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Kessel History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Kessel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The proud Kessel family originated in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Kessel family originally lived in the county of Cornwall, in the village of Kestell.

Early Origins of the Kessel family

The surname Kessel was first found in Cornwall, where the family are known to have been resident at Kestell, in the parish of Egoshayle from the time of King John till the year 1737. 1

"The manor of Kestell or Kestle in the [parish of Manccan, Cornwall], was formerly the property of a family thus named, and on which they had their seat. This family becoming extinct in the male line in 1719, the barton passed in moieties with two daughters, who married Langford and Penrose. " 2 Now known as Kestle and Kestle Mill, these hamlets are just south of Quintrell Downs.

"The manor of Pendavy, [in the parish of Egloshayle] which was formerly connected with the priory of Bodmin, was afterwards the property of the Kestel family, from whom it passed by marriage to that of Moyle, and by this family it was sold to the Usticks, by whom it was possessed in the days of Hals. It is now the property of Sir A. O. Molesworth. Kestel, which is so called from its having had on some of its lands, a camp, castle, or intrenchment, belonged so early as the reign of King John, to a family bearing its own name. In this family it continued until the year 1734, when it was sold by James Kestel, Esq." 2

Early History of the Kessel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kessel research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1199, 1216, 1272, 1307, 1700 and 1737 are included under the topic Early Kessel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kessel Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Kestle, Kestell, Kestel, Kestelle, Kessel, Kessal and many more.

Early Notables of the Kessel family

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

Kessel Ranking

In the United States, the name Kessel is the 9,676^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Kessel migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Kessel:

Kessel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Kessel, aged 17, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 4
Geo Kessel, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1767 4

Kessel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. James Kessel, (b. 1814), aged 26, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5
Mr. Josiah Kessel, (b. 1817), aged 23, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 5
Mr. William Kessel, (b. 1810), aged 32, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Triton" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1842 5
Mrs. Catherine Kessel, (b. 1812), aged 30, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Triton" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1842 5
Mr. William Kessel, (b. 1832), aged 10, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Triton" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1842 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Kessel Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Thomas Kessel, (b. 1880), aged 20, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th February 1900 en route to Ishpeming, Michigan, USA 6
Mr. William Kessel, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th February 1900 en route to Ishpeming, Michigan, USA 6
Mr. William Henry Kessel, (b. 1874), aged 30, Cornish stonemason, from Penryn, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 3rd July 1904 1904 en route to New York, USA 6
Mr. Albert James Kessel, (b. 1874), aged 30, Cornish stonemason, from Penryn, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 3rd July 1904 en route to New York, USA 6

Kessel migration to Australia +

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

Kessel Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Kessel, (b. 1823), aged 26, Cornish labourer from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK departing from Plymouth on 21st September 1848 aboard the ship "Lysander" arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 13th January 1849 7
Mrs. Sabina Kessel, (b. 1825), aged 24, Cornish housekeeper from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK departing from Plymouth on 21st September 1848 aboard the ship "Lysander" arriving in Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 13th January 1849 7
John Kessel, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" 8

Kessel 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:

Kessel Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Edith Kessel, (b. 1867), aged 7, Cornish settler departing on 27th June 1874 aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 30th September 1874 9
Mrs. Elizabeth Kessel, (b. 1841), aged 33, Cornish settler departing on 27th June 1874 aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 30th September 1874 9
Miss Elizabeth A Kessel, (b. 1869), aged 5, Cornish settler departing on 27th June 1874 aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 30th September 1874 9
Mr. Jonathan Henry Kessel, (b. 1859), aged 15, Cornish settler departing on 27th June 1874 aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 30th September 1874 9
Miss Mary Kessel, (b. 1864), aged 10, Cornish settler departing on 27th June 1874 aboard the ship "Christian McAusland" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 30th September 1874 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kessel (post 1700) +

Philip Joseph Kessel Jr. (b. 1987), American professional NHL ice hockey forward who has played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes and the Vegas Golden Knights
John Kessel (b. 1950), American science fiction and fantasy author
Barney Kessel (1923-2004), American jazz guitarist perhaps best known as a member of the group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew
Oliver Dennis Kessel (1901-1992), American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State Senate 4th District, 1938; Chair of Jackson County Republican Party, 1942-50 10
Joseph William Kessel (b. 1925), American Republican politician, Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; school teacher; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Mineral County, 1955-60 10
John F. Kessel (b. 1890), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Saginaw County 1st District, 1937-38 10
Archie Kessel, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for California, 1972 10
Jean-Jacques Kessel, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 11
Loris Kessel (b. 1950), Swiss racing driver

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 25) Jean-Jacques Kessel. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html