Bell (surname)
Bell is a surname common in English speaking countries with several word-origins.
The surname is derived from the Middle English bell. This surname likely originated as an occupational name for a bell ringer or bell maker; or else from a topographic name for someone who lived by an actual bell, or by a house sign or inn sign. In other cases, the surname Bell is derived from the mediaeval personal name Bel. The masculine form of this personal name is derived from the Old French beu, bel ; the feminine form of the name represents a short form of Isobel. In some cases, the surname originates from a nickname, or descriptive name, derived from the Old French bel. In other cases, the surname Bell represents an English form of the Gaelic surname Mac Giolla Mhaoil. In some cases, the surname is derived from placenames in Norway and Germany. The surname Bell is also sometimes an Anglicized form of the German Böhl or Böll.
Early attested forms of the surname when of a patronymic origin include: Ailuuardus "filius Belli", in 1086; Ricardus "filius Bell", in 1279; and Osbertus "filius Belle", in 1297. Early attested forms of the surname, when originating from an occupational name include: Seaman "Belle", in 1181–1187; and Serlo "Belle", in 1190. An early attested form of the surname when originating from someone who lived near a sign of a bell is: John "atte Belle", in 1332. Early attested forms of the surname when originating from nickname include: Hugo "bel" in 1148; and Robertus "bellus", and Robert "le bel", both in 1186–1200. Today the surname Bell can be found in many parts of the world. It is the 67th most popular surname in the United States and the 36th most common surname in Scotland.
A
- Aaron Bell, American jazz double-bassist
- Acton Bell, pseudonym of Anne Brontë
- Adino Nye Bell, American politician
- Adrian Bell, British farmer-writer, father of Martin Bell
- Al Bell, American record producer, songwriter, and record executive
- Alden John Bell, Roman Catholic bishop
- Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-Canadian-American inventor, teacher, engineer, and scientist, son of Alexander Melville Bell
- Alexander Melville Bell, Scottish-American philologist, researcher and teacher, father of Alexander Graham Bell
- Alexandra Bell, American artist
- Alexandra Bell , British runner
- Alison Bell, multiple people
- Allan Bell, Manx politician, Chief Minister of the Isle of Man
- Allan Bell , New Zealand sociolinguist
- Alphonzo E. Bell, Sr., American oil millionaire
- Alphonzo E. Bell, Jr., American politician
- Amanda Bell, American Mixed Martial Artist
- Andrew Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Andrew Bell , toy designer, founder of Dead Zebra, Inc
- *Andrew Bell , Scottish co-founder of the Encyclopædia Britannica
- *Andrew Bell , Scottish pioneer of mutual instruction and author of the Madras System of Education
- *Andrew Bell , English cricketer
- *Andrew Bell , lecturer and journalist in Scotland
- *Andrew Bell , Presbyterian minister in Upper Canada
- Andy Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Andy Bell , British professional boxer
- *Andy Bell, English footballer
- *Andy Bell, English footballer
- *Andy Bell , freestyle motocross rider
- *Andy Bell , British journalist
- *Andy Bell , guitarist with Ride, Hurricane #1 and bassist with Oasis
- *Andy Bell , psychologist
- *Andy Bell , singer with synth pop band Erasure
- Angellica Bell, English television and radio presenter
- Anthea Bell, English translator of literary works including Asterix
- Anthony Bell, retired American football linebacker that played at Michigan State University and for the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL
- Archie Bell , American musician
- Arthur Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Arthur Bell , Franciscan and English martyr
- *Arthur Bell , New Zealand cricketer
- *Arthur Bell , engineer active in New Zealand and Western Australia
- *Arthur Bell , Burnley footballer
- *Arthur Hornbui Bell, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey
- *Arthur Bell , Canadian Olympic rower
- *Arthur Bell , columnist for the Village Voice and LGBT rights activist
- *Art Bell, American broadcaster and author
- *Arthur Kinmond Bell, Scottish philanthropist
B
- Beau Bell, American baseball player
- Benny Bell, American songwriter
- Bert Bell, American football commissioner
- Billy Bell, multiple people
- Bob Bell, multiple people
- Bobby Bell, American footballer
- Bradley Bell, American television writer and producer
- Brenda Bell, pioneer amateur radio operator from New Zealand
- Brian Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Brian Bell, American musician
- *Brian Bell , American football fullback
- *Brian Bell , Australian-born businessman in Papua New Guinea
- *Brian Douglas Bell, New Zealand ornithologist
- *Brian Murray , South African actor born Brian Bell
- Buddy Bell, American baseball player
- Burton C. Bell, American rock singer
C
- Cammy Bell, Scottish international football goalkeeper
- Carey Bell, American blues harpist
- Catherine Bell , British-American actress
- Catherine J. Bell, Canadian politician
- Charles Bell, Scottish surgeon
- Charles Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Charles Bell , Scottish surveyor, general, artist, and designer
- *Charles Bell,, American Photorealist who created large scale still lifes.
