Bell is used as a family name or surname in Ireland, France, England, Scotland. It is 4 characters long in length.

Family Name / Last Name: Bell
No. of characters: 4
Origin: Ireland, France, England, Scotland
Meaning:

A variant of the LaBelle. The handsome man.

Dweller at the sign of the bell; the handsome one; descendant of Bel, a pet form of Isabel meaning "oath to Baal".

This common surname is doubtless le Bel, Old French for fine, handsome; and in this form it is found in the Hundred Rolls The chief habitation of the Bells has long been on the Scottish border. In a MS. of 1590, relating to the defences of that district, we find in Cumberland, under Bridekirk, this entry: About them is a great surname of Bells and Carlisles, who have been long in feud with the Irwyns." Again: "In Gilsland is no great surname: the Belles is the most." Archæolog. XXII.

How popular is Bell?

Bell is common in United States, England, Australia, Canada, Scotland, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Germany, New Zealand, Cameroon, Jamaica, Sudan, Ireland, Wales, Cuba, France, Indonesia, Thailand, Russia, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Austria, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh, Iran, Chad, Haiti, Nicaragua, India, Panama, Norway, Bahamas, Denmark, Isle of Man, Japan, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Malawi, Vanuatu, Italy, Dominican Republic, Sweden, Malaysia, Mexico, Switzerland, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Guyana, China, Suriname, Portugal, Chile, Fiji, Venezuela, Jersey, Belgium, Guam, Bahrain, Belize.

Bell is ranked 873 on our list.

As per 2010 US census, number of Bells plummeted by 16.68 per cent to 220599 since 2000 and slipped by 39 spots and ranked at 106. The last name was found in around 7 per ten thousand population. Please refer to following table for race and ethnicity.

Race 2010 2000
White 61.11 63.57
Black 32.35 31.78
Others 2.51 1.8
Hispanic or Latino 2.46 1.55
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.01 0.9
Asian and Native Hawaiian
& Other Pacific Islander		 0.55 0.41
Bell is quite popular family name mostly used in United States however Norfolk Island is ahead in terms of density. Around 603690 people have been found who wears Bell as their family name. Bell is used widely across the globe. More detailed information can be found below:
RankCountryCount
Countries with hundred thousands of Bell:
61 United States361,056
Countries with ten thousands of Bell:
56 England84,249
41 Australia42,630
78 Canada31,373
37 Scotland16,372
Countries with thousands of Bell:
920 South Africa7,585
19 Northern Ireland6,494
1,650 Germany6,318
58 New Zealand5,090
530 Cameroon4,696
112 Jamaica4,638
2,042 Sudan2,520
388 Ireland2,312
130 Wales2,287
580 Cuba2,278
6,085 France1,407
10,049 Indonesia1,366
7,116 Thailand1,219
15,053 Russia1,133
3,108 Ghana1,039
Countries with hundreds of Bell:
4,580 Saudi Arabia954
7,155 Morocco784
6,175 Spain675
12,627 Brazil653
5,737 Argentina637
3,995 Zimbabwe593
5,097 Netherlands550
2,343 Austria541
30,848 Philippines521
4,863 Sri Lanka512
20,101 Nigeria469
14,525 Egypt458
9,758 Bangladesh451
15,758 Iran397
4,109 Chad385
2,072 Haiti383
926 Nicaragua346
73,777 India345
976 Panama334
2,202 Norway290
238 Bahamas289
1,960 Denmark287
17 Isle of Man264
14,433 Japan256
719 Costa Rica236
1,756 Uruguay221
10,289 Malawi209
359 Vanuatu197
38,800 Italy195
2,726 Dominican Republic193
4,381 Sweden174
10,381 Malaysia173
11,221 Mexico166
6,677 Switzerland163
373 Samoa162
6,626 Papua New Guinea155
880 Guyana153
594 China150
747 Suriname147
3,778 Portugal142
4,540 Chile138
1,425 Fiji126
6,160 Venezuela122
85 Jersey120
15,893 Belgium109
210 Guam107
2,472 Bahrain103
684 Belize101
Countries with low frequency i.e., 50 - 100:
100 Bermuda99
3,065 Mauritius89
115 Guernsey88
200 Dominica84
20,268 Kazakhstan79
1,427 Cyprus72
2,396 Paraguay70
267 United States Virgin Islands68
3,530 Estonia65
96 British Virgin Islands64
21,264 Belarus61
6,204 Liberia60
3,093 Taiwan59
2,930 Hong Kong53
612 Barbados51
Countries with very low frequency i.e., 10 - 50:
327 Antigua and Barbuda50
2,997 Trinidad and Tobago48
32,089 Czechia46
398 Grenada45
194 Cayman Islands43
640 Malta42
10,676 Kuwait39
2,649 Angola36
585 Myanmar36
344 Sierra Leone36
205 Gibraltar35
8,789 Latvia35
42,844 Romania34
11,607 Botswana33
18,607 Uzbekistan33
10,858 Ecuador32
3,979 Luxembourg32
6,105 Mongolia32
13,630 Iraq31
78,991 Poland31
38,275 Pakistan27
22,934 United Arab Emirates24
3,070 Honduras22
11,611 Singapore21
510 South Korea21
31,291 Hungary20
42 Saint Martin19
2,402 Vietnam19
789 Aruba18
71,673 Greece18
784 Seychelles18
13,978 Afghanistan17
24,270 Finland16
2,274 Mozambique16
2,747 El Salvador15
12,403 Mauritania15
14,188 Slovenia15
75,106 Uganda15
1,181 Saint Lucia14
113 Anguilla12
509 Saint Kitts and Nevis12
1,123 American Samoa11
34 Norfolk Island11
28,985 Peru11
Countries with very very low frequency i.e., 6 - 10:
47,113 Algeria10
2,599 Iceland10
54,181 Israel10
14,518 Ethiopia9
434 Monaco9
30,726 Qatar9
8,246 Tunisia9
6,458 Guatemala8
30,722 Moldova8
8,462 Armenia7
16,935 Jordan7
49,802 Niger7
29,076 Serbia7
139,182 Turkey7
303,897 Ukraine7
44,411 Croatia6
16,645 Lebanon6
16,589 Lesotho6
6,082 Oman6
18,437 Solomon Islands6
72,091 Tanzania6
Show Full Last Name Distribution

