Bell Coat of Arms & Family Crest
Where the Bell name began, what it means, and how Herald Lab researches a Bell coat of arms.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Bell coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Bell name
Bell is an English surname with several origins: a nickname for a handsome man, from Old French bel, "beautiful"; a metonymic name for a bell-ringer or bell-founder; or a habitational name from places called Bell. It is common across northern England and Scotland and later throughout the English-speaking world.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Bell name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Bell name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Scotland and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Bell family history
Your full Bell pack adds the researched history, early records and migration, with your painted coat of arms ready to print.
Bell name FAQ
What does the Bell name mean?
Bell; handsome. Common variants include Belle, Beall, Bellman.
Where does the Bell surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and Australia.
Is there a Bell coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Bell crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Bell coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); US Census Bureau 2010.