Argall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Argall

What does the name Argall mean?

The name Argall reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Argall family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Argall is based on the Dutch surname Van Arkel. The name Van Arkel may spring from the Anglo-Saxon form of Hercules, which is Ercol. A less likely root of the name is the parish of Ercoll Magna, or High Ercoll in Shropshire.

Early Origins of the Argall family

The surname Argall was first found in Norfolk, where the Saxon name Arnketel was found in 1019. 1 Archetel, Archel and Archil are all found in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2

Later in Northumberland, Archil de Corebr was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1159 and in 1256, Richard Arkill was listed in the Assize Rolls. The Hundredorum Rolls for Huntingdonshire include Roger Arketyl and in Yorkshire, the first entry for the family was as a forename: Arkell de Breddal in 1219. Later, William Harkill, Arkel was recorded in 1316 and 1331. John Arcle was a Freeman of York in 1455. 1

In Berwickshire, Scotland, this northern branch of the family name descended from Anketell, or Arnketill. 3

Early History of the Argall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Argall research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1500, 1533, 1572, 1588, 1609, 1610, 1621 and 1626 are included under the topic Early Argall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Argall Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Argall are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Argall include Arkell, Arkle, Arkill, Arcle, Argal, Argall, Arnkell, Artell, Artill, Arctall, Arktale, Arktell, Arktull, Arkgale and many more.

Early Notables of the Argall family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Richard Argall (c.1533-1588) of East Sutton, Kent; and his son, Sir Samuel Argall (c. 1572-1626), an English adventurer, Naval officer and Deputy-Governor of Virginia. He was "descended from an old Ke...
Richard Argall (fl. 1621), was an English poet

Argall migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Argall, or a variant listed above:

Argall Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Miss Florence May Argall, (b. 1889), aged 15, Cornish servant, from Truro, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th October 1904 en route to Newhaven, Connecticut, USA 4
Mr. John Henry Argall, (b. 1876), aged 28, Cornish labourer, from Newlyn East, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th April 1904 en route to Noway, Michigan, USA 4
Miss Maud Lillian Argall, (b. 1886), aged 18, Cornish servant, from Truro, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th October 1904 en route to Newhaven, Connecticut, USA 4
Mrs. Kate Argall, (b. 1866), aged 39, Cornish settler, from Newlyn East, Cornwall travelling aboard the ship "Cedric" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Iron Mountain, Michigan, USA 4

Argall migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Argall Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William M. Argall, aged 27, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sultana" 5
Elizabeth Argall, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Sultana" 5

Argall migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Argall Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

R. Argall, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888
Mr. A. E. Argall, British settler travelling from Capetown aboard the ship "Tainui" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in December 1890 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Argall (post 1700) +

David "Dave" Argall (b. 1958), American Libertarian politician, Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 29th district (2009-) 7
Dennis Walter Argall (1943-2023), Australian diplomat and senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Ambassador to China (1984-1985)
Ray Argall ACS (b. 1957), Australian cinematographer and director for both film and television, best known for his work on the multi-award-winning feature film Return Home (1990)
Philip Argall (1855-1912), Australian cricket Test match umpire from Adelaide, South Australia, "one of the best of Australian umpires"

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
South Australian Register Saturday 4th February 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sultana 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/sultana1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 18) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html