This surname is derived from a nickname. ' Russell, 'the diminutive of Rous, a sobriquet for one with hair or complexion of a reddish brown. Just as Old French brun, brown, took two dims, bumett and bumtt, so rous, reddish brown, took two dims, russet and russell. From nicknames these became hereditary surnames, and are all in existence to-day except Russet. The fox from his colour was called Russel.

'Dan Bumel the asse.' - Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales.

'Dan Russel the fox.' -. ibid.

Miriel Russell, Huntingdonshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Simon Russel, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Elyas Russell, London, ibid.

Johannes Russell, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Robertus Russell, 1379: ibid.

Endless instances might be furnished of this familiar nickname; v. Rous.

As this name in Scots occurs twice with 'dictus' and never with 'de' it is most probably a diminutive of rous, 'red,' (compare Dauzot, p. 95). Chaucer (Nonne Prestes Tale) calls the fox 'Daun Russel' alluding to his reddish color. Walter Russell witnessed a charter by Walter filius Alani to the Abbey of Paisley, c 1164-77 (RMP., p. 87). John, son of Robert Russel of Doncanlaw, granted these lands to the Hospital of Soltre in pure and perpetual alms between 1180-1220 (Solire, p. 5). Robert Russel witnessed a composition anent the lands of Threpland, 1259 (REA., I, p. 27), and another Robert Russel of Rerwickshire rendered homage in 1296 (Bain. II, p. 207). Andreas dictus Russell was bailie of Aberdeen, 1310 (REA., I, p. 40), William dictus Russelle is mentioned, c. 1320 (RMS., I, 26), Adam Rossel was received to the king of England's peace in 1321 (Bain, m. 724), and William Russell was tenant in the vill of Dalfubill, 1376 (RHM., I, p. lvii). Jerome Russell, a Greyfriar, was burned at the stake in 1539 for heresy along with John Kennedy in the High street of Glasgow. Rossell 1528, Rousel c. 1250, Rusel 1514, Russale L537, Russall 1513, Russaule 1529, Rwsall 1521.

( Anglo-French-Latin ) the Red, Red-Haired [Anglo-French russel(l, Old Frenchroussel: v. under Russ, Rous, and + the French diminutive suff. -el: cp. French rousseau, m., rousselle, from, red-haired] Both Russel and Russell occur in the 13th-cent. Hundred-Rolls.

Russel(l was an old name for the fox, from its colour— And Daun Russell, the fox, stirte up at ones.—Chaucer, Cant. Tales, B 4524.

The Russells, and the Fresells [Frasers] fre.—Thomas of Ersyldoune, ii. 24.

The Duke of Bedford claims from the lords of Rosel, an ancient fief in the neighbourhood of Cherbourg in Normandy, who were a younger branch of the barons of Briquebec. Hugh de Rosel, a benefactor of the abbey of Caen, "accompanied the Conqueror to England, and was rewarded with possessions in co. Dorset, the principal of which were Kingston, afterwards called Kingston-Russell and Berwick, the latter of which is still in possession of the family." Parry's Hist, of Woburn, p. 66.

(French.) Red—haired, somewhat reddish; carrot—color.

Russell. —With the exception of the Russells of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire, this name is confined to the southern half of England. Its principal centres are in the south - east quarter of the country, especially in Cambridgeshire, Kent, Sussex, and also in Hants. In the 13th century this was a very common surname, being numerous in Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Hunts, and also well represented in Shropshire, Wilts, Gloucestershire, Devon, and Lincolnshire (Hundred Rolls). Lower and Bardsley speak of this name as originally borne by persons having a red (fair) complexion. However, it is not improbable that the Russells of Dorset, Somerset, and Hants may derive their name from Hugh de Rosel, who came over with the Conqueror, and was granted possessions in Dorset (Lower). Russell is a common name over a large part of Scotland, except in the north.