different meanings.
The most likely interpretation is derived from the combination of two elements: "nar" meaning narrow and "will" meaning helmet. The name would then mean "narrow helmet” - likely a reference to the protective headwear of the originator.
It has also been suggested that Narwills may be a derivative of the Old Norse name, "Narvelt", which suggests a connection with kings. Many centuries ago, this was a popular name among Viking rulers, hinting at a noble heritage.
In recent times, the name Narwills has been most commonly found in Wiltshire, England, but is believed to have grown in popularity with the rise of immigration to the United States. Records show that there are some Narwills who have settled in the South West of the US, and many will be connected to the Rolla/Rollaburry area.
Whatever the true meaning of the name Narwills, one thing is certain: It is sure to keep its owners steeped in history and mystery, with a unique story to pass down the line.
Order DNA origin analysisNarwills: Where does the name Narwills come from?
The last name Narwills is most commonly found in the United States today. Narwills is a patronymic anglicization of the Welsh last name "Ap Neander," the Welsh version of "son of Neil." It is believed to have stemmed from the Middle English given name Nele, from the Old Welsh personal name Neithirl.
In the 1900 U.S. Census, most Narwills ancestors lived in the provinces of Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. While the population is much thinner today, this surname still persists in small pockets within those same regions.
A search for the last name Narwills on the popular genealogical website Ancestry.com yields over 250 user profiles. The majority of the profiles are of middle-aged individuals, suggesting there is still a small but growing population of this surname throughout the United States.
Other than the United States, the name Narwills may be found in the United Kingdom, and possibly in Canada and Australia. Narwills may also be present in South Africa due to its Welsh history and culture.
Variations of the surname Narwills
The surname Narwills is a toponymic (place) surname derived from any of the various places named Narwell in England. Variants of the surname Narwills include Narwell, Nordwell, Norwill, Norwell, Nornell, Norwillson, and Norwood.
Nordwell is pronounced as “NOR-dell” and is also a place, likely in southern England. The Norwell spelling is most common and may be related to Norwell in Oxfordshire. It is likely that Norwill and Nornell both derive from Norwell.
Norwood is derived from Norwood in the West Midlands and is an example of an Anglo-Saxon surname which could mean “northwood”. Norwood could also be derived from the surname Northwood, which itself derives from Northwood in Oxfordshire.
The Narwell spelling is peculiar as Narwells is most commonly a surname derived from North Wales. As Narwell does not appear in a place name in Wales, it is possible that the Narwell spelling is a variant of Narwills derived specifically from a place in England.
Norwillson is a patronymic, derived from the given name of Will, which is Norman in origin. It is possible that this surname was adopted in the 15th century when the Normans invaded England.
In conclusion, the variants of the surname Narwills were derived from various place names across England. It is likely that the variants were adopted as the Norman invasion of England in the 15th century led to the adoption of surnames based on place names.
Famous people with the name Narwills
- Seth Narwills: Seth Narwills is an American actor who has appeared in a number of television shows including Charmed, Scrubs and CSI.
- Brad Narwills: Brad Narwills is an Australian actor and producer who has been involved in several film and television projects including Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Sapphires, and Mystery Road.
- Isabelle Narwills: Isabelle Narwills is an American artist and writer who has been featured in numerous publications and who has had three books published with titles such as Wrestling for Peace and Cinder & Smoke.
- Tom Narwills: Tom Narwills is a Grammy Award-winning British record producer known for his work with such acclaimed acts as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Stereophonics.
- Andrew Narwills: Andrew Narwills is an American businessman and entrepreneur who is the co-founder of the popular email marketing software company MailChimp.
- Luke Narwills: Luke Narwills is a British artist whose work has been featured in galleries across Europe and the U.S.
- Philip Narwills: Philip Narwills is a Canadian lawyer and author who has written several books on legal topics such as Class Actions and Professionalism in the Practice of Law.
- Henny Narwills: Henny Narwills is a Swedish illustrator and animator whose work has appeared in commercials, short films, and books.
- Samantha Narwills: Samantha Narwills is an American activist and civil rights advocate who works on a range of issues including racial justice, LGBTQ issues, and disability rights.