Russell

Russell is an English surname-turned-given name derived from the Old French word rossel, meaning red or red-haired, itself rooted in the Latin russus, referring to a reddish color. It was originally a Norman nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion, brought to Britain after the Conquest and eventually adopted as a hereditary family name by the powerful de Rosel family. Its widespread use as a given name in the English-speaking world was partly influenced by the prominence of the Russell noble family and figures such as the philosopher Bertrand Russell. Related forms include Roussell and the short form Russ.