Show ContentsBunnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Bunnell

What does the name Bunnell mean?

The Bunnell surname comes from the Old English words "bune," meaning "reed," and "wella," meaning a "spring," or "stream;" it is generally thought that the surname was taken on as a habitational name for someone from Bunwell, Norfolk. 1

However another source believes the name was from Bonehill, Staffordshire. 2

Early Origins of the Bunnell family

The surname Bunnell was first found in the Assize Rolls for Worcestershire, where a John Bunel was listed in 1221. There is also an early record of a Richard de Bunewell in 1327, in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire. 1

Early History of the Bunnell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bunnell research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1608, 1610, 1638, 1660, 1664, 1674 and 1793 are included under the topic Early Bunnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bunnell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Bunell, Bunel, Bunnell, Bunwell and others.

Early Notables of the Bunnell family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • William Bunnell, who became an Alderman in the Borough of Colchester, county Essex in 1793

Bunnell Ranking

In the United States, the name Bunnell is the 4,033rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3


Bunnell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bunnell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Bunnell, who landed in Connecticut in 1638 4
  • John Bunnell, who landed in Virginia in 1654 4
Bunnell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • J Bunnell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 4
Bunnell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • George Bunnell, aged 48, who immigrated to America from Cornwall, in 1904
  • Arthur Edward Bunnell, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Brainford, in 1905
  • Arthur Kennedy Bunnell, aged 50, who settled in America from Brainford, in 1905
  • George H. Bunnell, aged 54, who landed in America, in 1919
  • Grant Bunnell, who immigrated to the United States, in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bunnell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Bunnell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Benjamin Bunnell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 5
  • Corporal Benjamin Bunnell, "Bonnell" U.E. (b. 1744) born in Morris County, New Jersey, USA who settled in Conway, Sunbury County, New Brunswick in August 1784, then in Jan 1786, Lot 1, Long Reach, Westfield, Kings County, New Brunswick. he enlisted in 1781 in New York, served as part of Arnold's American Legion, married with 8 children, he died in 1828 in Kings County, New Brunswick 5
  • Mr. Soleman Bunnell U.E. who settled in Sissiboo [Weymouth], Nova Scotia c. 1784 5
Bunnell Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Emily Bunnell, aged 30, who landed in Brantford, Canada, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Bunnell (post 1700) +

  • David Hugh Bunnell (1947-2016), American publisher of PC Magazine, PC World, and Macworld
  • Lafayette Houghton Bunnell (1824-1903), American explorer of Yosemite Valley, and surgeon in the American Civil War
  • Charles Ragland Bunnell (1897-1968), American painter, printmaker, and muralist
  • Frank Charles Bunnell (1842-1911), American politician, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
  • Dewey Bunnell (b. 1951), English (American parentage) musician, singer and songwriter, member of the band "America"

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Wilfred Bunnell (d. 1912), aged 20, English Plate Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 6


Suggested Readings for the name Bunnell +

  • Bunnell and Allied Families by Joan England Murray.

  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. 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
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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