NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashwell

A locational surname denoting someone who lived near an ashen tree well or spring.

In the 1881 census there were 1,037 people recorded with the Ashwell surname, ranking it #3,787 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,107, ranked #5,309, down from #3,787 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Neots and Henlow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, IZ22 and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashwell is 1,451 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.8%.

1881 census count

1,037

Ranked #3,787

Modern count

1,107

2016, ranked #5,309

Peak year

1911

1,451 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashwell had 1,037 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,787 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016, ranked #5,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,451 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ashwell surname distribution map

The map shows where the Ashwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Ashwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ashwell over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 640 #4,055
1861 historical 795 #3,460
1881 historical 1,037 #3,787
1891 historical 1,260 #3,423
1901 historical 1,369 #3,671
1911 historical 1,451 #3,325
1997 modern 1,168 #4,827
1998 modern 1,193 #4,910
1999 modern 1,195 #4,950
2000 modern 1,196 #4,922
2001 modern 1,170 #4,925
2002 modern 1,167 #5,027
2003 modern 1,153 #4,978
2004 modern 1,138 #5,043
2005 modern 1,098 #5,132
2006 modern 1,102 #5,137
2007 modern 1,111 #5,143
2008 modern 1,106 #5,196
2009 modern 1,117 #5,248
2010 modern 1,134 #5,295
2011 modern 1,139 #5,222
2012 modern 1,099 #5,293
2013 modern 1,121 #5,290
2014 modern 1,129 #5,288
2015 modern 1,115 #5,297
2016 modern 1,107 #5,309

Geography

Back to top

Where Ashwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Neots, Henlow, Blunham and Thurrock, Grays. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, IZ22, Central Bedfordshire, Caerphilly and Suffolk Coastal. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 St Neots Huntingdonshire
3 Henlow Bedfordshire
4 Blunham Bedfordshire
5 Thurrock, Grays Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 IZ22 East Lothian
3 Central Bedfordshire 001 Central Bedfordshire
4 Caerphilly 009 Caerphilly
5 Suffolk Coastal 002 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ashwell

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ashwell surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ashwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ashwell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Ashwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ashwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ashwell is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ashwell is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ashwell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ashwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ashwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ashwell

The surname Ashwell is of English origin, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the village of Ashwell in Hertfordshire, which was recorded as Esceswelle in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is composed of the Old English elements "æsc," meaning ash tree, and "well," referring to a spring or stream.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Ashwell can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, there is a mention of a Robert de Assewell. This entry suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for individuals hailing from the village of Ashwell.

Throughout the centuries, the surname has been subject to various spellings, including Assewell, Asshewell, and Ashwelle, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

One notable figure bearing the Ashwell surname was Robert Ashwell, a prominent 16th-century English lawyer and Member of Parliament. He was born in 1530 and served as the Recorder of Coventry from 1571 until his death in 1593.

Another individual of note was Thomas Ashwell, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1616, he is best known for his work "The Reformed Devotion," published in 1661, which explored the principles of Christian piety.

In the 18th century, John Ashwell made a significant contribution to the field of mathematics. Born in 1709, he was an English mathematician and writer who authored several works on arithmetic and geometry, including "The Arithmetic Revived," published in 1768.

Moving into the 19th century, Mary Ashwell (1816-1896) was a prominent English philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for the rights of women and children.

Lastly, George Ashwell (1884-1957) was a notable English actor and director who had a successful career on both stage and screen. He appeared in numerous plays and films throughout the early 20th century, including the 1938 film adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

While these are just a few examples, the surname Ashwell has a rich and diverse history, with individuals from various walks of life contributing to society in their own unique ways over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ashwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashwell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 211 Ashwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 211 2.08x
Bedfordshire 146 27.79x
Yorkshire 82 0.82x
Essex 67 3.35x
Hertfordshire 61 8.72x
Surrey 49 0.99x
Leicestershire 47 4.18x
Lincolnshire 45 2.77x
Huntingdonshire 44 21.84x
Staffordshire 39 1.14x
Kent 38 1.10x
Nottinghamshire 33 2.41x
Northamptonshire 32 3.35x
Warwickshire 28 1.09x
Suffolk 27 2.19x
Sussex 20 1.17x
Derbyshire 9 0.57x
Somerset 9 0.55x
Cornwall 7 0.61x
Gloucestershire 7 0.35x
Oxfordshire 7 1.12x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.82x
Cheshire 5 0.22x
Lancashire 5 0.04x
Durham 3 0.10x
Hampshire 3 0.14x
Worcestershire 3 0.23x
Rutland 2 2.68x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.16x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.83x
Shropshire 1 0.11x
Wiltshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Neots in Huntingdonshire leads with 32 Ashwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 292.24x.

