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Help[Facts] Re: my middle name is armenell
in reply to a message by sally
There was another post on the board about Armenell ten years ago, concerning an entry for the name in E. G. Withycombe's The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names:
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/538359
It clearly dates back further than Ms Withycombe's earliest example, as the earliest parish record I found was that of Armanell Woode, baptised in 1547 in Surrey. There were many other 16th-century examples of the name, in various spellings (Armonel, Armynell, Ermenill, Arminella etc) - almost all born in Devon and Cornwall*, so that's obviously where the name originates from.
English parish records began in the first half of the 16th century, and before that, lists of personal names, especially female names, are patchy at best. In the absence of consistent records with which to track the development of the name, it's impossible to say for sure where it came from, but I have two theories to add to Ms Withycombe's:
1) it's a feminised Cornish development or corruption or analogue of the Welsh name Arthfael, similar to the Breton name Armelle - seems possible given the Celtic-language connection, but I would expect to see a male form too, and I'm not finding one.
2) it's a Cornish corruption of the Anglo-Saxon female name Eormenhild (see Irmhild) which had a Middle English form of Ermenilda. This fits in with the Erminell spelling of the name, and there's at least one other name more-or-less exclusive to the area with an Anglo-Saxon source (Loveday). This seems a more likely hypothesis, but can't confirm without more data.
* neighbouring counties in South-West England
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/538359
It clearly dates back further than Ms Withycombe's earliest example, as the earliest parish record I found was that of Armanell Woode, baptised in 1547 in Surrey. There were many other 16th-century examples of the name, in various spellings (Armonel, Armynell, Ermenill, Arminella etc) - almost all born in Devon and Cornwall*, so that's obviously where the name originates from.
English parish records began in the first half of the 16th century, and before that, lists of personal names, especially female names, are patchy at best. In the absence of consistent records with which to track the development of the name, it's impossible to say for sure where it came from, but I have two theories to add to Ms Withycombe's:
1) it's a feminised Cornish development or corruption or analogue of the Welsh name Arthfael, similar to the Breton name Armelle - seems possible given the Celtic-language connection, but I would expect to see a male form too, and I'm not finding one.
2) it's a Cornish corruption of the Anglo-Saxon female name Eormenhild (see Irmhild) which had a Middle English form of Ermenilda. This fits in with the Erminell spelling of the name, and there's at least one other name more-or-less exclusive to the area with an Anglo-Saxon source (Loveday). This seems a more likely hypothesis, but can't confirm without more data.
* neighbouring counties in South-West England
This message was edited 10/18/2016, 12:56 PM
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Replies
My great great great grandmother was born on a ship coming to Melbourne Australia from Cormwell named ARMENELL MARION . The father was in such a hurry to register the birth ..he registered her as Marion Armenell ...after the ship . The name has been passed down to the eldest daughter ..but unfortunately I had 2 sons . The full name of the baby was MARION ARMENELL DAVIES . The DAVIES descendants have regular family reunions . It's all do very interesting . I love family history stuff . gpj
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How interesting , my middle name is ARMENELL... In our family history the oldest daughter has Armenell as a middle name. My aunt who was Nancy Armenell Herbert, had 4 sons and no daughters. My mother Betty Margret HERBERT had a daughter (me) Sally Armenell HASLINGDEN. When my aunt died I inherited the family diamond ring, which was known as the Armenell ring.
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Hi . My middle name is Armenell also . It has been passed down to the eldest daughter of each generation. It was originally the name of a ship bringing settlers to Australia . My mum is Marion Armenell Webster .. her Mother was Teresa Armenell ... her mother had Armenell as a middle name ..etc . They originally came from St Michael's Mount in Cornwall . I'm not sure if your relatives are from there also . I've never heard of the Armenell diamond . How very interesting .
I would love to know more . Thankyou . Julie
I would love to know more . Thankyou . Julie
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That’s cool I guess
I just realized this thread is from 2016
I just realized this thread is from 2016
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