Find out how popular the first name Norval has been for the last 8 years (from 1974 to 1981) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Norval by gender

Based on the last 8 years of data, Norval is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 1981, there were 9 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Norval.

The history of the first name Norval

The name Norval is of Scottish origin and is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Norse words "norðr" meaning "north" and "völlr" meaning "field" or "plain". The name is thought to have been given to someone who lived in a northern field or plain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Norval can be found in the medieval Scottish epic poem "The Brus" by John Barbour, written in the late 14th century. The poem mentions a character named Norval of Dawyck, who was a supporter of Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 16th century, a Scottish poet and satirist named Sir David Lyndsay (c. 1490-1555) wrote a play called "Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaits" which featured a character named Norval. This play is considered one of the earliest examples of Scottish drama and helped to popularize the name.

Another notable figure with the name Norval was Norval Outerbridge (1871-1919), a Canadian-born businessman and philanthropist who founded the Outerbridge Horseradish Company in the early 20th century. He was also a prominent member of the Philadelphia business community and donated funds towards the construction of several local institutions.

In the literary world, Norval Morrisseau (1932-2007) was a renowned Canadian artist and writer of Anishinaabe descent. He is considered a pioneer of the Woodlands School of Canadian art and is widely recognized for his distinctive painting style depicting Indigenous legends and spiritual themes.

Finally, Norval Baptie (1925-2008) was a Scottish footballer who played as a forward for various clubs in the Scottish Football League during the 1940s and 1950s, including Hibernian and East Fife. He was known for his goal-scoring abilities and is remembered as one of the top strikers of his era in Scottish football.

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 Norval was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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