Immigrants to US

From Ireland

Immigrant Judy Bell from Ireland aboard the Ottowa from Liverpool during the Irish famine. She is registered to be 40 years old when she arrived in USA on May 12, 1846. Isabella Bell (4), John Bell, aged 9, Andrew Bell, 25 years old George Bell, Margaret Bell, Eliza Bell, aged 12, Mary Bell, aged 12, 11 years old William Bell, and 560 other Bell around 36.3% of whom were workman while others worked as weaver and servant, gentleman, shoemaker, farmer, carpenter, spinster, mechanic, tailoress, barrel maker/ cooper, miner, dressmaker, wheelright, school master, butcher, servant, mason, clerk, agriculturer, baker, farmers &, laborers migrated to US.

From Italy

2 years old Antonetta Bell who was residing in Italy migrated to Toronto Can on August 27, 1900 by Vincenzo Florio put out from Genoa, Naples & Palermo. Deforest Bell, aged 55, are other Bell that migrated to US.

From Germany

Johann Bell was 45 years old when he migrated to USA on November 12, 1852. He lived in Germany where he worked as butcher and took Oder from Hamburg. F.J. Bell, aged 19, Farmer George Bell, 27 years old Jacob Bell, Katharina Bell (24) Farmer, 34 years old Jacob Bell, Conr. Bell, aged 30, Mechanic Adam Bell, Laborer Friede. Bell, and 223 other Bell around 46.38% of whom were farmer while others worked as mechanic and laborer, servant, shoemaker, tailor, merchant, carpenter, spinster, miner migrated to US from Hamburg, Havre, Bremen and Liverpool.

Bell Namesakes

  • Clive Bell, English art critic
  • Madison Smartt Bell, American novelist
  • Gordon Bell, American electrical engineer and manager
  • Thomas Cowan Bell, was one of the seven founders of Sigma Chi Fraternity
  • Raja Bell, American retired professional basketball player
  • Ingress Bell, (1837–1914{{cite web
  • Benny Bell, American singer-songwriter
  • John Joy Bell, journalist and author
  • Francis Campbell Bell, (May 31, 1892
  • Quentin Bell, English art historian and author
  • Hilari Bell, American fantasy author
  • Paddie Bell, Scottish folk singer and musician, born in Ireland
  • Rachel Bell, English actress
  • Robert E. Bell, archaeologist
  • Adrian Bell, English ruralist journalist and farmer
  • Kenta Bell, American track and field athlete
  • Geoffrey Bell, economist, banker
  • Marvin Bell, American poet and teacher
  • Rob Bell, Bell Jr
  • Thomas Reid Davys Bell, lepidopterist
  • Simon Bell, Scottish session singer based in London
  • Edmond Bell, Of Castle Acre and Beaupre Hall, Norfolk
  • Jeffrey Bell, American writer/producer best
  • J. H. B. Bell, was arguably the leading Scots mountaineer
  • Judy Bell, American amateur golfer and golf administrator
  • John William Bell, farmer and Ontario political figure
  • Hiram Bell, U.S. Representative
  • Chichester Bell, chemist, first cousin of Alexander Graham Bell
  • Idris Bell, British papyrologist and scholar of Welsh literature
  • Doron Bell, Doron Bell Jr
  • Benjamin Bell, of Hunthill FRSE FRCSEd is considered to be the first Scottish scientific surgeon
  • Betty Louise Bell, American author and educator
  • Norma Bell,
  • George T. Bell, former special assistant to President Richard Nixon
  • Jane Bell, Canadian track and field athlete
  • Henry Lawrie Bell, career officer
  • Harold Bell, American marketer and merchandising executive
  • Rudolf Duala Manga Bell, Duala king and resistance leader
  • Mathew Bell, seigneur
  • Roger Charles Bell, Canadian former secondary school teacher and convicted criminal
  • John Stewart Bell, Ulster Scot physicist
  • Eric Temple Bell, Scottish-born mathematician and science fiction writer
  • Daniel Bell, American sociologist, writer, editor
  • Charles Bell, Scottish surgeon, anatomist, physiologist
  • Johann Adam Schall von Bell, German Jesuit and astronomer
  • George Irving Bell, American physicist, biologist and mountaineer
  • Julia Bell, pioneering English human geneticist
  • Shannon Bell, Canadian performance philosopher
  • Ronnie Bell, FRS FRSE {{cite news
  • Walter A. Bell, Canadian geologist
  • Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born Aside
  • Bert Bell, National Football League commissioner
  • Marilyn Bell, Canadian retired long distance swimmer
  • Stuart Bell, British Labour Party politician
  • Joseph Bell, Scottish surgeon and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh
  • Vanessa Bell, English painter and interior designer
  • Brian Bell, American guitarist, singer and songwriter
  • Mary Bell, English woman who, as a child aged 10–11 in 1968
  • Martin Bell, British UNICEF Ambassador
  • Gertrude Bell, English writer, traveller, political officer

