Newell

Newell is a surname of English origin, commonly a variant of the surname Neville, which derives from the Norman French place name Neuville meaning 'new town'. The name Newell may also occasionally be a variant of the name Noel, from the Old French Noël meaning 'Christmas'. In Ireland, Newell can be an Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Tnúthghail, meaning 'descendant of Tnúthgal', a personal name composed of elements meaning 'desire, envy' and 'valor'.

As a surname, Newell is found mainly in England, the United States, and other English-speaking countries. It has a strong presence in the United States, where numerous places bear the name, including towns and census-designated places in Alabama, California, and Iowa.

Notable bearers

Surname

• Mortimer Newell (Mickey) Rooney Sr. (born Joseph Yule Jr.; 1920–2014), American actor—his birth surname is unrelated, but the name appears through his family.
• Peter Newell (1862–1924), American artist and author.
• Roderick Newell (born 1990), Bahamian footballer.
• William Newell (1802–1880), American missionary and author, known for a commentary on the Book of Romans.

Geographic distribution

According to historical data, Newell is most densely concentrated in the United Kingdom and the United States. Within the UK, it has particularly strong ties to Lancashire and Yorkshire. The U.S. Census records show significant numbers in Ohio, New York, and Texas.

Key facts

• Meaning: Variant of Neville ('new town') or Noel ('Christmas'), or Anglicization of Irish Ó Tnúthghail.
• Origin: English, Norman French; Irish (Anglicized)
• Type: Surname (also used as a given name occasionally).
• Usage regions: English-speaking world, especially United Kingdom, United States, Ireland.