NameCensus.

UK surname

Attwell

An English surname derived from "at the well," referring to someone who lived near a well.

In the 1881 census there were 660 people recorded with the Attwell surname, ranking it #5,439 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,084, ranked #5,393, up from #5,439 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tipton otherwise Tibington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Blaenau Gwent and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Attwell is 1,149 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.2%.

1881 census count

660

Ranked #5,439

Modern count

1,084

2016, ranked #5,393

Peak year

2010

1,149 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Attwell had 660 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,439 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,084 in 2016, ranked #5,393.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,017 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Attwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Attwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Attwell 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 301 #7,626
1861 historical 284 #8,845
1881 historical 660 #5,439
1891 historical 803 #5,014
1901 historical 921 #5,057
1911 historical 1,017 #4,481
1997 modern 1,088 #5,119
1998 modern 1,105 #5,239
1999 modern 1,119 #5,224
2000 modern 1,117 #5,205
2001 modern 1,100 #5,174
2002 modern 1,125 #5,192
2003 modern 1,110 #5,136
2004 modern 1,092 #5,219
2005 modern 1,065 #5,280
2006 modern 1,064 #5,275
2007 modern 1,082 #5,249
2008 modern 1,077 #5,308
2009 modern 1,121 #5,237
2010 modern 1,149 #5,245
2011 modern 1,147 #5,194
2012 modern 1,114 #5,237
2013 modern 1,135 #5,230
2014 modern 1,139 #5,242
2015 modern 1,102 #5,341
2016 modern 1,084 #5,393

Geography

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Where Attwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Blaenau Gwent, Sandwell and Bromsgrove. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
2 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
3 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
4 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
5 Bromsgrove 009 Bromsgrove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Attwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Attwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Attwell, 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 Attwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Attwell 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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Attwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Attwell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Attwell falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Attwell 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 Attwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Attwell

The surname Attwell is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "æt" meaning "at" and "well," referring to a person who lived near a well or spring. The name may have originated in various parts of England, as wells were a common feature in many settlements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Attwell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, mentions individuals with similar surnames, such as "Atte Welle" and "Atten Welle," which later evolved into the modern spelling of Attwell.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1207, which mentions a "William Attewelle." The surname was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, with an entry for "John Attewell."

Attwell is also associated with various place names in England. For instance, the village of Atwell in Wiltshire may have derived its name from the surname, suggesting that early bearers of the name may have lived in or near this area.

Notable individuals with the surname Attwell include:

1. Henry Attwell (c. 1456-1521), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Salisbury in 1491 and 1497. 2. Thomas Attwell (c. 1590-1639), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Faithful Surveyor" and "The Obedient Wife." 3. John Attwell (1597-1641), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Doctrine of Contentment" published in 1628. 4. Samuel Attwell (1768-1835), an English engraver and artist who produced numerous illustrations for books and publications. 5. George Attwell (1807-1876), an English architect who designed various churches and buildings in the Gothic Revival style, including St. Mary's Church in Cheltenham.

The surname Attwell has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with its origins linked to geographical features and place names. Its evolution and prevalence can be traced through various historical records and notable individuals who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Attwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Attwell 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 164 Attwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.55x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 164 2.55x
Berkshire 70 14.49x
Kent 43 1.96x
Staffordshire 43 1.98x
Somerset 33 3.18x
Surrey 33 1.05x
Monmouthshire 29 6.23x
Gloucestershire 28 2.22x
Northamptonshire 28 4.62x
Glamorgan 17 1.52x
Lancashire 16 0.21x
Essex 13 1.02x
Hampshire 13 0.99x
Yorkshire 13 0.20x
Cheshire 12 0.84x
Northumberland 11 1.15x
Buckinghamshire 9 2.31x
Devon 9 0.67x
Oxfordshire 9 2.26x
Wiltshire 9 1.58x
Denbighshire 8 3.29x
Norfolk 7 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.81x
Suffolk 7 0.89x
Dorset 6 1.42x
Durham 6 0.31x
Worcestershire 6 0.71x
Herefordshire 3 1.14x
Bedfordshire 2 0.60x
Hertfordshire 2 0.45x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 1.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tipton in Staffordshire leads with 29 Attwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.58x.

