Show ContentsNobel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the historical and enchanting region of Scotland emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Nobel family. Originally, the Scottish people were known only by a single name. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name.

Nobel is a nickname type of surname for a person of exceptionally graceful character having derived from the Old French word noble, which was of essentially the same meaning as the modern English term. "This complimentary sobriquet was not allowed to die out by the fortunate possessors, and they have bred a large progeny." [1]

Looking back further, the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae listed Walter and Gillebert le Noble, Normandy 1180 - 1195. [2]

Early Origins of the Nobel family

The surname Nobel was first found in East Lothian where "an English family of this name settled as subvassals of the family of de Vallibus (Vaux) at the end of the twelfth century. William Nobilis held part of the lands of Garmilton under William de Vallibus. He was succeeded by his son Radulph who confirmed his father's grants. Radulphus Nobilis witnessed a grant by Vinianus de Mulineys to the Hospital of Soltre, 1198-1234, and between 1214-30 he witnessed an agreement between the monks of Neubotle and Adam Malherb, lord of Morham. " [3]

Further to the south in England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Amice le Noble, Huntingdonshire; Hugh le Noble, Bedfordshire; and Thomas le Noble, Oxfordshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included Robertus Nobill. [1]

Early History of the Nobel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Nobel research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1337, 1464, 1467, 1489, 1490, 1495, 1497, 1504 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Nobel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Nobel Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Noble, Nobel, Nobille, Norbell, MacNoble, Nobill, Nobil, Nobelle, Noeble, Nobile, Nobels, Nobells, McNoble and many more.

Early Notables of the Nobel family

Notable among the family at this time was Vilyam Nobile, chamberlain and procurator of the abbot of Arnbroath at Inverness in 1464, and the Nobles of that town may be descended from him. In 1467 the Nobles of Ferm had a charter of the lands of Ferm, now called Coates, near Rutherglen.Alexander Nobill and John Nobill were murdered in...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Nobel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Nobel family to Ireland

Some of the Nobel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Nobel migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Nobel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Nobel, who arrived in New York in 1709 [4]
  • Antony Nobel who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734
  • Antony Nobel, who settled in Philadelphia in 1734 with his son Antony Jr.
  • Antony Nobel, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 [4]
  • Antony, Nobel Jr., who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Nobel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Nobel who settled in Baltimore in 1803
  • Ludwig Nobel who arrived in New York City in 1869

Contemporary Notables of the name Nobel (post 1700) +

  • Joel J. Nobel (1935-2014), American physician and patient safety advocate best known for founding the ECRI Institute
  • Sandra Nobel, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1995 [5]
  • Alfred Bernhard Nobel (1833-1896), Swedish chemist, the inventor of dynamite, founder of the Nobel Prize
  • Emanuel Nobel (1859-1932), son of Ludvig Nobel and Branobel's second president
  • Emil Oskar Nobel (1843-1864), brother of Alfred Nobel
  • Ludvig Nobel (1831-1888), brother of Alfred Nobel, founder of Branobel and its first president
  • Robert Nobel (1829-1896), brother of Alfred Nobel, pioneer of the oil industry
  • Volkert Jacob Nobel, Dutch journalist
  • James Nobel Landis (1899-1989), American electrical-power engineer
  • Orley Nobel Tooley (1904-1991), American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Jefferson County, 1932, 1934, 1937; Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 32nd District, 1936, 1938 [6]


The Nobel Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. 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)
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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