Idol History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Idol

What does the name Idol mean?

The name Idol is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in the region of Idle at Calverley in Yorkshire. Idol is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties.

Early Origins of the Idol family

The surname Idol was first found in Herefordshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Idol family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Idol research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1193, 1202, 1363, 1379, 1401, 1410, 1455 and 1681 are included under the topic Early Idol History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Idol Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Idol has been spelled many different ways, including Idle, Idell, Idel, Idelle, Idil, Idill, Idille, Idylle, Idyll, Ydile and many more.

Early Notables of the Idol family

More information is included under the topic Early Idol Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Idol family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Idols to arrive in North America: Christian Idle, who immigrated to Texas in 1846.