My name is Joe Edward Ewell. I am a descendant
of the Ewell's of England, which ancestory runs
deep into English/Irish/Scottish history. When
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invaded
Kent in 1066, many of our Family were subjugated
under his dominant tyrrany. Prior to William's
invasion of Kent, heralds were sent throughout
England proclaiming that an invasion from
Normandy was immenent; these heralds, some of
whom were Ewell's, succeeded in their missions,
as several hundreds, if not thousands, of
English Gentlemen and Lords made mass
immigrations into other countries, away from
the route of invasion. The Ewell Family, at
this time spelled "Ewell", immigrated into
Ireland and Scotland in order to escape the
upcoming Norman invasion. As a result, the
"Ewell" name changed as the English dialects
common to the various lands had their affects
upon the Name's spelling. Over a course of
three to five centuries, the name "EWELL"
gradually evolved into almost uncountless
variations of spellings. The "Ewe" became
"Yo" or "Yu" or "Yow" or "Yoo" or "Yw". The
"Y" emerged into "Yh" or "Hy" or numerous
derivatives of "I-"; atleast on family sirname
emmerged with the spelling "Ai-". The "Y" or
"Yh" or "Hy" became "J-" and "G-" and "H-",
with the rest of the sirname following.
The "Yoell" spelling of the sirname is a
derivation of one the English spellings of
the common name. This spelling derived from
"Youell", without the "-u-", leaving simply
the "Yoell". This evolution of our common
sirname also occured in the name "Hill",
where the "-u-" or "-w-" was ommitted. The
sirname "Yoell" should be traceable back
to between 1250 and 1650 in England, Scotland,
and Ireland, where the "Ewe" became the "Y-".
If anyone named "Yoell" is interested in
delving more deeply into their Family's
origions, please contact me at
yule@swb.net