Though pronounced Odle not O-dell by the family, this is, or was, frequently written O'Dell as if it were a Gaelic name, especially in the eighteenth century though the Gaelic order was then at its lowest ebb; but in fact it was rather a Catholic than a Gaelic submergence, for those Gaelic families which had accepted Protestantism were not ashamed of their Gaelic origin, so perhaps the gaelicization of the English name Odell is understandable in Ireland. It has been chiefly connected with Co. Limerick.

According to their own family record the senior branch (now seated at Kilcleagh, Moate, Co. Westmeath) obtained their extensive estates in Co. Limerick by a patent of 1667. There were, however, people of the name, presumably relatives, well established in Co. Limerick some time before that: apart from army officers, we find in the 1659 “census” John Odell, gent, resident at Pallice (parish of Ballingarry), and Edward O'Dell, gent, near Askeaton. The former was one of the Inquisition jurors for the barony of Connello in 1654-of the 46 jurors named for that barony only six are not of old Limerick Gaelic or Norman families. This man's name is also spelt Odle. He was among the gentlemen appointed as officers to lead the militia to be raised in Co. Limerick in 1659 and later he was High Sheriff of Limerick in 1677 and 1679. References to the name are numerous in eighteenth century records, chiefly in Co. Limerick; but a number of wills in the Waterford diocesan archives show a connexion with that part of Munster, while the Kenmare rentals indicate that Odells were strong farmers in Kerry also.

(English) belonging to Odell (Beds), formerly Wodhull = the Wood-Hill [Middle English wode, Old English wudu + Middle English hull, Old English hyll] Odell Castle . . . is situated on an eminence in the midst of well-wooded grounds.—Nat. Gaz.

(Anglo-French-Teut.) a diminutive from Odo, Ode: v. under Oddie, etc. [French diminutive suff. -el]

An English name, formerly Odle and quite incorrectly written O’Dell, connected with Co. Limerick since the mid-seventeenth century. SIF 121

(English) One who came from Odell (wood hill), in Bedfordshire. The place was also called Woodhill.

ODELL: A parish in Bedfordshire, the seat of an ancient barony, written Wodhull, and by Norman corruption Wahul. The great Domesday baron known as Walter Flandrensis, from his being a Fleming, held it, and his posterity were called De Wahul Though not summoned to Parliament after Edw. I,, they retained the title of Lords Wahul, until the extinction of the male line by the death of Anthony Wodehull, temp. Henry VIII.

Or Woodhall, a baronial family. See Dugdale, and Banks, Dorm. and Ext. Peerage. The family was Flemish, and derived from the Castellans of Cambray, of whom Walter is mentioned by Baldric of Noyon, in his Chronicle, as Lord of the Castle of Lens, c. 950. Walter II., his son, was constituted hereditary Castellan of Cambray soon after, who had issue: 1. Walter. 2. Sicher, Bishop of Cambray. 3. Ada de Cambray, who m. the Baron of Oissy, and had issueWalter III., Castellan of Cambray 1049. Hugh I., son of Walter, had issue Hugh II., Viscount of Meaux, living 1096, and Fastre D’Oissy, Advocate of Tournay 1098, ancestor of the great house of Avesne (Des Bois, Dict. de la Noblesse). Walter Flandrensis or De Cambray, a younger brother, came to England 1066, and 10S6 held a great barony in Bedford, Bucks, &c., of which Woodhall or Wahul was the chief seat, and from him descended the barons Wahull, by writ, 1205 (see Dugdale, Banks). This family bore three crescents for their arms, the house of Cambray bearing one crescent. From a branch, seated in York, derives the family of Wentworth.

Or Odehall (English), Old house?

A location name in Buckinghamshire.

Odell: Odell is the name of a Bedfordshire parish, the seat of the ancient barony of Wodhull or Wahull, and, in fact, the parish is also called Woodhill. As a surname it has long been known in the county. There was a family of the name in Stagsden in the 17th century, and W. Oddell was a parishioner of Turvey in the reign of Anne (H.). Stephen Odell was a Bedford gentleman who, in 1788, gave his estate in Goldington, with his house and premises in Mill Lane, Bedford, for the benefit of the minister of the Old Meeting and the poor of the congregation (M.).