Show ContentsTunnell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Tunnell family

The surname Tunnell was first found in Northumberland where the first record of the family was listed as John filius Tunnoc in 1106 in Hodgson's History of Northumberland. The family "remains as Tunnock in that district still." [1] Hodgson's History of Northumberland also lists William filius Tunnok as residing there in 1250.

Further to the north in the same era, "William Tunnoc witnessed a charter by William de Horuirden to the Abbey of Kelso between 1160-1200, and c. 1237 Adam Tunnoc witnessed a charter of resignation of land in Kelso. " [2]

Other early records of the family include: Gilbertus filius Tunny listed in 1219 in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire; Simon Tunnie, listed in 1327 in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire; and an Alan filius Tunnoc listed in the 12th century in the Feodarium Prioratus Dunelmensis. [3]

Early History of the Tunnell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tunnell research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1400, 1414, 1421, 1600, 1603 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Tunnell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tunnell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Tunock, Tunnoch, Tunno, Tunna, Tunnock, Tunnoc and many more.

Early Notables of the Tunnell family

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

Tunnell Ranking

In the United States, the name Tunnell is the 6,831st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [4]


United States Tunnell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tunnell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Tunnell, who landed in Maryland in 1649 [5]
Tunnell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Tunnell, who arrived in Virginia in 1712 [5]
Tunnell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Christoph Tunnell, who landed in America in 1850 [5]
Tunnell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Elizabeth Tunnell, aged 29, who immigrated to America from Limpfield, Surrey, in 1905
  • Lillie Tunnell, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Stratford of Avon, in 1905
  • Elizabeth Tunnell, aged 31, who landed in America from Westerham, England, in 1907
  • Caroline Tunnell, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1911
  • Arthur Tunnell, aged 35, who settled in America, in 1918
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Tunnell migration to Australia +

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

Tunnell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Tunnell, English convict who was convicted in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Candahar" on 26th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [6]

Contemporary Notables of the name Tunnell (post 1700) +

  • Jerrold Bates Tunnell (1950-2022), American mathematician, known for his work in number theory, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Rutgers University
  • Michael O. Tunnell, American children's writer and educator
  • Lee Tunnell (b. 1960), retired American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • James M. Tunnell (1879-1957), American teacher, lawyer and politician
  • George "Bon Bon" Tunnell (1912-1975), American vocalist
  • Emlen Lewis Tunnell (1925-1975), first African American to play for the New York Giants, inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame (1967)
  • Ebe Walter Tunnell (1844-1917), American merchant and politician
  • Byron M. Tunnell (1925-2000), American Railroad Commission of Texas member and politician


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/candahar


Houseofnames.com on Facebook