- *Charles H. Bell , American politician
- *Charles H. Bell , United States naval officer
- *Charlie Bell , Major League Baseball pitcher
- *Charlie Bell , Australian businessman
- *Charlie Bell , United States basketball player
- Chichester A. Bell, American sound engineer
- Chris Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Chris Bell , American musician
- *Chris Bell , American politician
- *Chris Bell, English rugby union player
- Clive Bell, British art critic and philosopher
- Coby Bell, American actor and producer
- Colin Bell, English soccer player
- Cool Papa Bell, American baseball player
- Currer Bell, pseudonym of Charlotte Brontë
D
- Daniel Bell, American sociologist
- Danna C. Bell, American archivist and librarian
- David Bell, multiple people, including:
- *David Bell , American baseball player
- *David Bell , American basketball player
- *David Bell , Scottish TV producer and director
- *David Bell, Australian field hockey player
- *David Bell , English-born Irish footballer
- *David Bell , Irish footballer
- *David Bell, Irish soldier
- *David Robert Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading
- Dean Bell, New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach
- Demetress Bell, American football offensive tackle
- Dennis Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Dennis Bell , Buffalo Soldier of the Spanish–American War
- *Dennis Bell , American basketball player
- Derek Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Derek Bell , harpist
- *Derek Bell , British racing driver
- *Derek Bell , American baseball player
- Derrick Bell, American law professor
- Diane Bell, multiple people
- Dillon Bell, New Zealand politician
- Don Bell, Canadian politician
- Don Bell American radio broadcaster
- Doug Bell, American computer game developer
- Drake Bell, American actor and guitarist
- Drew Tyler Bell, American actor and performer
- Duncan Bell, English rugby union player
- Duncan Bell, Scottish actor
E
- Earl Bell, American pole vaulter
- Edith Anna Bell Irish sculptor
- Edward Bell, multiple people
- Edmond Bell, English MP
- Eileen Bell, Northern Ireland politician
- Eileen Bell , British artist
- Elizabeth Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Elizabeth Bell , Ireland's first woman doctor
- *Elizabeth Bell , British actress who played stage and screen
- *Elizabeth Bell , founder of the New York Women Composers, Inc.
