Cecils

Cecils is the plural form of the given name Cecil and, less commonly, the plural form of the surname Cecil. In ordinary usage, Cecils refers to multiple people who share the first name Cecil or who belong to a family bearing the surname Cecil.

Origins and usage: The given name Cecil derives from Latin Caecilius, itself from caecus meaning blind. In English, Cecil has been used since medieval times and has given rise to surname forms such as Cecil, with Cecils appearing as a plural in references to several individuals bearing the name or belonging to a Cecil family.

Historical context: The Cecil family is an English aristocratic lineage prominent from the Tudor period onward. Members include William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, and his son Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. In historical writing, “the Cecils” may refer collectively to members of this family.

Notable people named Cecil: The given name has been borne by many notable figures, such as Cecil Rhodes, Cecil B. DeMille, Cecil Day-Lewis, Cecil Taylor, and Cecil Sharp. These examples illustrate the name’s broad use in English-speaking countries.

Other uses: There are no major geographic or organizational uses widely recognized under the plural form Cecils. The term largely functions as a linguistic plural rather than a distinct proper noun with independent meaning beyond its usage to refer to multiple Cedils.