Lovell
A surname of medieval nickname and pet-form origin, ultimately linked to “wolf” through old French and Latin forms.
The #1,700 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 14,583 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Lovell is generally treated as a reduced or softened form of medieval French names built on Latin lupus, meaning “wolf.” In the historical surname record, it is linked with forms such as Loup, Lupellus, and Louvel, all pointing to the same animal-root idea. Another line of explanation connects it with a diminutive of Love, but the older onomastic tradition strongly favors the wolf-based derivation.
History
The surname appears in medieval England and became established in several spellings, including Lovel, Louvel, and Lovell. It was common enough by the 19th century to attract multiple heraldic coats in older reference works, and it remained well represented in England and later in the United States. Some writers also associate the name with the famous medieval family of Lovel, helping fix it in historical memory.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
An old satirical rhyme grouped “the Rat, the Cat, and Lovell” as rulers of England under the hog, referring to powerful courtiers in Richard II’s reign.
From the historical record
“Ratcliffe, and Lovel) : "The Ratie, the CoUr- and Lovell, oar Rule hO England nodci the Hogee." ' (Lower, ibid, p, aoo). It is curious to notice that Wolf was used both as fontal name and nickname at”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances