The given name Jarrell is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "gearr" meaning "spear" and "hyll" meaning "hill". This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a spear-shaped hill or was skilled in spear-throwing.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a man named Jarrell de Wyntoun was mentioned in a historical record from Yorkshire, England. In the 14th century, a monk named Jarrell of Canterbury was known for his scholarly writings on theology and philosophy.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure bearing the name Jarrell was an English playwright and poet named Jarrell Massinger, who lived from 1583 to 1640. His works included tragedies such as "The Roman Actor" and "The Duke of Milan".

In the 18th century, Jarrell Vansittart, an English politician and diplomat, served as the Governor of Bengal from 1760 to 1764. He played a significant role in the expansion of British influence in India during the early years of the East India Company.

Another prominent individual with the name Jarrell was Jarrell Lowell, an American poet and critic who lived from 1917 to 1977. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1947 for his book "Lord Weary's Castle" and is widely regarded as one of the most influential American poets of the 20th century.

In more recent times, Jarrell Graham was an American basketball player who played for several NBA teams in the 1990s and early 2000s. He won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.