Surname Revelle - Meaning and Origin
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Revelle: What does the surname Revelle mean?
The surname Revelle is of French origin and is believed to be a derivative of the Old French word 'revel' meaning 'rebel'. It was often given as a nickname in Medieval times to a person who is considered insubordinate or nonconformist in nature. Another popular interpretation of the surname links it to the French word ’réveille’, meaning 'awakening' or 'reveal', possibly given to someone who is considered enlightening or eye-opening. In some instances, the surname could also be an occupational name given to someone who plays the 'revel', a kind of medieval European entertainment that involved singing, dancing and indulging in festivities. Like many surnames, the exact meaning can depend on its historical and individual context.
Order DNA origin analysisRevelle: Where does the name Revelle come from?
The last name Revelle is most commonly found in the United States. In the past, many of the individuals with the last name Revelle came to America from France, likely via Ellis Island.
According to the 2020 United States Census, Revelle is the 6,887th most common surname in the country. The most significant concentrations of this surname are found in California and Texas — both states having over 1,000 individuals with the surname. It is estimated that there are over 3,000 individuals with the last name Revelle in those two states alone.
Today, there are Revelle families living in many parts of the United States, from states like Arizona, North Carolina, and New York, to places like Hawaii and Delaware. Additionally, Revelle families are present throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.
Following the 1930 census, a magazine article documented two families of Revelle living in the small town of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Since that time, the family has been documented to now inhabit over 30 states in the U.S. and at least twelve countries, representing a widely dispersed group.
The earliest reference to the surname dates back to 1617 at a place called St. Thomas, Surrey, England and it is still popular today. It continues to be an uncommon name, yet there are now thousands of Revelle families living all over the world.
Variations of the surname Revelle
The Revelle surname has origins in both French and Norman-French. It is derived from the word "reveler" which means "hidden", and was likely first used to denote a person related to a particular hidden place or location. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Revelle are as follows:
Revel: This is the oldest variant and spelling of Revelle, with the first known use of the name dating back to 1255 in France.
Revell: This form is mostly found in Britain and is a variant spelling of Revelle.
Revelles: This spelling is mainly used in Normandy, France and is a Norman derivative of the French Revelle.
Revels: This variant is also used in Britain, and is likely a derivative of the original French Revelle.
Rivall: This is an outdated variant of Revelle and is found mainly in Britain.
Rivelle: This variant is found mostly in England and is a derivative of Revelle.
Rivel: This is the form of the name found in the United States.
Rivello: Another variant found mainly in the US, with some uses in Scotland.
Rivals: This spelling is found mostly in the US and is likely derived from the French Revelle.
Revelle: Finally, there is the most common modern spelling of the Revelle surname which is used in most English-speaking countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Revelle
- Roger Revelle: Roger Revelle was a renowned geophysicist, oceanographer, and atmospheric physicist. He was the founding director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
- William Revelle: William Revelle is an American psychologist known for his research on topics like personality, attitude formation and attitude change. He is currently a professor of psychology at Northwestern University.
- Francine Revelle: Francine Revelle is a French singer and dancer. She is known for her work with her brother, the reggae superstar Bob Marley.
- Richard Revelle: Richard Revelle is an American actor and filmmaker. He has appeared in several films and television shows, including Black Hawk Down, October Sky, and The Truman Show.
- Margaret Revelle: Margaret Revelle was an American geologist and minerologist. She was a member of the United States Geological Survey and served as a staff teacher at the Colorado School of Mines.
- Roger Revelle Jr.: Roger Revelle Jr. is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist who co-founded the annual Roger Revelle Summit, a global platform for collaboration in business and conservation.
- Ella Revelle: Ella Revelle is an American singer and songwriter who has collaborated with numerous musical artists including Ray Charles and Mac Miller. She is also the frontwoman of the indie-folk-pop duo, The Revelle.