Show ContentsCall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Call is a nickname surname; it is derived from a nickname given to the original bearer. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. In this case, the nickname is derived from the German word "kahl," which means "bald."

Early Origins of the Call family

The surname Call was first found in Lusatia, where the family was anciently associated with the political and religious conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. The family founded numerous branches, many of which acquired manors and estates in surrounding regions, where they contributed to the prosperity of their society. Individual bearers of the name first mentioned in ancient chronicles of Silesia include Nickel Kaler of Glatz (c.1384,) and Frenczel Kaler of Goerlitz (c.1434).

Early History of the Call family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Call research. Another 216 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1775, 1779, 1786, 1792, 1812, 1813, 1815 and 1837 are included under the topic Early Call History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Call Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kahl, Kahle, Kahler, Kahlen, Kahlert, Kahlere, Kahll, Kahller, Kal, Kall, Kale, Kaler, Kaller, Cal, Cahl, Cahle, Cahler and many more.

Early Notables of the Call family

Notables of the period with the surname Call were

  • Leonard de Call, born in 1779; a guitar player and composer of harmonious and pretty part songs, which were greatly in fashion in Germany at the beginning of the century, and contributed much to the f...

Call Ranking

In the United States, the name Call is the 1,974th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1


United States Call migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Call Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Bennet Call, who settled in New England in 1637
  • Mary Call, who arrived in New England in 1637 2
  • Mr. Augsten Call, British settler departing May 1637 from England aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 20 June 1637, heading for Salem 3
  • Mrs. Alles Call, British settler departing May 1637 from England aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, United States on 20 June 1637, heading for Salem 3
  • Philip Call, who arrived in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1662 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Call Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • P Call, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1788 2
Call Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charles Call, who arrived in New York in 1834 2
  • F W Call, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • H Call, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • Mr. Call, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • C Call, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Call migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Call Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Francois Call, who arrived in Montreal in 1662
Call Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Call, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • John Call, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia between the years 1749-1752
Call Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Call, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
  • Rose Call, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
  • Catherine Call, aged 6 months, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
  • Bridget Call, who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick from Ireland in 1842

Australia Call migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Call Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Ann Call who was convicted in Exeter, Devon, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

New Zealand Call migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Call Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Call, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arethusa" in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Call (post 1700) +

  • Harrison Orlando Call (1842-1926), veteran of the American Civil War, a teacher, farmer, Sheriff, Postmaster, Councilman, member of the School Board, and Deacon of the Baptist Church in Michigan
  • Brandon Spencer Lee Call (b. 1976), American two-time Young Artist Award winning child television and film actor, known for his work in Step by Step (1991), Santa Barbara (1984) and Blind Fury (1989)
  • R. D. Call (b. 1950), American film and television actor, known for his work in Waterworld (1995), Into the Wild (2007) and Murder by Numbers (2002)
  • Richard Keith Call (1792-1862), American plantation owner and politician, the 3rd and 5th Territorial Governor of Florida (1836-1839) and (1841-1844)
  • Anson Call (1810-1890), Mormon pioneer, an early colonizer of many communities in Utah Territory
  • Annie Payson Call (1853-1940), American author who wrote several books and published articles in Ladies' Home Journal
  • Corporal Donald M. Call (1896-1984), United States Army soldier awarded the Medal of Honor
  • Ann Lowdon Call (1945-2007), American horsewoman, 2005 AQHA Select World Champion
  • C. D. Call, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives 66th District, 1944-45 5
  • Byron Niman Call (b. 1863), American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Newcastle, 1904-11 5
  • ... (Another 22 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Call +

  • A Collection of Stones: History and Genealogy of Stone and Related Families (including the Call Family) by Doris Burch Stone.
  • The Descendants of Ira Call by Joseph C. Call and Lowell E. Call.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Passengers of the Mary Anne of Yarmouth (Retrieved 18th November 2020). Retrieved from http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/MaryAnne.html
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 31st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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