Find out how popular the last name Amell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Amell.

Amell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Amell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amell in America

Amell is the 24517th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amell surname appeared 1,020 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Amell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Amell

The surname Amell has its origins in the Yorkshire region of England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "amel," meaning "bright" or "shining." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone with a fair complexion or perhaps someone with a cheerful disposition.

The earliest recorded use of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which lists a John Amelle residing in the village of Kildwick. The name appears to have been concentrated in the northern counties of England during the medieval period, with various spellings such as Amell, Amel, and Amelle.

In the 16th century, the name is mentioned in the records of the Stratford-upon-Avon Parish Registers, where a William Amell was baptized in 1578. This suggests that the name had spread from its Yorkshire origins to other parts of England by this time.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the Amell surname was Sir John Amell, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the late 15th century. He served as the Sheriff of London in 1488 and was knighted by King Henry VII in 1497.

Another historically significant figure with the Amell name was Thomas Amell (1599-1689), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1671 to 1673.

In the 18th century, the name is recorded in the parish records of Aldborough, Yorkshire, where a family of Amells resided for several generations. One member of this family, Richard Amell (1734-1817), was a renowned clockmaker whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the local gentry.

The surname Amell also has a presence in North America, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 17th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name in the New World was John Amell, who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638.

Another notable figure with the Amell surname was Benjamin Amell (1781-1863), a Canadian farmer and militia officer who fought in the War of 1812. He was instrumental in the defense of the Niagara Peninsula during the conflict and was later honored for his bravery.

While the surname Amell is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been borne by individuals of note in various fields, from commerce and academia to military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Amell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Amell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Amell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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