?Bell>Ball>Bailol>Bailleul?

[Bluehawk]

Bell> Ball> Bailol> Bailleul

Apropos of the above ^ evolution of the male surname Bailleul to Bell, as indicated by data base references in this line:


Bailleul births from 1010 to 1070 AD (All in France)

Bailol births from 1095 - 1249 AD (In England and France)

Ball births from 1275 - 1548 AD (All in England)

Bell births from 1573 - Present (From England to Scotland to America)

Does that sequence of surnames seem plausible to anyone familiar with Bell lineage?

[DreadGod]

There were actually people named Balliol who were born in Scotland in medi-eval times you know.

[Bluehawk]

Originally Posted by DreadGod

There were actually people named Balliol who were born in Scotland in medi-eval times you know.

I have heard of that, and was informed that the Bell surname at times later evolved from Bailol or Balliol, and from Ball as well.

I suppose what I am trying to determine is HOW far back in Scottish history (or Irish and English, for that matter) the Bell surname actually goes, and what if any relationship (other than blood) all these surnames had with one another.

Naturally, there are gazillions of male Bells, many of whom were and are named Thomas, William, George and John. But, in the 15th century the Bell line I am part of did shift from Bell to Ball and so on.

Taking into account the evidence that surnames (and other names) tend to change spellings over the centuries, and that many people immigrating through Ellis Island here in America stood a very good chance of having their name changed if it was "difficult to spell or pronounce" (though Bell, surely, cannot have been all THAT difficult) - my interest is in seeing whether there might be any kind of a similar organic evolution which accounts for a Bailliol, for example, eventually becoming a Bell.

Your comment is appreciated.

[Polwarth]

Many names that have been changed by geography and immigrtion officers, mostly by spelling are:

Menzies - pronounced Ming us here, but Min gus in the USA
Colquohoun pronounced Cahoon here
Gilzean, often Gillen nowadays

[Bluehawk]

Originally Posted by Polwarth

Many names that have been changed by geography and immigrtion officers, mostly by spelling are:

Menzies - pronounced Ming us here, but Min gus in the USA
Colquohoun pronounced Cahoon here
Gilzean, often Gillen nowadays

Well, that sort of thing could certainly account for various pronunciations of Bailliol and Ball to becoming Bell too, one would imagine.