Contents [hide]

Newell History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Newell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Newell

What does the name Newell mean?

The Newell family can be traced back to the border region between England and Scotland. The name Newell is of several possible origins; firstly, it may be derived from the Old French "noël," meaning "Christmas," in which case it would have been brought to the region in the wake of the Norman Conquest, or, in a later era, by French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution. Alternatively, it may be derived from "Newhall," the name of places located in the shires of Chester and York. Finally, the surname may from the Old English term meaning "dweller at the new hall," and would in this case refer to people living near a new hall, probably one distinct from an old hall.

Early Origins of the Newell family

The surname Newell was first found in Yorkshire, where Robert de Niwehal was living in 1195. 1 In this instance, the name signifies "dweller at the new hall."

Thomas atte Nywehalle was recorded in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 2

Some of the family were found in the parish of Jacobstow, Cornwall. "The manor of Penhallam, which extends into the parishes of Poundstock, Week St. Mary, and Boyton, was formerly in the family of Newell of Somerset. " 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for Hugo de Neuhalle, souter. 4

Early History of the Newell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Newell research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1195, 1209, 1686, 1755, 1764, 1775, 1782, 1807, 1812, 1840, 1851, 1858, 1859, 1885 and 1889 are included under the topic Early Newell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Newell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Newell, Newhall, Newall, Niehall, Noel and others.

Early Notables of the Newell family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Ebenezer Newell (c.1775), a British army captain who fought in the American Revolution, Isaac Newhall (1782-1858), an author, and Frederick Newell (1807-1859), a well-known British painter

Newell World Ranking

In the United States, the name Newell is the 1,024^th most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 5 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Newell is ranked the 373^rd most popular surname with an estimated 125 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Newell is the 890^th popular surname with an estimated 4,413 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Newell as 750^th with 8,906 people. 8

Migration of the Newell family to Ireland

Some of the Newell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Newell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Newell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mrs. Francis Newell, aged 40, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Francis"
Isaacke Newell, aged 2, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Francis" 9
John Newell, aged 5, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Francis" 9
Fayth Newell, aged 14, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Francis", bound for Massachusetts 9
Abraham Newell, who arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1634 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Newell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Newell, who landed in Virginia in 1704 9
Ruth Newell, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 9
Martha Newell, who arrived in New England in 1719 9
Petter Newell, aged 16, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1736 9
Eneas Newell, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1736 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Newell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Margaret Newell, aged 51, who landed in America in 1821 9
Jonas Newell, aged 40, who arrived in America in 1821 9
James C Newell, who landed in New York in 1832 9
Thomas Newell, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1840 9
Miss Mary Newell, aged 21, British settler who arrived in New Orleans aboard the ship "Sheffield" on 7th February 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Newell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Newell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

James Newell, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
James Newell, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750

Newell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Catherine Newell, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Minerva" departing from the port of Galway, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 10
Miss. Margaret Newell, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Minerva" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 10

Newell migration to Australia +

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

Newell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Newell, English convict from Huntingdon, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Charles Newell, English convict who was convicted in Northampton, England for life, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. William Newell, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Bardaster" on 7th September 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1835 13
William Newell, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 14
Susannah Newell, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Newell 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:

Newell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

W. Newell, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 14th June 1858 15
Mr. John Newell, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th June 1861 15
Mr. George Newell, (b. 1841), aged 21, Irish sadler from Armagh, travelling form London aboard the ship"Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 15
Miss Martha Newell, (b. 1846), aged 16, Irish settler from Armagh, travelling form London aboard the ship"Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 15
Mrs. Rebecca Newell, (b. 1833), aged 29, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Echunga" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 24th December 1862 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Newell (post 1700) +

Virginia Kimbrough Newell (1917-2025), American politician, mathematics educator and author, mathematics professor and the founder of the computer science program at Winston-Salem State University, first African American woman to become alderman of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Linda King Newell (1941-2023), American historian and author from Richfield, Utah
Robert "Doc" Newell (1807-1869), American politician and fur trapper in the Oregon Country
William Wells Newell (1839-1907), American folklorist, school teacher, minister and philosophy professor
David Newell (b. 1938), American television actor, best known as Mr. McFeely, the delivery man on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
Allen Newell (1927-1992), American researcher in computer science and cognitive psychology at the RAND Corporation
Norman Dennis Newell (1909-2005), American professor of geology at Columbia University
Homer Newell (1915-1983), American physicist, who worked for NASA (1958-1973)
Charles H. Newell, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Arkansas, 1900 16
Charles B. Newell, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Salem County, 1850 16
... (Another 64 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Newell family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Charles J Newell (b. 1921), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Farnham, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 17

RMS Titanic

Miss Madeleine Newell, aged 31, American First Class passenger from Lexington, Massachusetts who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 6 18
Miss Marjorie Anne Newell, aged 23, American First Class passenger from Lexington, Massachusetts who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 6 18
Mr. Arthur Webster Newell (d. 1912), aged 58, American First Class passenger from Lexington, Massachusetts who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 18

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Richard T. Newell (b. 1890), Welsh coal miner from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 19

USS Arizona

Mr. Bobby E. Newell, American Seaman Second Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 20

USS Indianapolis

James Thomas Newell, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 21

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
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. 50)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bardaster
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew