Show ContentsTerrell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Terrell is derived from the Old French word "tirel," derived from "tirer," "to pull." The word was often used to refer to an animal that pulled carts; thus it may be that it was used as a nickname for a stubborn person, before coming to be used as a hereditary surname.

Early Origins of the Terrell family

The surname Terrell was first found in Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where a Terrell family obtained a grant of most of the barony of Fertullagh, as well as the lordship of Castleknock in County Dublin.

The family "was, also found in Ireland. 'Hugh Tirell' was one of Strongbow's knights; and 'Castle Knoc,' says Camden, ' was heretofore the barony of the Tirels, whose Estate by females was transferr'd to other Families about the year

1370.' " 1

Early History of the Terrell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Terrell research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1224, 1597, 1617, 1619, 1646, 1676, 1688, 1689, 1692, 1693 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Terrell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Terrell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tyrell, Terrell, Terrill, Tyrill, Tirell, Tyrrell and many more.

Early Notables of the Terrell family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Hugh Tirrell, who was seneschal of Ulster in 1224; The Most Reverend Patrick Tyrrell (died 1692), an Irish clergyman, Bishop of Clogher (1676-1689); Sir Timothy Tyrrell (1617-1701), Captain of a Cavalry Regiment, Colonel of a...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Terrell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Terrell Ranking

In the United States, the name Terrell is the 788th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. 2


United States Terrell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Terrell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Tho Terrell, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 3
  • Katherine Terrell, who arrived in Virginia in 1649 3
  • Richmond Terrell, who landed in Virginia in 1656 3
  • Robert Terrell, who landed in Virginia in 1656 3
  • Edward Terrell, who landed in Virginia in 1658 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Terrell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alice Terrell, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 3
  • Mary Terrell, who landed in New England in 1717 3
Terrell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Terrell, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1846 3
  • William Terrell, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1864

Australia Terrell migration to Australia +

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

Terrell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Terrell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Waterloo" in 1840 4
  • Sarah Terrell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Waterloo" in 1840 4
  • William Terrell, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on April 16, 1855, settling in Western Australia 5
  • Samuel Terrell, aged 34, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Henry Moore"
  • Mr. Nicholas Terrell, (b. 1837), aged 21, Cornish labourer departing from Plymouth aboard the ship "Ascendant" arriving in Moreton Bay, New South Wales, Australia on 19th June 1858 6

West Indies Terrell migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 7
Terrell Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Alice Terrell, who settled in Barbados in 1664

Contemporary Notables of the name Terrell (post 1700) +

  • James C. Terrell (1806-1835), United States Representative and lawyer from Georgia
  • Marvin Terrell Jr. (1938-2018), American college and AFL professional football guard
  • Taylor Terrell (1991-2016), American news anchor for 41NBC News at Daybreak; she died after slipping over Rainbow Falls in North Carolina
  • Ernie Terrell (1939-2014), American singer, record producer, and World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight boxing champion
  • Tom Terrell (1950-2007), American music journalist
  • James "Jim" Terrell (1965-1988), American sprint canoer at the 1988 Summer Olympics
  • Ken Terrell (1904-1966), American western and action film actor and stuntman
  • Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954), American daughter of former slaves, one of the first African-American women to earn a college degree
  • Velma Jean Terrell (b. 1944), American R&B and jazz singer
  • Tammi Terrell (1945-1970), stage name of Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, American recording artist and songwriter, best known for her work with Marvin Gaye
  • ... (Another 50 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Bertram Terrell (d. 1912), aged 20, English Able Seaman from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 8
USS Arizona
  • Mr. John Raymond Terrell, American Fireman Second Class from Arkansas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 9


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WATERLOO 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Waterloo.htm
  5. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 17) Adelaide voyage to Western Australia, Australia in 1855 with 261 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adelaide/1855
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  8. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  9. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook