Desselle Surname History

Origins Available:
England

The earliest origins of the name Desselle date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived 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

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Desselle 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

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Desselle or a variant listed above: 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