Place Total Index
Tipton 29 43.58x
Hackney London 28 7.76x
Shoreditch London 18 6.45x
Sonning 16 299.63x
Deptford St Paul 14 8.26x
West Bromwich 14 11.25x
Bedminster 13 13.35x
Bethnal Green London 13 4.65x
Chelsea London 13 6.70x
Kensington London 13 3.63x
Kettering 11 44.92x
Camberwell 10 2.43x
Little Sutton 10 523.56x
Mile End Old Town London 10 7.30x
Ramsgate 10 27.89x
St Pancras London 10 1.93x
Manningham 9 11.45x
Warrington 9 9.94x
West Ham 9 3.21x
Westbury On Trym 9 21.04x
Basildon 8 551.72x
Bray 8 56.34x
St George Hanover Square 8 7.05x
Stapleton 8 33.40x
Aylsham 7 118.85x
Elswick 7 9.16x
Llangollen Llangollen 7 252.71x
Newmarket St Mary 7 116.28x
North Tawton 7 169.90x
Reading St Lawrence 7 67.70x
St Peters 7 68.90x
Walcot 7 12.68x
Barnes 6 45.21x
Clewer 6 30.30x
Dudley 6 5.87x
Ecton 6 441.18x
Fulham London 6 6.43x
Islington London 6 0.96x
Lambeth 6 1.07x
Northampton St Giles 6 26.01x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.67x
Ratcliffe London 6 16.88x
Risca 6 68.42x
St Clement Danes London 6 45.05x
Swindon 6 13.59x
Arborfield 5 833.33x
Bath St James 5 46.25x
Bettws 5 2631.58x
Burford 5 144.93x
Gateshead 5 3.49x
Llanover 5 31.45x
Panteg 5 68.21x
Portsea 5 1.93x
Reading St Mary 5 12.92x
St John Near Swansea 5 36.08x
St Lawrence 5 33.11x
Aberdare 4 5.20x
Accrington 4 5.76x
Hamworthy 4 272.11x
St Woollos 4 7.70x
Wooburn 4 74.63x
Bristol St Paul In 3 8.92x
Clifton 3 4.70x
Cogenhoe 3 389.61x
East Knoyle 3 155.44x
Eglwysilan 3 15.42x
Folkestone 3 7.04x
Great Marlow 3 28.54x
Hereford St John 3 99.67x
Hornsey 3 3.69x
Llandaff 3 8.05x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 6.04x
Old Windsor 3 53.67x
Paddington London 3 1.27x
Ryde 3 10.58x
Ryhill 3 171.43x
St Botolph Aldgate London 3 22.62x
Hampstead London 2 1.99x
Horfield 2 15.74x
Whitechapel London 2 3.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 40
George 30
John 26
Thomas 25
Henry 19
Joseph 19
Charles 17
Alfred 10
James 10
Arthur 8
Richard 8
Robert 8
Edward 7
Harry 7
Albert 6
Frederick 5
Herbert 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Wm. 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Francis 3
Adolphus 2
Augustus 2
C. 2
David 2
Horace 2
Oliver 2
Stephen 2
Bertie 1
Cecil 1
Christopher 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Geo. 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Leonard 1
Llewellyn 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Orlando 1
Osborne 1
Percy 1
Prichard 1
Wm.Richd. 1

FAQ

Attwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Attwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 660 people were recorded with the Attwell surname. That placed it at #5,439 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Attwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,084 in 2016. That gives Attwell a modern rank of #5,393.

What does the Attwell surname mean?

An English surname derived from "at the well," referring to someone who lived near a well.

What does the Attwell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Attwell 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.