Tervell
An invented name, possibly influenced by the Welsh word "tervyn" meaning boundary or limit.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Tervell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tervell today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tervell births was 2002 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tervell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Tervell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2002
5 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2002 SSA rank
#12,311
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Tervell: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tervell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Tervell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tervell
The given name Tervell is of uncertain origin, with no definitive records pointing to its linguistic or cultural roots. Some scholars speculate that it may have derived from an obscure Germanic or Scandinavian language, possibly a variation of the Old Norse word "tarvell," which loosely translates to "one who walks with purpose." However, this connection remains tenuous and unverified.
Historically, the name Tervell does not appear to have been widely used or documented in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. The earliest known instances of the name's usage date back to the late 16th century, primarily found in isolated pockets of northern Europe.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Tervell was a Dutch merchant from Amsterdam, Tervell van der Linden, who lived from approximately 1570 to 1632. Records indicate he was involved in the lucrative spice trade with the East Indies during the early years of the Dutch East India Company's establishment.
In the late 17th century, a German scholar and theologian named Tervell Hausmann (1642-1701) gained some renown for his extensive writings on biblical interpretation and church history. His works were widely circulated among Protestant circles throughout Central Europe during his lifetime.
Moving into the 18th century, Tervell Eriksson (1712-1789) was a Swedish naval officer who played a notable role in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-1790. He commanded a squadron of warships during several engagements against the Russian Baltic Fleet, earning commendations for his bravery and tactical acumen.
A century later, Tervell Jansen (1845-1921) was a Norwegian explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions of Svalbard and Greenland. His detailed maps and journals contributed significantly to the understanding of these remote areas during the late 19th century.
In more recent times, Tervell Henriksen (1901-1976) was a prominent Icelandic sculptor and artist, renowned for his intricate woodcarvings and abstract works that drew upon the country's rich cultural heritage and natural landscapes.
While the name Tervell has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these individuals represent a diverse array of professions and accomplishments, leaving an indelible mark across various fields and regions despite the name's obscure origins.
People
Tervell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tervell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tervell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tervell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tervell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Tervell a common name?
We classify Tervell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tervell most popular?
The single biggest year for Tervell was 2002, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tervell is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Tervell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tervell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tervell in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Tervell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tervell in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Tervell can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Tervell?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.