Place Total Index
St Neots 32 292.24x
Blunham 30 842.70x
Bethnal Green London 28 6.35x
Grays Thurrock 24 128.96x
St Pancras London 24 2.94x
Islington London 19 1.93x
Lambeth 19 2.15x
Leicester St Margaret 18 6.56x
Mile End Old Town London 18 8.34x
Hackney London 17 2.99x
Aston 16 2.27x
Morley 15 28.70x
Tottenham 15 9.28x
Daventry 14 103.70x
Henlow 14 432.10x
Biggleswade 13 75.58x
Eaton Bray 11 207.55x
Kempston 11 92.20x
Kensington London 11 1.95x
Bedford St Paul 10 27.75x
Langriville 10 862.07x
Leicester St Mary 10 11.00x
Walsall Foreign 10 5.65x
Bradford 9 3.70x
Eynesbury 9 192.72x
Gosberton 9 124.83x
Keighley 9 8.40x
Newcastle Under Lyme 9 14.85x
Nottingham St Mary 9 2.54x
Peterborough 9 13.03x
Shoreditch London 9 2.05x
Spalding 9 27.96x
St George Hanover Square 9 5.04x
Stoke Newington London 9 11.39x
Birmingham 8 0.94x
Camberwell 8 1.23x
Oadby 8 132.67x
Redbourn 8 104.71x
South Shoebury 8 99.50x
Thundridge 8 487.80x
White Colne 8 615.38x
Battersea 7 1.88x
Bedford St Peter 7 51.32x
Clifton 7 138.07x
Finmere 7 693.07x
Gravesend 7 23.88x
Holy Trinity St Mary 7 45.75x
Lenton 7 21.73x
Preston 7 23.43x
St Clement 7 58.38x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 1.93x
Abbots Langley 6 57.75x
Bishop Stortford 6 25.68x
Earl Soham 6 280.37x
Eaton Socon 6 72.82x
Harpenden 6 56.29x
Rowley Regis 6 6.29x
Seamer In Scarborough 6 185.19x
Wembdon 6 124.22x
Wennington 6 882.35x
Basford 5 7.93x
Bow London 5 3.87x
Bowling 5 5.02x
Cheadle 5 11.69x
Deptford St Paul 5 1.87x
Falsgrave 5 33.76x
Great Hadham 5 110.86x
Hemel Hempstead 5 15.87x
Hertford St John 5 47.98x
Hornsey 5 3.90x
Jevington 5 485.44x
Kelvedon 5 93.63x
Leighton Buzzard 5 22.12x
Limehouse London 5 4.49x
Luton 5 5.50x
Melton Mowbray 5 24.72x
Old Warden 5 290.70x
Wainfleet All Sts 5 105.93x
Woolverstone 5 595.24x
York St Maurice 5 26.41x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ashwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ashwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 65
John 38
George 33
James 29
Thomas 28
Henry 27
Charles 24
Edward 17
Frederick 13
Harry 13
Arthur 12
Alfred 10
Frank 10
Joseph 10
Edwin 9
Walter 8
David 7
Albert 6
Francis 6
Samuel 6
Benjamin 4
Horace 4
Richard 4
Amos 3
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Percy 3
Robert 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Bernard 2
Christopher 2
Elmit 2
Fredric 2
Lewis 2
Michael 2
Philip 2
Seymour 2
Stephen 2
Thos.A. 2
Tom 2
Ben 1
Catherine 1
Eli 1
Elleizer 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Zaccariah 1

FAQ

Ashwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,037 people were recorded with the Ashwell surname. That placed it at #3,787 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,107 in 2016. That gives Ashwell a modern rank of #5,309.

What does the Ashwell surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone who lived near an ashen tree well or spring.

What does the Ashwell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ashwell bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.