Damerell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Damerell family

The surname Damerell was first found in Devon at Milton Damerell, a parish, in the union of Holsworthy, hundred of Black Torrington. 1

"Milton" was frequently used in ancient days as it meant "middle farmstead or estate." 2 The parish dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was first listed as Mideltone but by 1301 it was listed as Middleton Aubermarle for these were lands originally held by Robert d'Aubermarle (Robert de Alba Marula) in 1086. 3 4 At that time, the holding was worth 30 cattle and 25 goats.

"Damerell is said to be a corruption of D'Albemarle, the name of an ancient family owning the manor of Milton, in Marytavy, from the 11th to the 13th century, from whom the parishes of Milton Damerel and Stoke Damerel, in part derived their names." 5

The manor of "Flete, [in the parish of Modbury, Devon] the most important estate in the parish, continued in the Damerells from the Conquest till the reign of Edward III." 6

Early English rolls provide us a glimpse of the spelling variations used through Medieval times. By example, Reginald de Aumarle was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243; and Bernullus de Aumeryl was found in Lancashire in the 13th century. "From Aumale (Seine-Inférieure), earlier Alba Margila [in Normandy]. The fuller form is preserved in the title of the Duke of Albemarle. Hinton Admiral (Hants) preserves the surname without the preposition." 4

Indeed Hinton Admiral is a "chapelry, in the parish, union, and hundred of Christchurch, Ringwood and S. divisions of the county of Southampton." 1

Early History of the Damerell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Damerell research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1243 and 1568 are included under the topic Early Damerell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Damerell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Damerall, Damerall, Damiral, Dammeral, Dammerall, Demrel, Damrell, Damerley, Damerly, Dammerley, Dammerly, Daumale, d'Aumale, Damall and many more.

Early Notables of the Damerell family

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

Damerell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Damerell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edmund Damerell, who settled in Michigan in 1854
John C. Damerell, who settled in Illinois in 1856
Emmanuel Damerell, who settled in Illinois in 1856

Damerell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Albert Henry Damerell, aged 50, originally from Plymonth, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 7
Clara Damerell, aged 43, originally from Plymonth, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 7
Ellen Damerell, aged 57, originally from Plymouth, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 7

Damerell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Damerell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Damerell, (b. 1839), aged 27, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 5th January 1867 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Damerell (post 1700) +

Adam Damerell, American actor, known for May I Kill U?, Suicide Is Easy (2014) and The Great Unwashed (2017)
Gavin Damerell, American actor, known for Black Dog, Beyond the Glass Ceiling (2015) and Bedtime Bear (2018)
Stanley Damerell (1878-1951), British lyricist who co-founded the Cecil Lennox song publishing company in 1931

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html