{{for|the island of California formerly known as Bethell|Bethel Island, California}} '''Bethell''' is an English surname, from a medieval diminutive of the personal name Beth, which in turn is derived from Elizabeth. It can also be a Welsh surname, from the given name Ithael. It has variations Bithell and Bythell.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Hanks |editor1-first=Patrick |editor2-last=Hodges |editor2-first=Flavia |editor3-last=Mils |editor3-first=A. D. |editor4-last=Room |editor4-first=Adrian |editor1-link=Patrick Hanks |editor4-link=Adrian Room |title=The Oxford names companion |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford Univ. Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0198605617 |page=64}}</ref> Notable people with the surname include:
*Alexander Bethell (1855–1932), Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth *Anna Bethell (1882–1969), English actress, singer and stage director *Bob Bethell (1942–2012), Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 113th district *Christopher Bethell (1773–1859), Bishop of Bangor *Ernest Bethell (1872–1909), British journalist who worked in Korea under Japanese rule *George Bethell (1849–1919), Royal Navy officer and Conservative politician *Hugh Bethell (died 1679) (1615–1679), English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679 *Jacob Bethell (born 2003) English cricketer *John Bethell, 1st Baron Bethell (1861–1945), British banker and Liberal politician *James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell (born 1967), British Conservative politician *Keppel Bethell, Major-General in the First World War *Lauran Bethell (21st century), American Baptist missionary *Leonard Arthur Bethell (1879–1950), Lieutenant Colonel in Gurkha regiments in North East India, author, member of the Younghusband expedition to Tibet, 1904 *Leslie Bethell (born 1937), English historian, university professor, and Brazilianist *Marie Bethell Beauclerc (1845–1897), pioneer in the teaching of Pitman's shorthand and typing in Birmingham, England *Nicholas Bethell, 4th Baron Bethell (1938–2007), British historian of Central and Eastern Europe *Ray Bethell, professional kite flyer in Vancouver, Canada *Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury (1800–1873), Lord Chancellor of Great Britain *Richard Bethell (1772–1864), British Tory and then Conservative Party politician from Rise, Yorkshire *Roy Bethell (1906–1976), English footballer *Tabrett Bethell (born {{circa|1982}}), Australian model and actress *Tom Bethell (1936–2021), journalist who writes mainly on economic and scientific issues *Tony Bethell (1922–2004), RAF pilot and participant in the "Great Escape" *Ursula Bethell (1874–1945), New Zealand poet *Ursula Bethell, Baroness Westbury (1924–2023), British peeress and superintendent-in-chief of St John Ambulance *Zachary Bethell (died 1635), royal servant
==See also== *Te Henga (Bethells Beach), New Zealand *Bethells Bridge, swing bridge across the Driffield Navigation in Yorkshire, England *Bethell's Island, Bermuda *Bethel (disambiguation) *Vernon v Bethell (1762), English property law case
==References== {{reflist}}
{{surname|Bethell}}
Category:English-language surnames