History
Many Families, One Surname
Early Bells
Historical records show several areas in the UK with established Bell families prior to 1603, when Scotland and England united under King James VI and I and the “unruly” clans along the Border such as Clan Bell were pacified or forced to leave:
- Scotland’s West March — home to Clan Bell, one of the Border clans mentioned in 1587’s Acts of the Scottish Parliament (RPS, 29 Jul 1587). The clan’s chief, William “Redcloak” Bell (PCS, Vol 1-5, pg 497), was frequently charged (along with other clan members) with stealing cattle and other valuables by rival families and landowners on both sides of the border in a practice known as “reiving.” He was also listed as a participant in the notorious rescue of Kinmont Willie from his English captors in 1596 (Border Papers, Vol 2, pg 122).
- England’s West March — there were a number of Bell families in the Cumberland region. This is evidenced by a muster of Eskdale Ward in 1581 (Border Papers, Vol 1, pg 37-41), as well as a petition offered in Nov 1597 to Lord Scrope, the English West March Warden (Border Papers, Vol 2, pg 454). Interestingly, Scrope’s papers are the clearest surviving records we have on Border law and it was written by his clerk, Richard Bell!
- Scotland’s Eastern Lowlands — the first recorded use of the surname Bell in Scotland is John Bell, who served as a notary in St. Andrews, 1248 (Papal Letters, Vol 1, pg 245). Records also show a thriving community of Bells in St. Andrews (Bells of St. Andrews) with notable descendents like Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, and Col. Ninian Beall, who helped hundreds of his family members immigrate to America and settle what is now Washington, D.C.
- England’s southeast country — one of the most prominent Bells of the era was Sir Robert Bell, who was Speaker of the House of Commons (1572-1576), was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1577, and served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer (History of Parliament). One of his descendants is believed to have settled in Jamestown, VA, around 1623.
“As numerous as the Bells of Middlebie”
Over the last 140 years, the National Records of Scotland has published several surveys of surnames in Scotland’s shires (or counties). These surveys were based on names appearing in the official registers of births, marriages and deaths. Shown here are the ten most common surnames appearing in the historic county of Dumfries in the 1901 census. Middlebie is a hamlet and parish in the county of Dumfries, hence the old Scots saying, “As numerous as the Bells of Middlebie.”
Excerpts from the Rammerscales Manuscript
“…above the principal gate was cut in freestone, in a Skutcheon, three Bells, and for a Crest, a hand holding a dagger, paleways proper.”
“It is a fact uncontroverted, the Bells of Kirkconnel were a very brave and warlike race of men, and upon all occasions they stuck firm to the House of Douglas, with whom they were allied in blood as well as their Vassals; that they generally accompanied any of the family in their expeditions and invasions into England; and the Bells of Kirkconnel being valient men, were always sent upon the most hazardous enterprises, especially on the borders, where sometimes much blood was shed and great booty was carried off from the enemies of the country.”
“The first Charter that appears from Records and Vouchers relating to the Bells is a Charter granted by Archibald, Earl of Douglas, to William Bell, of the lands of Kirkconnel, which is ratified by a Charter under the great Seal of King James the first, anno mccccxxiv.”
Notable Bells in History
(died 1577)
Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Appointed Serjeant-at-Law and Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
(1726–1809)
Scottish engraver and printer. Co-founder of Encyclopædia Britannica.
(1749–1806)
Considered to be the first Scottish scientific surgeon. Author of A System of Surgery.
(1763–1820)
Scottish anatomist and surgeon who wrote Discourses on the Nature and Cure of Wounds.
(1767–1830)
Scottish engineer who pioneered the first successful passenger steamboat service in Europe.
(1774–1842)
Scottish anatomist, physiologist, neurologist, artist and surgeon who identified the distinction between motor nerves and sensory nerves. Also credited with describing Bell's palsy.
(1796–1869)
American politician from Tennessee who served in the House of Representatives from 1827 to 1841, and in the Senate from 1847 to 1859.
(1799–1869)
Church of Scotland minister and inventor of the reaping machine.
(1837–1911)
Scottish surgeon and lecturer best known as an inspiration for the literary character Sherlock Holmes.
(1847–1922)
Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and engineer who is credited with inventing and patenting the first practical telephone.
(1856–1919)
Medal of Honor recipient. Chief of Staff of the United States Army, serving for four years under Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft.
(1862–1934)
One of the first women to qualify as a doctor in Ireland and noted political activist in the women's suffrage movement.
(1868–1926)
English writer, traveler and archaeologist. Served as advisor on Arabian affairs to the British government.
(1894–1956)
American industrialist and founder of Bell Aircraft Corporation. Flying the Bell X-1 rocket engine-powered aircraft, test pilot Chuck Yeager officially broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947.
(born 1943)
Astrophysicist from Northern Ireland who, as a postgraduate student, discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967. (Photo by Roger W. Haworth CC BY-SA 2.0)
Works Cited
Bain, J., “The Border Papers. Calendar of letters and papers relating to the affairs of the borders of England and Scotland, preserved in Her Majesty’s Public Record Office, London” London, 1894 (Internet Archives, Vol 1, Vol 2)
Bell, A.G., “The Bells of Saint Andrews : Births, marriages and deaths of persons of the name of Bell from the records of St. Andrews, Scotland / Compiled by Alexander Graham Bell from information supplied by the late Rev. Walter MacLeod, genealogical research worker of Edinburgh, Scotland.“, 1918 (Library of Congress, CS479.B47)
Bell, C.D., “Memorial of the Clan of the Bells: More particularly of the Bells of Kirkconnel and Bells of Blackethouse, Chiefs of the Name“, 1864 (Internet Archives)
Black, G., “The Surnames of Scotland, their origin, meaning, and history.“, New York, 1962 (Hathi Trust)
Bliss, W.H., “Calendar of Entries in the Papal registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: Papal letters, 1198-“, London 1893 (Hathi Trust)
Brown, K.M., “The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (RPS)“, (University of St. Andrews, 2007)
Durie, B., “What is a Clan?“, (article) Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA), 2014 (www.cosca.scot)
Hasler, P.W., “BELL, Robert (d.1577), of the Middle Temple, London and Beaupré Hall, Outwell, Norf.“, The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (History of Parliament, 1981)
Masson, D., “The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland (PCS), Vol V, A.D. 1592-1599.“; Edinburgh 1881 (Hathi Trust)
Pease, H., “The Lord Wardens of the Marches of England and Scotland: Being A Brief History Of The Marches, The Laws Of March, And The Marchmen Together With Some Account Of The Ancient Feud Between England And Scotland. ” London, 1912 (Internet Archives)
Thompson, T., “Instrumenta Publica Sive Processus Super Fidelitatibus Et Homagiis Scotorum (Ragman Rolls)”, Edinburgh, 1296 (Internet Archives)