Looking for the meaning of the surname Bagnall?

Question

Through family history research, we have found that the name has Viking origins, I have also been told that the original name is Bagenholt, but I'm uncertain of the correct spelling of Bagenholt.

Answer 1

The earliest reference I can find is the from the 13th century (from the Assize Rolls of Stafford) and it appears to be a locative (i.e. based on place) byname from the village of Bagnall in Staffordshire, in the West Midlands of England.

The village did not exist at the time of the Domesday Book (1186), but later records show an Adam de Stanleigh (who was born 38 years later) owned a Manor called "Bagnall".

The name does not appear to be Norse ("viking"), but rather Anglo-Saxon: derived either from "Badeca's Halgh" or "Bacga's Holt." Badeca and Bacga are both Anglo-Saxon men's names, and "halgh" means "nook" or "valley" and "holt" means "woodlot". Both derivations are possible, as the area is wooded with lots of small valleys. Also, a Norse derivation is unlikely as Bagnall is outside of the Danelaw - area of England that was controlled by the Norse in medieval times.

Possible alternate spellings of the original name include:
Bacgaholt, Bacgahalh, Badecaholt, or Badecahalh

Alternate spellings of the Manor include:
Bagnhall

Alternate spellings of the village name include:
Baggenhall, Baginholt, Badegenhall, and Bagenholt.

Alternate spellings of the surname include:
Bagnall, Bagnell, Bagnold, Bagenal, de Bagenholt, Bagenelle, and Bagnald

There is also a Bagenalstown (aka Muinebeag) in County Carlow in Ireland. This is in an area that was once Hibero-Norse (aka vikings who settled in Ireland), but the name does not date from that period. The town was only founded in the 18th century and named for Lord Walter Bagenal, a decendant of Sir Henry Bagnall/Bagenall (spellings weren't fixed in those days), the 16th century Marshall of Ireland, who was actually born in Staffordshire and who's family name was taken from the Manor at Bagnall.

Answer 2

Appears to be originally a placename (mentioned in the Domesday book), later adopted as a surname:
http://www.bagnallvillage.com/Pages/Placename.htm