| ![Show Contents]() Camwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The Camwell surname finds its earliest origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name is derived from the given name Camel, a variation of the Old Norse name Gamall. The surname Camwell is also of nickname origin and refers to a person who had physical characteristics similar to a camel. These characteristics could include awkwardness and ill-temper. The origin is also toponymic, which means that the bearers came from Queen Camel or West Camel, which were parishes in Somerset. Early Origins of the Camwell familyThe surname Camwell was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from ancient times. The Keymell variant hails from Cornwall. "This ancient and respectable family first came into England with William the Conqueror in 1066, and took up their principal abode in Somerset and Devon. But Geoffrey St. Aubyn on his marriage with Elizabeth, heiress of Keymell, became an inhabitant of Cornwall; in which county his descendants have ever since resided. This famous family, which was first denominated from Mount Seyntaubyn in Normandy, after their establishment in this country, formed alliances by marriages in their descent, with the several families of Keymell, Coleshill, Whittington, Grenvill, Mallet, Godolphin, Jenkin, Trenowth, De la Haye, and Morrice." 1 Early History of the Camwell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Camwell research. Another 280 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1200, 1220, 1332, 1379, 1500, 1642 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Camwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Camwell Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Camwell are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Camwell include: Camell, Cammel, Camel, Camule, Camyll, Gamyll, Cammell and many more. Early Notables of the Camwell familyMore information is included under the topic Early Camwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Camwell familyMany English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Camwell or a variant listed above: Edmund Camell who arrived in Virginia in 1637; James Camell in New England in 1652; and John Cammel who arrived in South Carolina in 1716.
- Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
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