Turnbull
A Scottish and English surname meaning “turn the bull,” later linked by legend to a brave deed involving King Robert Bruce.
The #4,267 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,109 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is usually explained as a nickname formed from Middle English turnen, “to turn,” and bull, giving the sense “turn the bull.” Early writers treated it as a vivid byname for courage and strength, and some connected it with the famous Bruce legend in which a man saved King Robert Bruce from a charging bull. That story may have helped popularize the surname’s explanation, but the name itself is best understood as a nickname rather than a true occupational or locational surname.
History
Historical surname books place Turnbull especially in the Scottish Borders, where it became a well-known Border name. Later tradition tied it to a heroic deed for Robert Bruce, and some authors also noted an early bearer serving under David Bruce. The name spread more widely in Britain and beyond, but it remains strongly associated with Scotland.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley noted that Trumble is a corruption of Turnbull, and cited very early medieval spellings such as Tumebull.
From the historical record
“TURLOUGH = Tonlogh, q.v. TURNBULL (Eng.) a nickname of courage and strength, Turn-the-Bull [f. O.E. turnian, to turn -)- 6m;-] The well - known incident of King Robert Bruce being saved from the fury of one of the white bulls in Stirling Park is”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)