- Ellis Bell, pseudonym of Emily Brontë
- Emily Bell, British journalist
- Emma Bell, American actress
- Eric Temple Bell, American mathematician
- Ernest Bell , British author, animal rights activist, humanitarian, and vegetarian
- Ernest Bell, English footballer
F
- Francis Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Francis Bell , UK-born New Zealand actor
- *Francis Bell , Prime Minister of New Zealand
- *Francis Bell , British railway engineer
- *Francis Campbell Bell, politician in Manitoba, Canada
- Frank Bell , Major League Baseball player
- Frederick William Bell, Australian soldier
G
- Gary Bell, American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Gary Bell , English footballer
- Geoff Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Geoff Bell, Australian rugby league footballer
- *Geoff Bell , British actor
- Geoffrey Bell, economist, banker
- Geoffrey Bell , English cricketer and educationalist
- George Bell, one of several people including
- * George Bell , Australian politician
- * George Bell , American baseball player
- * George Bell , Australian painter
- * George Bell , Anglican bishop of Chichester
- * George Irving Bell, American physicist and mountain climber
- * George Bell , Dominican baseball player
- Gertrude Bell, British archaeologist, writer & spy
- Gladys Kathleen Bell, English painter
- Glen Bell, American founder of Taco Bell restaurant chain
- Gordon Bell, multiple people, including:
- Gordon Bell, computer engineer
- Gordon Bell, British comic strip artist
- Gordon Bell, Canadian computer scientist
- Gordon Bell, ice hockey player
- Graeme Bell, Australian pianist, composer and band leader
- Graham Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Graham Bell, Scottish advocate
- *Graham E. Bell, astronomer
- *Graham J. Bell, English FA accredited referee and radio personality
- *Graham Bell , painter
- *Graham Bell , English academic, writer and evolutionary biologist
- *Graham Bell , English footballer
- *Graham Bell , English pop and rock singer
- *Graham Bell , Olympic skier
- Grant Bell, Australian rugby league coach
- Griffin Bell, American politician
- Gus Bell, American Baseball player
H
- Harriet Bell, American advocate for disability rights
- Heath Bell, American baseball player
- Helen Bell, English folk musician
- Henri Lobe Bell, Duala ruler in Cameroon
- Henry Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Henry Bell , Scottish engineer
- *Henry Glassford Bell, Scottish lawyer, poet and historian
- *Henry H. Bell, American sailor
- *Henry Lawrie Bell, Australian ornithologist
- Hi Bell, professional baseball player
- Hilari Bell, American fantasy writer
- *Hilary Bell , swimmer from Canada
- *Hilary Bell , Australian writer
- *Hilary Bell , reality television pioneer
- Hugh Bell
- Hunter Bell, American book author
I
- Ian Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Ian Bell , Scottish journalist and writer
- *Ian Bell , professor of American literature at Keele University
- *Ian Bell , Canadian musician
- *Ian Bell , British computer programmer
- Isaac Lowthian Bell, British industrialist
J
- Jack Bell, footballer with Everton F.C.
- Jacob Bell, multiple people
- James Franklin Bell, US Army Major General, Medal Of Honor recipient, US Army Chief of Staff
- James Spencer-Bell, British politician
- Jamie Bell, British actor
- Jane Bell, Canadian track and field athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres
- Jay Bell, American baseball player
- Jeff Bell, American political consultant and politician
- Jocelyn Bell Burnell, British astronomer
- Joel Bell, professional Canadian football player
- Johann Adam Schall von Bell, German Jesuit missionary
- John Bell, multiple people, including:
- *John Bell , English clergyman
- *John Bell , American politician, Governor of New Hampshire
- *John Bell , American politician from Tennessee
- *John Bell , Canadian explorer and governor
- *John Bell, Australian Shakespearean actor
- *John Joy Bell, Scottish author
- *John L. Bell, Scottish religious figure
- *John Lane Bell, Canadian philosopher and mathematician
- *John Stewart Bell, British physicist originated Bell's Theorem
- *John Thomas Bell, British businessman, founder of Bellway home builders
- *John Bell , brother of Charles Bell
- *John Bell, Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey 1848–1854
- *John William Bell, Canadian political figure
- *John Bell, American guitarist and singer
- *John Bell from The Bell Witch legend
- *John Graham Bell, American taxidermist
- *John Howatt Bell, Prince Edward Island politician
- *John Irving Bell, British–Canadian biologist
- Joique Bell, American football player
- Jonathan Bell, rugby union player
- Joseph-Antoine Bell, Cameroonian international football goalkeeper
- Joseph Bell, Scottish physician, pioneer of forensic diagnostics, inspiration for Sherlock Holmes
- Joshua Bell, American musician
- Joshua Peter Bell, Queensland Parliamentarian
- Julia Bell, British geneticist
- Julian Bell, English poet
- Julie Bell, American painter
- Justin Bell, British racecar driver, son of Derek Bell
K
- Kahlil Bell, American football player
- Kathleen Bell, American physician and professor
- Katie Bell, Harry Potter character
- Kay Bell, American football player and professional wrestler
- Keith Bell, rugby league footballer of the 1950s for New Zealand, Auckland, and Ponsonby
- Keith Bell, English rugby league footballer of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s
- Keith Bell , rugby union player who represented Australia
- Kendrell Bell, American football linebacker
- Kenneth B. Bell, American judge
- Kenny Bell, American football player
- Kerwin Bell, American college and professional football player
- Kristen Bell, American actress
- Kristine Bell, American engineer
L
- Lake Bell, American actress
- Larry Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Larry Bell , contemporary artist based in Los Angeles, California and Taos, New Mexico
- *Larry M. Bell, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
- *Larry Gene Bell, double murderer in Lexington County, South Carolina
- Laura Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Laura Bell, courtesan of Victorian England
- *Laura Anning Bell, British artist
- *Laura Bell , American author
- *Laura Bell Bundy, American actress
- *Laura Joyce Bell, English-American actress
- Lauralee Bell, actress
- Lawrence Dale Bell, American aviation pioneer
- Lee Phillip Bell, talk show host and soap opera creator
- Les Bell, professional baseball player
- Le'Veon Bell, American football player
- Lilian Bell ; pen name, "Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Bogue", American novelist, travel writer
M
- Mabel Bell, wife of inventor Alexander Graham Bell
- Madeline Bell, American soul singer
- Madison Smartt Bell, American author
- Maggie Bell, British singer
- Malcolm Bell, English cricketer
- Malcolm Bell , British businessman
- Manga Ndumbe Bell, Duala ruler in Cameroon
- Marc Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Marc Bell , Canadian cartoonist
- *Marc Bell , American drummer for The Ramones and The Voidoids
- *Marc Bell, American managing partner of Marc Bell Capital
- Maria Arena Bell, American novelist, television and freelance writer
- Marie Bell, French tragedian, comic actor and stage director
- Marie Bell , New Zealand educationalist, lecturer and teacher
- Marilyn Bell, swimmer
- Marjorie Bell, British electrical engineer and factory inspector
- Mark Bell, multiple people
- Marshall Bell, American actor
- Martin Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Martin Bell, British journalist and broadcaster
- *Martin Bell , British skier
- *Martin Bell , British poet
- Martyn Bell, British racing driver
- Marvin Bell, American poet
- Mary Bell, British child killer
- Matthew Bell, multiple people
- Matty Bell, American football player and coach
- Melissa Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Melissa Bell , British singer
- *Melissa Bell , Australian soap opera actress
- Michael Bell, multiple people
- Montgomery Bell, Tennessee manufacturing entrepreneur
- Morley Bell, Canadian lawyer and politician
N
- Ndumbe Lobe Bell, Duala ruler in Cameroon
- Neil Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Neil Bell , British actor
- *Neil Bell , Northern Territory politician
- *Neil Bell, pseudonym of Stephen Southwold, British writer
- Nicholas Bell, Australian-based British actor
- Noreen Bell, fictional character from British TV series Emmerdale
- Norris Garrett Bell, Australian railway engineer
O
- O'Neil Bell, Jamaican professional boxer
P
- Pat Bell, Canadian politician
- Pedro Bell, American artist and illustrator
- Peter Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Peter Hansbrough Bell, Inspector-General of the Army of Texas, 3rd Governor of Texas, US Congressman
- *Peter F. Bell born 1976, Australian rules footballer
- *Peter R. Bell, born 1954, Australian rules footballer
- Philip W. Bell, American accounting scholar
Q
- Quentin Bell, English art historian and author
- Quinton Bell, American football player
R
- Raja Bell, American basketball player
- Regla Bell, Cuban volleyball player
- Richard Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Richard Bell, Canadian writer and director
- *Richard Bell one of the first two British Labour Members of Parliament
- *Richard Bell, Bishop of Carlisle from 1477 to 1495
- *Richard Bell, member of The Band
- Ricky Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Ricky Bell, National Football League running back
- *Ricky Bell, National Football League cornerback
- Robert Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Robert Bell , British judge & politician
- *Robert D. Bell, American jurist, judge on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals
- *Robert E. Bell, American archaeologist
- *Robert M. Bell, American jurist
- *Robert "Kool" Bell, American singer, songwriter and bassist
- *Robert Bell , Irish man of letters
- Ronald Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Ronald Bell , Middlesex and Sussex cricketer
- *Ronald Bell , Conservative Member of Parliament 1945 and 1950-1982
- *Ronald Bell , member of Kool & the Gang
- *Ronald D. Bell, Justice of the Tax Court of Canada
- Ronnie Bell British chemist at Oxford University
- Ross Bell, American entomologist
- Roy Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Roy Bell , Canadian footballer
- *Roy Bell , New Zealand and Australian ornithologist
- *Roy Bell , Australian rugby league player
- Rudolf Duala Manga Bell, Duala ruler in Cameroon
- Ryan Bell, multiple people.
