Fell
A surname that could come from someone who lived by a hill or open upland, or from the Old English adjective meaning “sharp” or “cruel.”
The #5,414 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 48,024 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Fell is usually explained as a topographic name from Middle English and Old Norse words for a hill, rough upland, or mountain pasture, especially in northern England. In some cases it may also reflect Old English fell, meaning “sharp,” “keen,” or “cruel,” which could have been used as a nickname. The word also appears in many place-names, so the surname may sometimes be locational rather than directly descriptive.
History
The name is well established in northern English records, especially where fell was a common word for hills and uplands. Historical sources also note it in place-name compounds such as Felbridge, Feltham, and Felton, showing how widespread the element was in local surnames. A prominent bearer was John Fell, the 17th-century Bishop of Oxford, which helped keep the surname visible in English history.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older English usage, a fell could mean not just a hill, but also wild upland grazing country.
From the historical record
“in the body of the dictionary. FELL.* We must not overlook the ad- jective meaning of this word, which is sharp, keen, biting, cruel, from the A-Sax. felle. FOURACRE. This name, sometimes written Foweraker, has been for some cen- turies connected with Exeter. It is doubt- less local, the termination signifying a…”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom