Show ContentsCastell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Castell is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a person who worked in a castle. The original bearer of the surname Castell may have held the post of governor or constable of the castle. However, the surname might also be derived from residence near a castle, or from services or rent owed to a castle. The surname Castell is derived from the Old Norman French word castel, which means castle. 1

Early Origins of the Castell family

The surname Castell was first found in Sussex where Richard and Robert Castel were first recorded 1148-54. They were descended from the Lords of Iystynton, and a few years later in 1201 John Castle held estates in Leicestershire. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Alan de Castell, London; and Andrew de Castello, Norfolk. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included Thomas de Castell; and Magota del Castell as holding lands there at that time. 3 The Household Book of Queen Isabelle listed Roger atte Castell in 1358 and Kirby's Quest included William atte Castle, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of King Edward III. 4

In Scotland, "Ricardus de Castello is mentioned in a charter by David I, c. 1142. Magister Peter de Castro witnessed a confirmation by Galfridus. bishop of Dunkeld, of the church of Madirnyn (Madderty) and lands of the Abthan of Maddirnyn in 1238. Normannus de Castello, burgess of Dundee, witnessed Ysabell de Brus's gift of her messuage of Cragyn near Dundee to the monks of Lundors, c. 1240. " 5

Early History of the Castell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Castell research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1273, 1281, 1380, 1408, 1420, 1421, 1426, 1606, 1612, 1621, 1624, 1625, 1628, 1635, 1641, 1644, 1645, 1661, 1673, 1685, 1698 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Castell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Castell Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Castell has appeared include Castle, Castell, Castles, Castel, Castello and others.

Early Notables of the Castell family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • John Castell (a.k.a. John Castle (c.1380-1426), English academic, Master of University College, Oxford (c. 1408-1420), and later a Chancellor of the University of Oxford (1421-1426); and Edmund Castel...
  • William Castell (d. 1645), published 'A Petition exhibited to the High Court of Parliament for the Propagating of the Gospel in America and the West Indies, and for settling our Colonies there,' in 16...


United States Castell migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Castell arrived in North America very early:

Castell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Castell, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Transport" 6
  • Mr. George Castell, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 7
  • Henry Castell, who landed in Virginia in 1639 6
  • Jone Castell, who landed in Virginia in 1695 6
Castell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Castell, who settled in Maryland in 1775
Castell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Pablo Castell, aged 23, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1832 6
  • John Castell, who settled in Iowa in 1857
  • Venerando Castell, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1860 6
  • Manuel Castell, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1860 6

Canada Castell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Castell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Judith Castell, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Preston" from Sligo, Ireland
  • James Castell, who settled in Ontario in 1871

Contemporary Notables of the name Castell (post 1700) +

  • David Castell, American record producer, musician, and recording engineer
  • Alan Terry Castell (b. 1943), former English cricketer who played for Hampshire between 1961 and 1971
  • Sir William Martin Castell LVO, FMedSci (b. 1947), British businessman, former Chairman of the Wellcome Trust, CEO of Amersham plc from 1989 to 2004, CEO of GE Healthcare
  • Patricia Castell (1926-2013), born Ovidia Amanda Paramidani Padín, an Argentine actress
  • Lacksley Castell (1959-1983), Jamaican reggae singer
  • Dominik Castell (b. 1965), Austrian film and theater actor and director
  • Robert Castell Sherard (1858-1931), 12th Baron Sherard, English peer
  • Philip Castell Sherard (1804-1886), 9th Baron Sherard, English peer
  • Castell Sherard (1849-1902), 10th Baron Sherard, English peer


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. 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)
  7. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm


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