Tarrel Surname History

The surname Tarrel was first found in Ross-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Rois) a former county, now part of the Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles in Northern Scotland, which emerged from the Gaelic lordship of the Earl of Ross, where they held a family seat on the lands of Tarrel in the barony of Tarbat. From early times they were a sept of the Ross Clan and later had close ties with the McIntoshes. However, they were a fierce and warlike Clan, and it is unlikely that their strength called for great allegiances with a larger Clan. They followed the Earls of Ross.

Further to the south in England, the name more often than not, was spelt Torrel or Torell. "The Torrels were seated at Torrel's-Preston, in Somersetshire, from the time of Henry II. 'William Torel was lord of the whole town of Isle-Brewers in this county, and was then fined in the sum of one mark for neglecting to make hue and cry after the death of Alured de Aneville.' There are 'monuments and other memorials' of the Torrells in the church of Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire. Torel was High Sheriff of the county 49 Edward III. William Torel, in 1260, had been a benefactor to Burton Lager Chapel, Leicestershire. William Torel was Sheriff of Herefordshire 29, 30 Hen. III. He was probably the descendant of another William Torel, who in the reign of Hen. I., held Pencumbia of the barony of Robert D'Ewyas. " 1