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Gemmel History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Gemmel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Scotland

The name Gemmel was derived from the Middle English word "Gamel" which meant the "old one." Gamel was a fairly popular personal name in Scotland particularly in Ayrshire. "Gemell" is also derived from the Italian word for "twins" and it if from this source that heralds derived the ordinary "bars-gemel" which dePicts "twin" bars or a pair of two barrulets, placed close together, referred to as one bar-gemel. Bars gemel were awarded for acts of particular bravery in times of war.

Early Origins of the Gemmel family

The surname Gemmel was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where one of the first records of the name was Gamel or Gamellus who witnessed charters by Richard, bishop of St. Andrews c. 1173. The same person witnessed a charter by Roger, bishop elect of St. Andrews relating to the church of Haddington c. 1189-1198.

Early History of the Gemmel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gemmel research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1173, 1250 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Gemmel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gemmel Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gemmell, Gemel, Gemell, Gemmel, Gemmill and others.

Early Notables of the Gemmel family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Richard Gemmell, Chief of the Clan in 1173

Gemmel migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gemmel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Gemmel, who landed in Mississippi in 1835 1
George Gemmel, aged 30, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1848 1
Thomas Gemmel, who landed in America in 1856 1
Francis Gemmel, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Maryland in 1864 1
Johann Nik Gemmel, who left from the Birkenfeld region for America in 1881
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gemmel Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anne N Gemmel, aged 25, who immigrated to America, in 1903
Franz Gemmel, aged 21, who landed in America from Berlin, in 1905
Jakob Gemmel, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Wokerlefalva, Hungary, in 1907
James Gemmel, aged 29, who landed in America from Govan, in 1907
Margaret Gemmel, aged 39, who settled in America, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gemmel migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gemmel Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Gemmel, who was recorded as an auctioneer in Gaspé, Quebec, in 1851

Gemmel Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Robert M. Gemmel, aged 36, who immigrated to Regina, Canada, in 1918

Gemmel migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gemmel Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Alexander Gemmel, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Omega" 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Gemmel (post 1700) +

Hermann Johann Ernst Gemmel (1813-1868), German architect, painter, and art teacher

Citations +

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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) OMEGA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Omega.htm