This unusual surname is likely topographical, that is, it was assumed due to living at a place called Strugnell. Historically it was found throughout southern England and ramified in Hampshire. The topographic origin is very likely Striguil, a castle and lordship in Monmouthshire. This place was sometimes spelt Strignil, Strighill, Strignall, Strogull etc. A minor gentry family of the name Stroughill are found in a visitation of Kent and use multiple variants of Striguil. Their arms were argent, a fesse between six escallops, gulles. These arms were shared with another family: Strogge, Stroggle. An entry in a 1918 edition of Notes & Queries reports a family tradition that the family descend from the lords of Strychuil, a place the author could not locate. It is likely Strychuil is Striguil. Striguil was recorded in the Domesday book as Estrighoiel, which is from the Welsh 'ystre' - border and 'gwyl' - guard. If the above derivation is correct, as seems likely, in the context of a surname it means 'descendant of one from the border guard.' The Strugnells could be descendants of the Lords of Striguil (later Earls of Pembroke,) or a seperate family who hailed from Striguil.

• 1176. Richardus, count of Strigul: Memoriale fratris Walteri de Coventria
• 1189. William de Strigvil (William Marshal Earl of Strigvil): A True and Exact History of the Succession of the Crown of England
• 1189. Ricardi de Striguil: Memoriale fratris Walteri de Coventria
• 1230. Maurice de Strigul: History of the City of Dublin
• 1243. William Strugnil, Wiltshire: Abstracts of Wiltshire Inquisitiones Post Mortem
• 1291. John de Strogoil (London): Calendar of Letter-books
• 1293. Hervey de Strogoyl (Staffordshire): Collections for a history of Staffordshire
• 1308. William de Strogoil (London): Calendar of the Patent Rolls
• c. 1330. Friar Henry de Strogoil, of Warwick: Transactions of the Birmingham & Midlands Institute
• 1373. John Strugenale, reeve: Account Roll of Droxford Manor, Hants.
• 1375. Herbertus de Strigul: Dublin Roll of Names
• 1402. John Strogull, parson of Alborne, Sussex: Patent Rolls
• 1514. Thomas Strugnell, collector of rents: Account Roll of Droxford Manor
• 1637. 'William C Mareschall with the sword of the Earldome of Strigulia': Camden's Britain
• 1749. John Strugnall, of Mercer's Street, Westminster, carpenter: Westminster Poll
• 1761. Richard Strugnel, of Portsmouth, gent: Release and Quitclaim
• 1767. Richard Strognall, of Southwick, Hampshire, husbandman: Hampshire
wills
• 1767. John Strugnal, of West Harnham, Wilts, apprentice papermaker: Exeter Working Papers in Book History