Show ContentsKettlwell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Kettlwell is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the town of Kettlewell in the North Yorkshire. Kettlwell is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Kettlwell family

The surname Kettlwell was first found in Yorkshire, at Kettlewell, a village in Upper Wharfedale, North Yorkshire, which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Cheteleuuelle 1 and literally meant "spring or stream in a deep valley," having derived from the Old English words "cete" + "wella." 2 In 1686, Kettlewell and the neighbouring village Starbotton were almost destroyed in a flood.

Early History of the Kettlwell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kettlwell research. Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1379, 1397, 1399, 1583, 1653 and 1695 are included under the topic Early Kettlwell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kettlwell Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Kettlwell 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. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Kettlwell include: Kettlewell, Kettlwell, Ketlewell, Kettelwell, Ketelwell, Ketelwelle, Ketelwel and many more.

Early Notables of the Kettlwell family

More information is included under the topic Early Kettlwell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kettlwell family

Many 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 Kettlwell or a variant listed above: William Kettlewell, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1856. In Canada Richard Kettlewell was registered in Elgin County, Ontario in 1872 and George Kettlewell was living in Middlesex County, Ontario in 1877..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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