Show ContentsRibell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ribell family

The surname Ribell was first found in Norfolk where Ralph filius Ribaldi was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1159. A few years later, Folco Ribald was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1165 and later again, William Ribald was found in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1198. Ribbel was listed in the Domesday Book Ribel (in Ribel-castre, Ribchester) 1

In the next century, Richard Ribald was found in Somerset in 1230 and in the following century, John Ribald was registered in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1373. 2

One source notes that name could literally mean "dweller by the River Ribble. We do not know what the Celtic name of the Ribble was. The earliest recorded uncompounded form of the name is the Domesday Ripa ('Inter Ripam et Mersham') which is apparently intended for the Latin ripa, a river-bank. 'Ribble' may, in fact, represent Latin rivell-us, a diminutive f: riv-us, a stream, brook" 3

Again in Norfolk, other early entries include: Ribald de Middleham, Norfolk, temp. 1200 in the Feet of Fines and Ribaldus (without surname), Norfolk in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 4

Early History of the Ribell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ribell research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Ribell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ribell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ribald, Ribble, Ribell, Ribbell, Ribesford, Ribbesford, Ribblesford, Ribbald, Ribbold, Rybald and many more.

Early Notables of the Ribell family

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


United States Ribell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ribell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Ribell, aged 25, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1841 5


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  5. 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)


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