An interesting and unusual name of Norman French origin and a dialectal variant of Darell, this is a locational surname from Airel, in La Manche, Normandy. The derivation is from the Latin "Arealis", an open space or courtyard, originally a derivative of the word "area" a thrashing floor. In the modern idiom, the variant include Darrell, Dorel and Dayrel(l). The surname is recorded in the New World in the 17th Century when it is attested that a William Dorrell aged 18, sailed to Virginia aboard the "Truelove" and is in "The Muster" of the Governors men at Pasbehaighs". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas de Arel, which was dated 1166, Curia Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Henry II, "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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