Origins of the Bell surname
What does the name Bell mean?
The Bell surname has a number of origins, but is most popular in English-speaking countries. Bell is an old surname, found in records dating back to the 1100s, most commonly arriving through Middle English, used as an occupational name of someone who made or rang bells. Less often, the surname Bell arises from someone with the given name 'Bel', or was particularly beautiful (from the Old French 'beu' or 'bel').
Alternative variations of the name Bell
Bell, Bel, Belle, Le Bel, Bele
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Common jobs for Bells
Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.
Commmon female occupations for Bells in 1921
Dressmaker
2,658
Domestic Servant
1,574
Housekeeper
1,139
House Servant
1,138
General Servant Domestic
1,110
Commmon male occupations for Bells in 1921
Coal Miner
3,853
Farmer
2,149
Joiner
1,763
Agricultural Labourer
1,667
General Labourer
1,659
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