- Ryan J. Bell, Seventh-day Adventist Pastor, later an Atheist activist.
S
- Sam Bell, English professional footballer
- Sam Hanna Bell, Northern Irish novelist, short story writer, playwright, and broadcaster
- Samuel Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Samuel Bell, American jurist & politician - New Hampshire
- *Samuel Bell , American politician
- *Samuel Dana Bell, Chief justice of New Hampshire state supreme court
- *Samuel H. Bell, American jurist - Ohio
- *Samuel Newell Bell, US Congressman from New Hampshire
- Sandy Bell, South African Test cricketer
- Sean Bell, African American shot by New York City police
- Shannon Bell, Canadian philosopher and feminist
- Shona M. Bell, New Zealand palaeontologist
- Simon Bell
- Stefan Bell, German footballer with 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga
- Stephen Bell, English footballer
- Steve Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Steve Bell , first anchor of the ABC News program World News This Morning, previously reporter for WOWT-TV
- *Steve Bell , English cartoonist
- *Steve Bell , Canadian musician
- *Steve Bell , retired American soccer midfielder
- Steven Bell, Australian rugby league player
- Stuart Bell, British Labour Party politician
- Stuart R. Bell, American academic, President of the University of Alabama
T
- Tatum Bell, American football running back
- Terrell Bell, several people
- Terry Bell, several people
- Theo Bell, American football wide receiver
- Thom Bell, Jamaican-American music producer
- Thomas Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Thomas Bell, English zoologist, surgeon, and writer
- *Thomas Cowan Bell, one of the seven founders of Sigma Chi Fraternity
- *Thomas M. Bell
- *Thomas Reid Davys Bell, Irish lepidopterist
- Tim Bell, British public relations and political adviser
- Tobin Bell, American actor
- Tom Bell , Australian rules footballer
- Townsend Bell, motor racing driver, married to actress Heather Campbell
- Trevor Bell, multiple people, including:
- *Trevor Bell , English painter
- *Trevor Bell , American baseball pitcher
- Troy Bell, American professional basketball player
V
- Van D. Bell, American Marine officer, recipient of two Navy Crosses
- Vanessa Bell, British painter
- Vera Bell, Jamaican writer
- Vereen Bell, American writer
- Vernon Bell, founder of the British karate movement
- Vinnie Bell, born Vincent Gambella, American session guitarist
- Viola Bell, New Zealand community leader
- Virginia Bell, American model and actress
W
- Wade Bell, American middle distance runner
- Wally Bell, American baseball umpire
- W. Kamau Bell, American stand-up comic
- W. D. M. Bell, Scottish-born elephant hunter
- Wayne Bell, bulletin board pioneer
- William Bell, multiple people, including:
- * William Dwane Bell, New Zealander convicted for a triple murder
- * William E. Bell , Canadian writer
- * William Henry Bell, English born composer, later South African Professor of Music
- * William J. Bell, TV producer
- * William Nathaniel Bell, American settler
Y
- Yeremiah Bell, American football safety for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League