Frizzell
A surname of uncertain origin, likely a nickname form built from a word for frizzled or curly hair.
The #5,907 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 52,867 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This name is usually explained as a nickname surname, probably from a word meaning frizzled, curled, or tangled, applied to someone with curly hair or a tousled appearance. The ending -ell may reflect a diminutive or surname-forming addition, giving a sense like “little frizzled one.” The exact pathway is not fully secure, and historical spellings vary.
History
The surname appears in historical records in several spellings, including Frizzell, Frizzle, and Frizwell. The evidence from the cited 19th- and early-20th-century sources is incidental rather than a full dictionary entry, so the derivation should be treated cautiously. In modern usage it is uncommon but established in English-speaking countries, including the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Old surname collections often group Frizzell with other nicknames based on personal appearance or temperament, which is why it turns up beside names like Moody and Quirk.
From the historical record
“Killoolev. Frizzell. 671 GARA.”
— Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland