This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Abel.' Much more popular in mediaeval society than in that of the 19th century. Among the peasantry, however, Abel still receives a certain amount of attention as a font-name.

Richard Abel, Buckinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Abel le Specer. Derbyshire, ibid.

Henry Abel, Nottinghamshire, ibid.

Allan Abel, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Abel le Orfeure. Excerpta e Rotulis Finium in Turri Londinensi.

Richard Abel, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

1578. George Abell, Derbyshire: Register of the University of Oxford.

1623. Richard Abelson and Ellen Brocke: Marriage Lic. (Westminster).

1714. William Abell, patron of Brampton, Norfolk: History of Norfolk.

This was a not uncommon personal name in the Middle Ages, derived from the Biblical Abel, Hebrew Hebhel, a name of uncertain meaning, but usually interpreted "breath." Master Abell, clericus regis, was one of the members of a mission sent to England to ask restoration of the earl dom of Huntingdon in 1237 (Bain, I, 1329). He also appears in documents concerning the Abbey of Kelso in 1235 (Kelso, 231,418), and in 1253 "valuing his own promotion more than the honour of the king or kingdom caused himself to be consecrated bishop by the pope" (Chron. Mail.). Nicholas Abel, a Scottish master mariner, was wrecked on the coast of Norfolk in 1388 (Bain, tv, 381), Thomas Abel or Abell appears as burgess of Edinburgh in 1387 and 1413 (Egidii, p. 23; Neubotle, p. 237), and John Abell held land in Aberdeen in 1413 (BMS., I, 943). Robert Abell, chaplain in Brechin, is mentioned in 1512 (RSS., 2440), and William Abel was tenant of Racharral, Kemnay, in 1696 (AEI., p. 23). The name occurs in Dundee towards the latter end of the sixteenth century as Abell, and is found in the parish of Kemnay in 1697 as Ebald (Inverurie, p. 426). Thomas Abell was a burgess of Edinburgh in 1430 (Neubotle, p. 280), and a John Abell is there also in 1635 (Edinb. Marr.). The kindred of John Abell, a celebrated Scottish singer of the reign of Charles II were later known by the name of Eball (Illus., I, p. 57—58). Abill 1633.

For Abel, q.v.

From the personal name. It frequently occurs temp. Edwd. I. in the same forms.

(Hebrew.) Vanity, breath.

Abell has long been a Leicestershire name. John Abel resided at Staunton Harold in the reign of Edward III.; John Abell was rector of Newbold Verdun in the time of Elizabeth; John Abell of Desford, owned 30 acres of Leicester forest in the reign of Charles I.; Matthew Abell held part of the manor of Manceter in the reign of George I. (N.). Ann Abell, aged 21, was buried at Sutton Chaynell in 1784 (B.). This name is also established in the neighbouring county of Derby. In the 13th century it occurred as Abel in Beds, Bucks, Wilts, and Cambridgeshire (H. R.). The Abells of Fordham and West Bergholt, Essex, from the 14th to the 16th century, obtained their wealth in the cloth trade (Morant's "Essex").