The Tyrrell surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,788 people carried this name — #5,948 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 51,000 people counted. That is up 1% from 5,734 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Tyrrell surname

Perhaps from a Norman nickname for a stubborn person, from Old French tirel (“an animal which pulls on the reins”), a derivative of tirer (“to pull”). Woulfe suggests that it may be from the personal name Thurold or Þorvaldr, from Old Norse Þórr (“Thor”) + valdr (“rule”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Tyrrell» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley explains it as ‘the son of Turold’.

An early record he cites: Henry Tyrel, Devon, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Terrell, Tyrrell, Tirrell and Terrill.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 742 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 30 births for the Tyrrell name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 3 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Leinster 25
Ulster 3
Connacht 1
Munster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 39 people named Tyrrell live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 27
City of Buenos Aires 12

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Tyrrell was found among the farmers of Berkshire: 18 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Berkshire 18

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Tyrrell was counted together with Turrel: 133 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 773 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Turrel, Terral, Terrall, Terrel, Terrell, Terril, Terrill, Terrol, Tirrel, Tirrell, Turell, Turrell, Turril, Turrill, Tyrel, Tyrell, Tyrrall, Tyrrel, Tyrrell, Tyrrill. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Connecticut 41
Massachusetts 31
Virginia 14
North Carolina 13
New York 9
South Carolina 9
New Hampshire 8
Vermont 4
Maine 2
Pennsylvania 1
Maryland 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 266 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Tyrrell in American newspapers,
1874–1906.

Newspaper page from Rosebud County News carrying the name Tyrrell
Rosebud County News 1906-01-04
Newspaper page from The Philipsburg Mail carrying the name Tyrrell
The Philipsburg Mail 1895-03-14
Newspaper page from The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger carrying the name Tyrrell
The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger 1874-08-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 52,544 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Tyrrell in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

20,219 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Tyrrell. The most, 4,130, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 7,841
Queensland 4,164
Victoria 4,125
Western Australia 1,848
South Australia 1,187
Tasmania 782
ACT (Canberra) 213
Northern Territory 16

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Tyrrell.

Who carried it

People named Tyrrell,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Frances Susanna Cooper d. 1876
  • Sir John Tyrrell d. 1591
  • Christobella Tyrrell d. 1789
  • Edward Tyrrell d. 1713 · priest
  • Patrick Tyrrell d. 1692 · Catholic priest
  • Elizabeth, Lady Darcy 1436–1507

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Tyrrell,
in the records of 6 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,142 records

1,142 records of the Tyrrell name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 408
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 217
  • Other U.S. records 517
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Claude M. Tyrrell

    Born 1913 in Indiana. Enlisted 1943 at Indianapolis; auto mechanic from Morgan County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Liberty Christian Church, Martinsville, Indiana.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Anne Tyrrell

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 18; servant. From Roscommon, Ireland; bound for Washington.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Paul E. Tyrrell

    Born 1930; from Middlesex County, Massachusetts. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1950 in South Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,142 records for Tyrrell in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia681 records

681 records of the Tyrrell name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 250
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 216
  • Other Australian records 215
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Tyrrell

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Martin Luther, sailing from Dublin in 1852. Native of Clare. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854. Married 1854 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 50.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record James Thomas Tyrrell

    Died 1917 in France, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1917.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Michael Tyrrell

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1853. Married 1853 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 37.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 681 records for Tyrrell in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Canada32 records

32 records of the Tyrrell name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 18
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 5
  • Other Canadian records 9
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Fred'k Tyrrell

    Came to Ontario in 1871 aboard the Scan, bound for LimeHouse, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Lawrence West Tyrrell

    Buried in 1989 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 85.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Whilena Marie Tyrrell

    Died 1936 in Parrsboro, Cumberland, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 32 records for Tyrrell in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom24 records

24 records of the Tyrrell name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 22
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 1
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Samuel Tyrrell

    Will proved in 1930; of Menai Bridge, Anglesey.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record G. Tyrrell

    London Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record C. H. Tyrrell

    Royal Berkshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Tyrrell in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand10 records

10 records of the Tyrrell name in New Zealand
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 5
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 3
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Doreen May Tyrrell

    Died 2000, aged 62; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ena Florence Tyrrell

    Died 1954, aged 45; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Edward Harry Tyrrell

    Died 1961; buried at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 10 records for Tyrrell in New Zealand.

Counts: Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands4 records

4 records of the Tyrrell name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 2
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record James Tyrrell

    Died 1927 in Rotterdam, aged 65.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Charles Dennis Tyrrell

    Married in 1918 in 's-Gravenhage.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Charles Dennis Tyrrell

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage; born in Norwich.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 4 records for Tyrrell in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Tyrrell.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Tyrrell is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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