Orville

Orville is a masculine given name that is also used as a surname in some cases. The name is of French origin, deriving from a place-name in Normandy that entered English usage in the 19th century. It has been borne by various notable individuals and appears in several place names in the United States.

Notable people with the name include Orville Wright (1867–1912), one of the Wright brothers and a pioneer of powered flight; his work helped establish the feasibility of controlled, sustained flight. Orville Redenbacher (1907–1995) was an American businessman who built a well-known popcorn brand. Orville Burrell (born 1967) is the Jamaican-American musician better known as Shaggy, renowned for his reggae-influenced pop hits. These figures helped keep the name in public visibility across different fields.

In popular culture, The Orville is a science fiction television series created by Seth MacFarlane. It debuted in 2017 on Fox and subsequently streamed on Hulu. The show blends space exploration with comedy-drama and pays homage to Star Trek. It centers on the crew of the starship U.S.S. Orville and the challenges of life aboard a mid-level exploration vessel in the not-too-distant future.

Geography and other uses: There are several small communities in the United States named Orville, reflecting its usage as a place-name-derived given name. Beyond people and fiction, the term appears in various brand names and cultural references, but it is most commonly encountered as a given name.