# Bell (surname)

Bell is a surname common in English speaking countries with several word-origins.
The surname is derived from the Middle English bell. This surname likely originated as an occupational name for a bell ringer or bell maker; or else from a topographic name for someone who lived by an actual bell, or by a house sign or inn sign. In other cases, the surname Bell is derived from the mediaeval personal name Bel. The masculine form of this personal name is derived from the Old French beu, bel ("handsome"); the feminine form of the name represents a short form of Isobel. In some cases, the surname originates from a nickname, or descriptive name, derived from the Old French bel ("beautiful", "fair"). In some cases, the surname is derived from placenames in Norway (Bell) and Germany (Bell in Rhineland; and possibly Belle, in Westphalia). The surname Bell is also sometimes an Anglicized form of the German Böhl or Böll.
Early attested forms of the surname when of a patronymic origin include: Ailuuardus "filius Belli", in 1086; Ricardus "filius Bell", in 1279; and Osbertus "filius Belle", in 1297. Early attested forms of the surname, when originating from an occupational name include: Seaman "Belle", in 1181–1187; and Serlo "Belle", in 1190. An early attested form of the surname when originating from someone who lived near a sign of a bell is: John "atte Belle", in 1332. Early attested forms of the surname when originating from nickname include: Hugo "bel" in 1148; and Robertus "bellus", and Robert "le bel", both in 1186–1200. Today the surname Bell can be found in many parts of the world. It is the 67th most popular surname in the United States and the 36th most common surname in Scotland.
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## A

* Aaron Bell (musician) (1922–2003), American musician
* Aaron Bell (politician) (born 1980), British Conservative politician
* Acton Bell, pseudonym of Anne Brontë
* Adino Nye Bell (1866–1956), American politician
* Adolphus Bell (1944–2013), American musician
* Adrian Bell (1901–1980), English journalist and farmer; father of Martin Bell
* Al Bell (born 1940), American musical artist and executive
* Alden John Bell (1904–1982), Roman Catholic bishop
* Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922), Scottish-Canadian-American inventor, teacher, engineer, and scientist, son of Alexander Melville Bell
* Alexander Melville Bell (1819–1905), Scottish-American philologist, researcher and teacher, father of Alexander Graham Bell
* Alexandra Bell (artist) (born 1983), American artist
* Alexandra Bell (athlete) (born 1992), British middle-distance runner
* Alison Bell (disambiguation), 7 people including
** Alison Bell (actress) (born 1978), Australian actress
** Alison Bell (journalist) (born 1966), English journalist and radio presenter
* Allan Bell (born 1947), Manx politician, Chief Minister of the Isle of Man
* Allan Bell (sociolinguist) (born 1947), New Zealand sociolinguist
* Allan Gordon Bell (born 1953), Canadian contemporary classical composer
* Alphonzo E. Bell Sr. (1875–1947), American oil millionaire; father of Alphonzo E. Bell Jr.
* Alphonzo E. Bell Jr. (1914–2004), American politician
* Amanda Bell (born 1988), American Mixed Martial Artist
* Amari'i Bell (born 1994), footballer
* Amir Bell (born 1996), American basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
* Andi Bell (born 1972), British Memory champion
* Andrew Bell (disambiguation), 9 people, including:
** Andrew Bell (engraver) (1726–1809), Scottish co-founder of the Encyclopædia Britannica
** Andrew Bell (educationalist) (1753–1832), Scottish pioneer of mutual instruction and author of the Madras System of Education
** Andrew Bell (judge) (born 1966), Australian judge
* Andy Bell (disambiguation), 9 people, including:
** Andy Bell (freestyle motocross rider) (born 1975), freestyle motocross rider
** Andy Bell (musician) (born 1970), guitarist with Ride, Hurricane #1 and bassist with Oasis
** Andy Bell (singer) (born 1964), singer with synth pop band Erasure
* Angellica Bell (born 1976), English television and radio presenter
* Anthea Bell (1936–2018), English translator of literary works including Asterix
* Anthony Bell (American football) (born 1964), Retired American gridiron football player
* Anthony Bell (director) (born 1970), American animator, film director and screenwriter
* Aran Bell (born 1998) American ballet dancer
* Archie Bell (singer) (born 1944), American musician
* Arthur Bell (disambiguation), 11 people, including:
** Art Bell (1945–2018), American broadcaster and author
** Arthur Hornbui Bell (1891–1973), Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey
** Arthur Bell (engineer) (1856–1943), New Zealand engineer
** Arthur Bell (journalist) (1939–1984), American journalist, author and LGBT rights activist