Find out how popular the first name Cavell has been for the last 33 years (from 1980 to 2012) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cavell by gender

Based on the last 33 years of data, Cavell is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2012, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Cavell.

The history of the first name Cavell

The name Cavell is believed to have originated from the Old French word "cavel," meaning "a rope" or "cable." This name is thought to be derived from the Latin word "cavillus," which also means "a small rope." Cavell was likely an occupational surname initially given to those who worked with ropes or cables, such as sailors or ropemakers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cavell can be found in the medieval Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholdings and wealth in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. In this document, a person named "Ricardus Cavel" is listed as a landowner in Norfolk.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the first name Cavell. Edith Cavell (1865-1915) was a British nurse who aided Allied soldiers in escaping from German-occupied Belgium during World War I. She was executed by firing squad for these actions, and her story became a symbol of resistance and martyrdom.

Another prominent figure named Cavell was the American philosopher and logician Willard Van Orman Quine (1908-2000), whose full name was Willard Van Orman Cavell Quine. Quine was a highly influential thinker in the fields of mathematical logic, set theory, and philosophy of language.

In the realm of literature, Cavell appears as the name of a character in the 1914 novel "The Voyage Out" by Virginia Woolf. The character, named Rachel Vinrace, is accompanied on her journey by an elderly woman named Mrs. Chailey, whose first name is Cavell.

A less well-known historical figure named Cavell was John Cavell (1637-1714), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, from 1686 to 1714.

Lastly, Cavell was also the first name of the British artist and sculptor Cavell Browne (1917-2006), who was known for her abstract works and was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cavell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cavell, please contact us.

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