Surname Ravenel - Meaning and Origin
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Ravenel: What does the surname Ravenel mean?
The last name Ravenel is of French origin and is believed to be derived from the French words ravenne ("raven"), or ravinal, meaning "covered with brushwood, woods, or woody plantation". It is believed that the last name is a topographic surname given to those who lived near a thickly wooded area.
Ravenel is also associated with the Ravenel family who settled in the United States in 1539. The Ravenel family lived in Charleston, South Carolina and later spread out to other parts of the United States. Thefamily is said to have descended from Renaud de Roubaud, Sieur de Blanquefort, who was an admiral of the English navy during the sixteenth century.
The current Ravenels, descended from these original settlers, are said to be of French Huguenot descent. They were largely Protestant and sought to preserve their faith by leaving Europe to worship freely in the United States.
Today, those with the Ravenel surname are found all over the United States. Even though Ravenel is not an overly common name, some prominent members of the Ravenel family have made their mark on society. For example, The Congresswoman Shannon Ravenel was the first African-Americanelected from the State of South Carolina and Lawrence Ravenel was an astronaut who flew on the STS-58 mission.
Order DNA origin analysisRavenel: Where does the name Ravenel come from?
The last name Ravenel is most commonly found in France today. In French, it is spelled Ravinel or Ravineau, and is derived from the Latin word Ravenna, which means “of ravens” or “place of the ravens”. The surname is believed to have first been used in central France, and it eventually spread south towards Limoges and north towards Paris. It can still be found today in areas such as the Pays de la Loire and the Centre-Val de Loire regions.
In the United States, the last name Ravenel is believed to have come directly from France. It is most commonly found in South Carolina, where there is a large Ravenel family of French Huguenot descent that settled there in the 18th century. The family of Ravenels in South Carolina is prominent and holds multiple hereditary titles, such as French nobility and United States senator.
Outside of France and the United States, the Ravenel last name can also be found in some parts of Canada, especially in the province of Quebec. Additionally, there are people with the Ravenel name living in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Today, the Ravenel family is spread across many countries and is likely descended from a common ancestor in France.
Variations of the surname Ravenel
The Ravenel surname is a topographic name that originated in France as Ravinal. The name may have been derived from the Old French ravine for "a marsh, a water-filled channel or a steep ravine". It is a name which is associated with nobility, and the prominent Ravenel or Ravinal families have been found in France since at least the 12th century. They were first found in the ancient French region of Perigord, where they held a family seat as a noble house.
The name appears in various forms and with different spellings. In France, it is generally spelled Ravinal or Ravineau, while in other countries, it can be spelled Ravenel, Ravenelle, Ravinel, Ravineau, Revenel, Revenelle and many more variations.
In addition, Ravenel is also used as a surname in the UK and America, where it is sometimes spelt as Ravenel, Ravinal, Revenal or Reinall. Apart from the French origin, the surname can also be found in Canada, Belgium, South Africa and among French citizens living abroad. Some other variations of the Ravenel surname can be found in French colonial Louisiana, where it is spelled Ravineaux or Révénaud.
The Ravenel or Ravinal family has several branches and is divided into many lines. Each of these branches can be found with different variations of the surname, depending on where they are located. For example, the descendants of the de Ravinal family of La Dixere, France can be found with the Ravineau, Ravenelle, Ravinel or Revenel variations. Similarly, those belonging to the Ravinal de Canisy family are often found with the Ravinal, Ravenel or Revenelle variations of the surname.
Famous people with the name Ravenel
- Thomas Ravenel: Thomas Ravenel is an American businessman and former politician from Charleston, South Carolina. He is a member of the Republican Party and is well-known for his time as South Carolina State Treasurer and his appearance on the Bravo reality show Southern Charm.
- St. Julien Ravenel: St. Julien Ravenel was an American physician, teacher, politician, reformer, and civic leader from Charleston, South Carolina. He served four years in the Confederate army and eventually became the Mayor of Charleston in 1883.
- Alexandra Ravenel: Alexandra Ravenel is an American illustrator, designer, and author. She has published her first novel, Prosperity Road, and currently designs jazz-age style paintings and prints for various companies.
- Tarina Ravenel: Tarina Ravenel is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is best known for her hit single, “This Is What I Call Music”, as well as for her role in the hit Broadway musical Once.
- John C. Ravenel Jr.: John C. Ravenel Jr. is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the president of Ravenel Development Corporation and helps oversee the Ravenel Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Charleston.