Reaney and Wilson cite 13th- and
14th-century examples such as Richard Averil, which they
associate with the name of the month (see April; the Old French
word Avrill was taken into Middle English as Averil
before being altered under Latin influence to April).
As a
North American surname, it may be a habitational name from Haverhill
in Suffolk, which is probably named from Old English hafri
‘oats’ + hyll ‘hill’. The traditional English pronunciation of
this place name was Have-rill. Compare Avery.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
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