O'Dell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The O'Dell surname, has been found in Ireland since the 17th century. Before that, it was of English origins. Interestingly, in Ireland, the name has been altered to appear as if it had Irish Gaelic origins. It is also thought that some Irish Gaelic families adopted the O'Dell name during the seventeenth century. Extensive research into some of the most ancient documents has revealed the O'Dell surname to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, taken on as a surname from a place named Odell in Bedfordshire. The place name is in turn derived from the Old English words "wad," and "hyll," meaning "woad" (a plant collected for the blue dye produced by its leaves), and "hill."
Early Origins of the O'Dell family
The surname O'Dell was first found in Bedfordshire, where their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Early History of the O'Dell family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Dell research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early O'Dell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
O'Dell Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Odell, O'Dell and others.
O'Dell Ranking
In the United States, the name O'Dell is the 1,021st most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 1
Migration of the O'Dell family to Ireland
Some of the O'Dell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
O'Dell migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
O'Dell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- William Odell, who settled in New England in 1630
- William Odell, who arrived in New England in 1639 2
- Henry Odell, who arrived in Virginia in 1654
O'Dell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Thomas Odell, who landed in Virginia in 1706 2
O'Dell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Elizabeth Odell and her husband, who settled in Boston in 1820
O'Dell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Dora C. O'Dell, aged 50, who immigrated to the United States from Queenstown, in 1905
- F. Edith O'Dell, aged 23, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1907
- Agnes O'Dell, aged 25, who landed in America, in 1909
- Frank O'Dell, aged 32, who landed in America, in 1923
O'Dell migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
O'Dell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Mr. John Odell U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 173 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 3
- Mrs. Mary Odell U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 292 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 3
- Mr. Jonathan Odell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3
- Rev. Jonathan Odell U.E. (b. 1737) born in Newark, New Jersey, USA who settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the Pennsylvania Loyalists as a Chaplain, he was the First Province Secretary in New Brunswick, he was a Loyalist Poet who served as an administrator and satiric Poet-propagandist for the British, he died in 1818 3
- Mr. Daniel Odell Jr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3
O'Dell Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- Eric O'Dell, aged 7, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1915
O'Dell migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
O'Dell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. William Odell, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years , transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
- Mr. Edward Odell, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 11th March 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
- Mr. James Odell, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Blenheim" on 11th March 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
- Mr. Edward Odell, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
- Mr. Robert Odell, English convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 7
O'Dell 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:
O'Dell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. George O'Dell, (b. 1841), aged 22, British farm labourer, from Bedfordshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 8
- Mrs. Sarah O'Dell, (b. 1842), aged 21, British settler, from Bedfordshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 8
- G. O'Dell, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Contemporary Notables of the name O'Dell (post 1700) +
- Jack O'Dell (b. 1924), American member of the U.S. Civil Rights movement who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
- Jackson Odell (1997-2018), American actor from Evergreen, Colorado who appeared on television in The Goldbergs, Modern Family, and iCarly; he died at the age of 20
- William Hamilton "Billy" O'Dell (1938-2016), American businessman and politician, Member of the South Carolina Senate (1989-2016)
- Walden "Wally" O'Dell, American former chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Diebold
- Kenny O'Dell (b. 1946), born Kenneth Gist Jr, an American country music singer and songwriter
- Scott O'Dell (1898-1989), American multiple Newbery Medal winning author of 26 novels for young people
- Benjamin Barker Odell (1854-1926), American political figure
- John O'Dell (1898-1989), award-winning American children's author
- Matthew Odell (b. 1979), American pianist
- Jennifer O'Dell (b. 1974), American film and television actress
- ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the O'Dell family +
Fraterville mine
- Mr. David P. O'Dell (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 9
Suggested Readings for the name O'Dell +
- Through the Hourglass: A History of the Families of Russell Turner Odell and Florence Turner Odell by R.T. Odell.
- Twelve Families, an American Experience by William F. O'Dell.
Citations +
- "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)
- Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
- Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blenheim
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).