The Russell Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Russell, its origins in England, and the story behind a Russell family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Russell coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Russell name
Russell comes from Anglo-Norman French Rousel, a diminutive of rous, "red", a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy face. It was established in England soon after the Norman Conquest and later in Scotland. Russell is widespread across England and is one of the commoner surnames in the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Russell name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Russell name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Scotland and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Russell family history
The complete Russell pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Russell name FAQ
What does the Russell name mean?
Little red one. Common variants include Russel, Rousell, Rowsell.
Where does the Russell surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Scotland and Australia.
Is there a Russell coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Russell crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Russell coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); US Census Bureau 2010.