Histories

Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia)

Sunday, January 11, 1981

 

NORVELL, NORVAL(L) – In Scotland, these names were assumed to be a shortened form of the French places called Normansville, found in the Departments of Eure and Seine-Marne. The meaning is “village of the Normans.” There are also two places in France called Normanville and La Norville, one in the Department of Seine-Marne and the other in Seine-et-Oise, both meaning “Nardo’s ville.” These two places could also form the surnames.

 

In Scotland, John de Normanville held land in Roxburyshire in the period 1190-1220. Robert de Normanville of Sterlingshire rendered homage to the English crown in 1296 and had his estates restored to his control. Several other of the same name were also forced to render homage to the crown. Descendants of Robert became barons of Gargunnock, Sterlingshire, and shortened their name to Norval. Robert Norvyle held land in Sterlingshire in 1370. John Norvaile and George Norvil were noted in Sterling in 1471. William Norwell, a merchant in Sterling in 1549, may be the William Norvel who was treasurer of Sterling in 1561 and the William Norwell who represented Sterling in the Scottish parliament in 1568-80.

 

There is also an English surname Norwell acquired from once having lived at a place in Nottinghamshire spelled Northwell in 1086 and Norwell in 1167, meaning “north well.”

 

Burke’s General Armory describes the Scottish arms of the Norvel or Normanville, the Norvill or the Norvyle families.

 

Virginia land records note a Sa. Norville and a Susan Norvill in Nansemond County in 1664. Their relationship is not known.

 

Lt. Lipscomb Norvell served in the American Revolutionary Army.