Surname Norbell - Meaning and Origin

Norbell: What does the surname Norbell mean?

The last name Norbell is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Old Norse personal name Norbett or Norberget. This name is composed of two elements, the first being the element "nor", which is a Norse word for "north", likely referring to the person's northern origin. The second element involved in the name is "bert", which is a Germanic word denoting "bright"; this could have referred to someone with a cheerful disposition or to a prominent figure.

The surname was popular in areas of England where the Danes and Norse were concentrated and can be found in the place name Norbury (now in Greater Manchester) and Norbourne (now in Oxfordshire). The earliest known recording of the surname was in 1290, when Simon del Norberd was registered as living in Oxfordshire, England.

The surname Norbell is commonly found in northern England, especially in the Lake District, and is especially populous in Cumbria. In fact, during the 1881 census, Norbells made up 1 in every 10,000 citizens in the district.

The Norbells are thought to have brought the surname to England a long time ago, though its exact origin is unknown. It is possible that the Norbells descended from people who migrated from Scandinavia. Over the centuries, the surname has become absorbed into the English language and today, it is associated with the proud North of England.

Norbell: Where does the name Norbell come from?

The last name Norbell is most commonly found in Sweden today. According to Forebears, a genealogy research website, 586 people in Sweden are currently using the last name Norbell. The majority of those are located in the southeastern region of the country, with 78 people using the last name in Uppsala County, 73 in Stockholms County, 55 in Kronoberg County, and 23 in Kalmar County.

Although the Norbell name is primarily associated with Sweden today, this has not always been the case. The earliest documented use of the last name Norbell dates back to 1598, when a Johannes Norbell is recorded in the historical archives of Östergötland, which is located in the southeastern region of the country. This suggests that the Norbell surname had its origins in southeastern Sweden and has remained largely there since then.

Outside of Sweden, Norbell is a relatively rare surname. According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, there are only 3 people in England who use the name Norbell, and no people in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, or the United States. For the most part, the Norbell name can be found in Sweden, and, to a lesser degree, England.

Variations of the surname Norbell

The surname Norbell is a habitational surname of Cornelian origin, deriving from any of the various locations in England called Norbury. Variants of this surname include Norbell, Norbury, Norburys, Norburd, Norby and Norbey.

The spelling of Norbell often varies regionally and has been variously recorded as Norbal, Norbell, Norbel, Norbur, Norbyll, Norbru, Norburn, Norburd and Norbury.

Regarding surnames of similar origin, Norbelle and Norvel are related surnames derived from Norvel, a Cornish locality. Both of these spellings indicate a close connection between Norbelle, Norvel, Norbury and Norbell.

Other surnames of similar origin include Norvil, Norvild, Norvils and Norvills; Norvull, Norvell, Norvele, Norveld, Norvile and Norvil; Norvell, Norvele, Norvild, Norvil, Norvell, Norvele; Norveley, Norvelle and Norvell; Norvie, Norvile, Norvies and Norviles.

Americans of the Norbell surname often spell the surname more phonetically as Norbell or Norbol. There are also Soraogle, Norbelle, Nerble, Norvella and Norbault.

Overall, Norbell is a closely related surname with many spelling variations and similar surnames due to its Cornish origin.

Famous people with the name Norbell

• Paul Norbell, an award-winning cinematographer who has worked on films such as The Blair Witch Project, Red Planet, and Wonder Woman 1984.
• Luanne Norbell, a Los Angeles-based attorney who focuses on intellectual property and trademark law.
• Magnus Norbell, an internationally acclaimed opera singer who has performed at prestigious venues such as the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
• Jerome Norbell, a renowned Harvard-educated neurologist and medical professor who has written extensively on neuroscience-related topics.
• Rachel Norbell, a two-time Olympic medalist in women's hockey and a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation's Hall of Fame.
• Renee Norbell, a Pittsburgh-based entrepreneur and philanthropist who serves as the president of the non-profit organization Myself Today.
• Joshua Norbell, an influential African American civil rights leader who helped form anti-racism organizations such as the Black Lives Matter movement.
• Katelyn Norbell, a New York City-based artist and activism organizer who has exhibited her work in numerous galleries across the country.
• Terry Norbell, a Grammy-winning jazz musician who has collaborated with a variety of renowned musicians, including John Coltrane and Wynton Marsalis.
• James Norbell, an award-winning British actor best known for his role as George in the comedy-drama television series Miranda.

Other surnames

NorbeckNorbelle