Revill is an English surname with a predominantly locational origin, though its exact derivation is subject to several interpretations.
Origin and Etymology The surname Revill is believed to have originated from various place names, indicating that the initial bearers of the name were from a particular locality. The most commonly cited origins include:
- Norman French Origin: It is often linked to the village of Réville in Normandy, France. Families bearing this name are thought to have come to England with or after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name "Réville" itself may derive from Old French elements, possibly "riche" (rich, powerful) and "ville" (settlement, town), meaning "rich settlement."
- Old English Locational Origin: Alternatively, the surname may stem from Old English place names, such as "Rivehill" or "Revehill," potentially located in counties like Yorkshire or Derbyshire. These place names could be formed from elements such as:
- Old English "hrif" (a rift, cleave, or enclosure) + "hyll" (hill), referring to a dwelling by a cleft hill or an enclosed hill.
- Other Old English elements describing a specific landscape feature.
- Descriptive Surname: Less commonly, it has been suggested that Revill could be a descriptive surname, though this is less favoured than the locational theories.
Early records of the surname, or variations thereof, appear in medieval documents, often associated with land ownership in northern England.
Geographical Distribution The surname Revill is primarily found in England, with a notable concentration in the counties of Yorkshire and Derbyshire. This geographical distribution supports the potential English locational origins or the historical settlement patterns of Norman families in these regions.
Notable People
- Maurice Revill (1939–2013), an English professional footballer who played as a forward.
- Peter Revill (born 1957), an English former first-class cricketer.
- Mark Revill (born 1980), an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
- Lee Revill (born 1986), an English professional boxer.