Desselle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Desselle came from the baptismal name Silvester or Silvanus. During the middle Ages this personal name was quite popular, as it was borne by three popes. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Desselle family

The surname Desselle was first found in Northamptonshire where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Desselle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Desselle research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1637 is included under the topic Early Desselle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Desselle Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Desselle family name include Sill, Sille, Sills, Silles, Sell, Selle, Sells and many more.

Early Notables of the Desselle family

More information is included under the topic Early Desselle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Desselle family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Desselle surname or a spelling variation of the name include: John Sill who settled in Massachusetts in 1637; Joseph Sill arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1825; Louis Sill arrived in Philadelphia in 1855.

Contemporary Notables of the name Desselle (post 1700) +

Natalie Desselle Reid (1967-2020), American actress who performed in several films, including B.A.P.S., Def Jam's How to Be a Player, Set It Off and Cinderella