Surname Odell - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Odell: What does the surname Odell mean?
The surname Odell is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English words "wad" and "hyll" meaning "woad" (a plant used for dye) and "hill". It is a toponymic surname, which are based on the name of a place. In this case, Odell is named after a village situated in the county of Bedfordshire, England. Over time, the spelling evolved from 'Woad-hill' to 'Wodhull', 'Woodhill', and eventually to 'Odell'. Therefore, the literal meaning of the name Odell could be "hill where woad grows". The name represents the family's historic occupation or where they originally hailed from. Because of emigration and other factors, this name and its variants are now found in many parts of the English-speaking world.
Order DNA origin analysisOdell: Where does the name Odell come from?
The last name Odell is most commonly found in the United States. It is particularly popular in the Northeast and Midwestern region of the country. In terms of specific states, it is most popular in New York, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
In terms of specific cities, Odell is most commonly found in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. These are all major metropolitan areas, where a lot of people would have moved to from other states or regions, bringing their surnames with them.
As far as the origins of the name go, it is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It derives from the Old English words ód (“wealth”) and well (“spring”). together, they evoke a sense of success and prosperity, which is one of the reasons it was so widely used in early America.
Today, the name Odell remains a common one in the United States. It can be found as far west as California and also in many Southern states. It is a testament to its longevity and popularity over the centuries, and is still going strong today.
Variations of the surname Odell
The surname Odell is an occupational name of English origin which means 'someone who lived in a place called Odell' or 'someone who lives near a wattle enclosure'. This surname can be found in Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and the United States. Variants and surnames of Odell include: Odall, Odelle, Odall, O'Dell, Odaller, Odlay, O'Dwyer, O'dole, Odle, Odele, Odell, Odle, Odele, Odell, Odell, Odleth, Odelyte, Odul, Odell, Odel and Odell.
The various spellings of this surname offer further insight into its recorded history. The phonetic spelling for Odell as ‘Odeall' has been found in the Somerset area of England, while the spelling 'Oedle' has been recorded in Scotland. The Irish variant Odall has been seen in both Northern Ireland as well as in the Republic of Ireland, so it is likely that some of the original bearers of Odell were of Irish descent.
The Odell surname is also thought to have derived from two Celtic names which consist of 'O' for a male ancestor and 'Dell', which traditionally means 'valley'. This pronunciation has been reflected in the various surname spellings that have been used from the Middle Ages, such as 'Odell', 'Odeall', 'Oedle', and 'O'doe'. These variants can be seen scattered throughout records in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and North America.
Famous people with the name Odell
- Odell Beckham Jr.: American professional football player for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).
- Odell Thaxton Jr.: American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.
- Amber Odell: American film producer and media entrepreneur.
- Antonio Odell: American film producer and director.
- Beanie Odell: American Christian music singer-songwriter.
- Derek Odell: American college football coach.
- Doug Odell: American craft brewer, author, and businessman.
- Guy Odell Jr.: American actor, writer, and producer.
- Herschel Odell: American National Football League coach.
- Jarvis Odell: American football defensive back.
- Joey Odell: American stand-up comedian and actor.
- Johnny Odell: American stock car racing driver.
- Kendra Odell: American model and actress.
- Lester Thomas Odell: American Major League Baseball coach.
- Matt Odell: American architect, author, and lecturer.
- Matthew Odell: British television presenter and journalist.
- Mike Odell: British classical musician, conductor, and composer.
- Nathan Odell: Australian rules footballer.
- Nelson Odell: American film actor and stuntman.
- Paul Odell: American stage and television actor.
- Whitney Odell: American country pop artist.