Show ContentsGetchell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Getchell family

The surname Getchell was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held a family seat in that shire.

Early History of the Getchell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Getchell research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1457 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Getchell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Getchell Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Getchell are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Getchell include: Gatcliff, Gatcliffe, Getcliffe, Getliff, Catliffe, Catcliffe, Catliff, Cetliff, Gatclif, Getclif and many more.

Early Notables of the Getchell family

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

Getchell Ranking

In the United States, the name Getchell is the 11,227th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Getchell migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Getchell or a variant listed above:

Getchell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Getchell, aged 19, who arrived in Virginia in 1684 2
Getchell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Everett T. Getchell, aged 69, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
  • Everett Getchell, aged 73, who settled in America, in 1906
  • Frank H. Getchell, aged 65, who landed in America, in 1912
  • George Getchell, aged 50, who immigrated to America, in 1918
  • Guy A. Getchell, aged 38, who landed in America, in 1919
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Getchell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Getchell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Jones Getchell U.E. who settled in Schoodic Falls, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the 74th Regiment 3
  • Mr. Samuel Getchell U.E. who settled in Schoodic Falls, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Getchell (post 1700) +

  • William Henry Getchell (1829-1910), American photographer in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Mike Getchell, retired American soccer midfielder
  • Robert Getchell (b. 1936), American two-time Academy Award nominated, BAFTA Award winning screenwriter, best known for writing Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
  • W. W. Getchell, American politician, Member of Alaska territorial House of Representatives 2nd District, 1915-16 4
  • Noble H. Getchell, American Republican politician, Nevada Republican State Chair, 1931; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nevada, 1932, 1940; Member of Republican National Committee from Nevada, 1940 4
  • George Washington Getchell (1815-1876), American politician, Member of Maine State House of Representatives, 1876 4
  • E. P. Getchell, American politician, Representative from Ohio 14th District, 1902 4
  • C. W. Getchell, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1924 4
  • Allan Getchell McAvity (1882-1944), Canadian politician, Member of Parliament for St. John-Albert, New Brunswick (1938-1940)


  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. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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