Show ContentsQuarrell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Quarrell

What does the name Quarrell mean?

The ancestors of the name Quarrell date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Quarrell family lived in the county of Norfolk. Quarrell 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. In this case the Quarrell family lived at the quarel, which simply meant that the family resided near a quarry.

Early Origins of the Quarrell family

The surname Quarrell was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Quarrell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Quarrell research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1420, 1592, 1625, 1644, 1665, 1698 and 1727 are included under the topic Early Quarrell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Quarrell Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Quarrell are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Quarrell include: Quarles, Quarell, Quarrells and others.

Early Notables of the Quarrell family

Notables of the family at this time include Francis Quarles (1592-1644), an English poet, best known for his Emblem book aptly entitled Emblems; and John Quarles (1625-1665), an English poet, one of the eighteen children of...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Quarrell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Quarrell family to Ireland

Some of the Quarrell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Quarrell migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Quarrell or a variant listed above:

Quarrell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ellen Quarrell, who landed in Virginia in 1638 1
  • Anthony Quarrell, who settled in Virginia in 1653
  • John Quarrell, who settled in Nevis in 1654
  • Thomas Quarrell, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 1

Quarrell migration to Australia +

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

Quarrell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Quarrell, aged 37, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Star Queen" 2

Quarrell 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:

Quarrell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert Quarrell, aged 36, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Howrah" in 1874
  • Mary A. Quarrell, aged 33, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Howrah" in 1874
  • Mabel Quarrell, aged 5, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Howrah" in 1874
  • Arthur E. Quarrell, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Howrah" in 1874
  • Rosa B. Quarrell, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Howrah" in 1874

Quarrell migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 3
Quarrell Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • George Quarrell, who settled in Jamaica in 1663

Contemporary Notables of the name Quarrell (post 1700) +

  • Johnnie Quarrell, British theater writer, winner of the Verity Bargate Award in 1983
  • Lois Quarrell (1915-1991), Australian pioneering sports journalist who single handedly raised the profile of women’s sports from the mid-1930s until her retirement in 1970
  • John Quarrell (1938-2000), Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray (1957-1962)
  • Professor Arthur Quarrell, British Metallurgist


  1. 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)
  2. South Australian Register Monday 1st January 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Star Queen 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/starqueen1854.shtml
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies


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