Bell Namesakes

  • Clive Bell, English art critic
  • Madison Smartt Bell, American novelist
  • Gordon Bell, American electrical engineer and manager
  • Thomas Cowan Bell, was one of the seven founders of Sigma Chi Fraternity
  • Raja Bell, American retired professional basketball player
  • Ingress Bell, (1837–1914{{cite web
  • Benny Bell, American singer-songwriter
  • John Joy Bell, journalist and author
  • Francis Campbell Bell, (May 31, 1892
  • Quentin Bell, English art historian and author
  • Hilari Bell, American fantasy author
  • Paddie Bell, Scottish folk singer and musician, born in Ireland
  • Rachel Bell, English actress
  • Robert E. Bell, archaeologist
  • Adrian Bell, English ruralist journalist and farmer
  • Kenta Bell, American track and field athlete
  • Geoffrey Bell, economist, banker
  • Marvin Bell, American poet and teacher
  • Rob Bell, Bell Jr
  • Thomas Reid Davys Bell, lepidopterist
  • Simon Bell, Scottish session singer based in London
  • Edmond Bell, Of Castle Acre and Beaupre Hall, Norfolk
  • Jeffrey Bell, American writer/producer best
  • J. H. B. Bell, was arguably the leading Scots mountaineer
  • Judy Bell, American amateur golfer and golf administrator
  • John William Bell, farmer and Ontario political figure
  • Hiram Bell, U.S. Representative
  • Chichester Bell, chemist, first cousin of Alexander Graham Bell
  • Idris Bell, British papyrologist and scholar of Welsh literature
  • Doron Bell, Doron Bell Jr
  • Benjamin Bell, of Hunthill FRSE FRCSEd is considered to be the first Scottish scientific surgeon
  • Betty Louise Bell, American author and educator
  • Norma Bell,
  • George T. Bell, former special assistant to President Richard Nixon
  • Jane Bell, Canadian track and field athlete
  • Henry Lawrie Bell, career officer
  • Harold Bell, American marketer and merchandising executive
  • Rudolf Duala Manga Bell, Duala king and resistance leader
  • Mathew Bell, seigneur
  • Roger Charles Bell, Canadian former secondary school teacher and convicted criminal
  • John Stewart Bell, Ulster Scot physicist
  • Eric Temple Bell, Scottish-born mathematician and science fiction writer
  • Daniel Bell, American sociologist, writer, editor
  • Charles Bell, Scottish surgeon, anatomist, physiologist
  • Johann Adam Schall von Bell, German Jesuit and astronomer
  • George Irving Bell, American physicist, biologist and mountaineer
  • Julia Bell, pioneering English human geneticist
  • Shannon Bell, Canadian performance philosopher
  • Ronnie Bell, FRS FRSE {{cite news
  • Walter A. Bell, Canadian geologist
  • Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-born Aside
  • Bert Bell, National Football League commissioner
  • Marilyn Bell, Canadian retired long distance swimmer
  • Stuart Bell, British Labour Party politician
  • Joseph Bell, Scottish surgeon and lecturer at the medical school of the University of Edinburgh
  • Vanessa Bell, English painter and interior designer
  • Brian Bell, American guitarist, singer and songwriter
  • Mary Bell, English woman who, as a child aged 10–11 in 1968
  • Martin Bell, British UNICEF Ambassador
  • Gertrude Bell, English writer, traveller, political officer

Related Family Names: