Shells History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Etymology of Shells

What does the name Shells mean?

The surname Shells is a Westphalian-German nickname. Such surnames were very common in Westphalia. They were adapted from traditional eke-names, or added names, that described physical characteristics of their bearers. Shells is a hereditary surname for a person who was either wild or clamorous. The name was originally derived from the German word "schel," which means "noisy" or "loud."

Early Origins of the Shells family

The surname Shells was first found in Westphalia, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century on the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the German nation. As early as 1526 they had their seat at the manor Schellenberg near Essen.

Early History of the Shells family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shells research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1562, 1620, 1648, 1680, 1701, 1763, 1774, 1775, 1808, 1809 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Shells History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shells Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Shells include Schell, Schelle, Schelling, Scheller and others.

Early Notables of the Shells family

Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (ca. 1620-1680), an Austrian composer and violinist ; Johann Schelle (1648-1701), a German Baroque composer; Friedrich Wilhelm von Schelling (1775-1854, ennobled in 1808), a famous philosopher of nature who greatly...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shells Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shells migration to the United States +

Many Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them:

Shells Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Barbara Shells, aged 19, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 1

Shells Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Shells, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1813 1
Andrew Shells, who arrived in New York, NY in 1817 1
Hugh Shells, who landed in New York in 1841 1
James Shells, who arrived in California in 1875 1

Sources +

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)