Sorrells
A surname usually understood as a variant of Sorrell, from a nickname for someone with reddish-brown hair or complexion.
The #5,843 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 52,144 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Sorrells is generally treated as a variant spelling of Sorrell. That surname comes from Old French or Anglo-Norman words for a reddish-brown color, especially one used for hair, complexion, or a horse’s coat. In that sense, the name began as a descriptive nickname rather than a family name tied to a place or occupation.
History
The base form Sorrell appears in medieval England and later spread in several spelling variants, including pluralized or patronymic-looking forms such as Sorrells. In English-speaking countries, especially the United States, the surname has remained relatively uncommon and is often found with regional spelling variation. As with many nickname surnames, later bearers may not have any obvious family link to the original descriptive meaning.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same color word behind this surname also gave English the word sorrel for a reddish-brown horse and, in some contexts, a reddish tint more generally.