Darnell

Darnell is the transferred use of a surname with two possible meanings. For one, it could be derived from a place name from the Olde English elements “derne” meaning “hidden” and “halh” meaning “nook” most likely describing a village concealed by natural features of the landscape. Secondly, the surname could have developed from another place name, this time from the Old French word “darnal” (from “darne” meaning “stupefied”). Darnel is basically a noxious weed that disguises itself as wheat; its presence was commonplace in medieval English corn/wheat fields. Also common in the Middle East, darnel is mentioned in a Biblical parable (in the gospel of Matthew) when farmers are told to let the wheat and darnel grow together; separating them at harvest time when the darnel distinguishes itself as a weed different from the wheat, noticeable by its darker seeds (suggesting the difficulty of discerning between good and evil; not to judge until you know for certain). Darnell would have been a surname given to a person who either grew darnel or hailed from a place where darnel was grown (in the Middle Ages darnel was used for medicinal purposes or as a sedative). The French word for darnel is now “ivraie” which is borrowed from the Latin “ebrius” meaning “drunk, intoxicating”. This is because the darnel grass causes symptoms of intoxication, drunkenness, tremors, dizziness, vomiting, stumbling and slurred speech (in large enough quantities, darnel can also cause death). Because of such symptoms, “darnel” was also a common medieval nickname for a dim-witted person. Darnell is actually one of the oldest English surnames in existence.