UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a good or bonny well.
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Bonwell surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Malzeard, St Leonard Shoreditch and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bonwell is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.2%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
109 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bonwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bonwell surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 16 | #30,441 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 46 | #30,657 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 14 | #37,157 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Malzeard, St Leonard Shoreditch, Halifax, Bassingham and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkby Malzeard | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Bassingham | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bonwell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bonwell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bonwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bonwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bonwell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bonwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bonwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname BONWELL is an English name with origins dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "bon" meaning "bone" and "well" referring to a spring or stream, suggesting the name may have been derived from a geographical location near a stream known for its chalky or bone-colored water.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the BONWELL name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a Richard de Bonwell was listed as a taxpayer. This indicates the name was already established in the region during that time period.
In the 14th century, the BONWELL name appeared in several historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which listed a Walter de Bonewell, and the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, mentioning a Thomas Bonewelle.
The BONWELL surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Bonwell in Dorset and Bonwell Hill in Somerset. These locations may have been named after early BONWELL families or derived from similar geographical features as the surname itself.
Notable historical figures with the BONWELL surname include:
1. John Bonwell (c. 1530 - 1590), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of St. Cross Hospital in Winchester.
2. William Bonwell (1658 - 1719), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury from 1708 to 1719.
3. Henry Bonwell (1721 - 1789), an English architect known for his work on several churches and country houses in the Georgian style.
4. Elizabeth Bonwell (1768 - 1846), a British poet and writer who published a collection of poems titled "Poetic Effusions" in 1824.
5. Thomas Bonwell (1810 - 1885), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Bonwell Orphanage in his hometown of Bristol.
While the BONWELL name has been present in historical records for centuries, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to other English surnames. Nevertheless, it has left its mark on various aspects of British history, from politics and architecture to literature and philanthropy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bonwell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 20 Bonwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 20 | 5.05x |
| Surrey | 7 | 3.59x |
| Kent | 6 | 4.40x |
| Isle of Man | 3 | 40.38x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.50x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.60x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.27x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirkby Malzeard in Yorkshire leads with 6 Bonwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkby Malzeard | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Kirkby Overblow | 5 | 12500.00x |
| Battersea | 4 | 27.17x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 4 | 49.63x |
| Plumstead | 4 | 87.91x |
| Andreas | 3 | 1500.00x |
| Barnes | 3 | 365.85x |
| Badlesmere | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Bradford | 2 | 20.86x |
| North Stainley Cum | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Bilton Cum Harrogate | 1 | 73.53x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 8.30x |
| Great Coggeshall | 1 | 243.90x |
| North Wingfield | 1 | 357.14x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.68x |
| Uttoxeter | 1 | 144.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bonwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bonwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bonwell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Bonwell surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Bonwell a modern rank of #37,178.
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a good or bonny well.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bonwell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.