Reveal, Revell, Revill
Introduction
Revels in France
Some members of the Revel family can trace their ancestors back to French origin, and first appeared in ancient medieval records in Languedoc between the 11th and 12th centuries. The medieval town of Revel is built symmetrically around the central market place, the roof of which is a masterpiece of 14th century local craftsmanship, supported by a forest of wooden pillars. Surrounding the market square are fine 17th and 18th century houses with beautiful arcades at street level.
The following is an extract
which may prove relevant at a later date:
The Revell family is thought to have originated in Dauphine, France (southeastern France).
There are two towns between Lyon and Grenoble called Revel that are possible candidates. However, there is a
town called Revel in southwestern France, which some claim is the source of the family, but this is
undocumented. It is a rather dull furniture-producing city about half way from Toulouse to Carcassonne. According to
WRR, the Revells (the e was added in the late 19th century) were French Huguenots who fled France after the fall of La
Rochelle in 1628. Given the proximity of Toulouse to La Rochelle, this seems a logical candidate, but the other two
towns are as well. (There is also a town near Amiens north of Paris that is named Revelles. Thus,
a quick tour of Mapquest suggests that there are at least 4 candidate towns in France.) Robert Bennett Beau, The
Peopling of Virginia , 1935, discusses the Huguenot colony at Mannakin town (above Richmond) and goes on to mention
the Revell family (page 8) as one of that group. By 1662, Torrence is showing Randall Revell to be a member of the
Church of England.
According to WRR, Randall Revell was born in 1606 (DJR and Torrence show this as 1613 and I think that they are probably correct) and fought at La Rochelle in 1628. He emigrated to Bristol in 1629 with his father and mother and married an English girl, "the beautiful Rebecca." They then emigrated to Maryland in 1636.
A Medaeval Map of Industry shows the Wine region from Carcassonne to Avignon.
With reference to Amiens mentioned in the above extract - I have found reference to:
An order to allow to Godkin de Revle, merchant of Almain, out of the next customs on his wool,
hides and wool-fells sent out of the realm by him from that port £172 11s, 4d. due to him from the king for a loan in the
1st year of his reign.
Date: Oct 1328 Close Rolls
Having seen Rivelin, Sheffield, referred to as Rivelling , and have seen the surname Rivell - is this a connection, bearing in mind the origin of surnames.. In Sheffield there is a Revel Grange , which was referred to in the 1500's.
Master of the Revels - an English court official from the late 15th to early 18th centuries responsible to the Lord Chamberlain for overseeing and paying for court entertainments
The York Minster Library/York Archaelogical Trust holds 302 records of people named:
- De Riuill
- De Rivall
- De Riville
- Reuel
- Reuell
- Revel
- Revell
- Rieuel
- Riuill
- Rivall
- Rivell
- Riville
- Ryuel
- Ryvell
The records are from as early as 1196 to the late 1700's. The vast majority of records are from Manorial Records, Court Baron Records and Manor Court Rolls relating to Sheffield.
Worthy of mention
Peter de Rivall was Sherriff of Yorkshire, in 1232
John Rivall Duchy of Lancaster, 1330.
All the information I have is online. I am pleased to receive e-mail with information, but I am sorry, I do not have the time to research for you.I will put your Revill details on site - if the information is verified !
©2004
