Show ContentsTyrrell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Tyrrell 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 Tyrrell family

The surname Tyrrell was first found in Westmeath (Irish: An Iarmhí) in the Irish Midlands, province of Leinster, where a Tyrrell 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 Tyrrell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tyrrell 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 Tyrrell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tyrrell Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Tyrrell family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

  • 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 Foot Regiment, Governor of the Cardiff Castle, in South Wales
  • Elizabeth Tyrrell (1619-1693), (nee Ussher) English born noble from Irish stock who married Sir Timothy Tyrrell, of Oakley, Buckinghamshire

Tyrrell Ranking

In the United States, the name Tyrrell is the 6,374th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2


United States Tyrrell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tyrrell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Tyrrell, who arrived in Virginia in 1667 3
Tyrrell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Michael Tyrrell, who arrived in America in 1739
Tyrrell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Tyrrell, who arrived in New York in 1837 3
  • Bridget Tyrrell, who was on record in Pittsburgh in 1854

Canada Tyrrell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Tyrrell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Robert Tyrrell, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Robert Tyrrell, who arrived at Halifax in 1749
Tyrrell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Tyrrell, who settled in Canada in 1827
  • James Tyrrell, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland
  • Mary Tyrrell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1836
  • Miss. Catherine Tyrrell, aged 15 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in May 1847 4
  • Ms. Catherine Tyrrell, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Syria" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Tyrrell migration to Australia +

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

Tyrrell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Lawrence Tyrrell, (Tyrell), (b. 1799), aged 23, Irish ploughman who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for life for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 3rd September 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Mr. Richard Tyrrell, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life , transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Robert Tyrrell, a baker, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Mr. Benjamin Tyrrell who was convicted in Buckinghamshire, England for life, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
  • Mr. Thomas Tyrrell, aged 27, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship "Bolton"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Tyrrell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Tyrrell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • W R Tyrrell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck"
  • Thomas Tyrrell, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842
  • Miss Judith Tyrrell, (b. 1842), aged 20, British dairymaid travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 8
  • Walter Tyrrell, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
  • Alfred Tyrrell, aged 19, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Strathnaver" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Tyrrell (post 1700) +

  • Joseph Burr Tyrrell (1858-1957), Canadian explorer and geologist, discoverer of the dinosaur Albertosaurus in Alberta in 1884, eponym of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta
  • Susan Tyrrell (1945-2012), born Susan Jillian Creamer, an American Academy Award nominated actress, known for her roles in Cry-Baby (1990), Powder (1995) and Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981)
  • Emmett Tyrrell (b. 1943), American conservative magazine editor, New York Times bestselling author, and columnist
  • William Tyrrell, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1872 9
  • John F. Tyrrell, American Republican politician, Illinois Republican State Chair, 1937, 1945; Member of Illinois Republican State Central Committee, 1943 9
  • Francis X. Tyrrell, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1912, 1928; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 9th District, 1926 9
  • Chester W. Tyrrell, American Republican politician, First Selectman of Monroe, Connecticut, 1920-27; Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Monroe; Elected 1930 9
  • George Tyrrell (1861-1909), Irish theologian
  • Professor Robert Yelverton Tyrrell (1844-1914), Irish classical scholar and poet
  • Robert Kenneth "Ken" Tyrrell (1924-2001), British Formula Two racing driver and the founder of the Tyrrell Formula One constructor
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hillsborough disaster
  • Kevin Tyrrell (1973-1989), English schoolboy who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 10
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Frederick Levi Tyrrell, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 11


  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. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 58)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
  6. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
  11. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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