Jekyll History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Jekyll is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the baptismal nameJukel or Gikel. The surname Jekyll referred to the son of Jukel which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames.

"The ancient Breton name Judicaël gave birth to the twin-names Juhel and Gicquel, appearing in mediæval English records as Jukel and Gikel." 1

"The Christian name of Judhael de Totnes is still found as a surname in Devonshire as Jewell, and elsewhere as Jekyll and Joel." 2

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Jukel' or 'Gikel.' Although the personal name soon died out, the surname formed from it struggled into existence and still lives.' 3

As a forename, the first occurrence was found in the Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs of London, 1188-1274 where Jukel Alderman was listed as Sheriff of London in 1194. 3

Early Origins of the Jekyll family

The surname Jekyll was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the original Latin forms of the name were found in two entries in Cheshire: Judichel uenator and Judicaelis. 4

A few years later, Gykell, Jukel de Jertheburc was listed in Lincolnshire c.1170 and in 1182; Johannes filius Jokell', Jukell' was entered in the Assize Rolls for 1218; and Jukel Brito was in the Curia Regis Rolls for Norfolk in 1207. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two early listings of the family: Johannes Jukel, Buckinghamshire; and Richard Gikell, Lincolnshire. 3

Dr. Henry Jekyll and his alter ego Mr. Edward Hyde, is the main character of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde." However, Stevenson makes no mention of why he chose the protagonist's name.

Early History of the Jekyll family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jekyll research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1174, 1201, 1273, 1570, 1646, 1653, 1663, 1670, 1680, 1687, 1697, 1698, 1702, 1717 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Jekyll History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jekyll Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Jekyll has been spelled many different ways, including Jeckell, Jeckel, Jekyl, Jekyll, Jeckyll, Jeckyl, Jekylls, Jekel and many more.

Early Notables of the Jekyll family

Distinguished members of the family include

Thomas Jekyll (1570-1653), English antiquary, born in the parish of St. Helen, Bishopsgate, London, on 12 Jan. 1570, the eldest son of John Stocker Jekyll of Newington, Middlesex, by Mary, daughter an...
Sir Joseph Jekyll KS (1663-1738), was a British barrister, politician and judge, Chief Justice of Chester (1697-1717) and a King's Serjeant in 1702, Master of the Rolls (1717-1738.) He was the son of...
Thomas Jekyll (1646-1698), was an English divine, born on 16 July 1646 in the parish of St. Stephen, Walbrook, London, and was the eldest son of John Jekyll, dealer. 5

Migration of the Jekyll family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Jekylls to arrive in North America: John Jeckyll, who sailed to New England in 1733; George Jekel to Philadelphia in 1844; Peter Jeckel to America in 1853; Thomas Jaekle to New York in 1861.

Contemporary Notables of the name Jekyll (post 1700) +

David T. Jekyll, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 51st District, 1913-14 6
Walter Jekyll (1849-1929), English clergyman, younger brother of Gertrude Jekyll, childhood friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, inspiration of the character Dr. Jeykll in “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932), British landscape artist and author, known for her books 'Wood and Garden' and 'Home and Garden,' during her lifetime she wrote over 1,000 articles for various magazines
Dame Agnes Jekyll DBE (1861-1937), née Graham, a Scottish-born British artist, writer and philanthropist

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html