Contents [hide]

Bodell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Bodell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

The Scottish surname Bodell comes from a place in Lanarkshire, derived from the Middle English words "bothy," meaning a "small hut," and "well," meaning a "spring," or "stream," or "wyell," which denoted a fishing pool in the river."The place name is derived from a 'weyll' or fishpool in the Clyde." 1

Another source notes "the name is supposed, by some, to be derived from Both, an eminence, and wall, a castle, terms applied to the parish from the elevated situation of Bothwell Castle above the river Clyde; others derive it from two Celtic words, both, signifying a dwelling, and ael, or hyl, a river, as descriptive of the castle in its contiguity to the river." 2

Early Origins of the Bodell family

The surname Bodell was first found in Lanarkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, possibly even before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. The earliest record found of the name is of William de Bothvile, who witnessed a grant in Circa 1190-1220. A Roger de Bodevill was a juror on inquisition relating to the lands of Hopkelchoc, in 1259. 1

"As for the antiquity of this name, the first that I have met with is one Arthur Bothwell, of Adam, who was knighted by King James IV., whose son was likewise a knight, called Sir Francis." 3

Early History of the Bodell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bodell research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1342, 1347, 1366, 1369, 1527, 1536, 1578, 1593, 1609, 1617, 1640, 1644, 1663 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Bodell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bodell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bothwell, Borthwell, Bothwel, Borthwel, Bothewell, Boduel and many more.

Early Notables of the Bodell family

Notable among the family at this time was Richard de Botheuile, provost of Aberdeen in 1342; and James Hepburn Bothwell (1536-1578), 4th Earl Bothwell, Scottish nobleman, third husband of Mary Queen of Scots Adam Bothwell (1527?-1593), was Bishop...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bodell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bodell family to Ireland

Some of the Bodell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bodell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bodell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Bodell, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 4

Bodell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Moses F Bodell, who arrived in New York in 1800 4
Mr. Henry Bodell, aged 47, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863
Mrs. Jane Bodell, aged 47, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Cynosure" in 1863

Bodell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bodell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Bodell who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. Thomas Bodell, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Bodell (post 1700) +

Jack Bodell (1940-2016), English professional boxer

Historic Events for the Bodell family +

RMS Lusitania

Master Thomas Bodell Jr., Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 7
Mrs. Florence Bodell, (née Saunders), Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 7
Mr. Thomas Bodell, Canadian 3rd Class passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 7

The Bodell 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: Obdura adversus urgentia
Motto Translation: Not yielding to provocations.

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/