Consul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

Etymology of Consul

What does the name Consul mean?

The name Consul is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who was a councillor, one who provided ‘consultation, deliberation' derived from the French words "counsell, consell, cunsell," of the same meaning. 1 2

One source claims the name was a local name "compounded of Anglo-Saxon sœl, sel, a hall or dwelling (Old. Norse sel, a summer shed for cattle)," 3 but most of the sources claim the occupational origin of name.

Early Origins of the Consul family

The surname Consul was first found in Berkshire, where William Cunseil was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1208. In the same year and the same county, the surname Consell (with no forename) was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls. A few years later, John Counsell was listed in Dorset in 1310. 1

Pointing to the wide spellings in use in ancient times, we found William Counsayl and Roger Consayl listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edwards' reign) 4

Early History of the Consul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Consul research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1310, 1327, 1609 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Consul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Consul Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Consul include Counsell, Councell, Cunseil, Counseil, Counsayl, Consayl and many more.

Early Notables of the Consul family

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

Consul migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Consul were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Consul Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Arenne Consul, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1746 5

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)