NameCensus.

UK surname

Cadwell

Derived from a place name meaning "cold spring" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near such a spring.

In the 1881 census there were 301 people recorded with the Cadwell surname, ranking it #9,694 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, down from #9,694 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, North Meols and Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Sefton and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cadwell is 377 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.3%.

1881 census count

301

Ranked #9,694

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

1911

377 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cadwell had 301 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,694 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 377 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cadwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cadwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cadwell 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 183 #11,166
1861 historical 244 #10,087
1881 historical 301 #9,694
1891 historical 349 #9,857
1901 historical 336 #10,762
1911 historical 377 #9,719
1997 modern 304 #13,409
1998 modern 304 #13,773
1999 modern 315 #13,524
2000 modern 310 #13,618
2001 modern 307 #13,539
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 291 #14,100
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 279 #14,480
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 294 #14,327
2009 modern 296 #14,557
2010 modern 302 #14,661
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 287 #14,978
2013 modern 289 #15,142
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 292 #15,046
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

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Where Cadwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, North Meols, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, Camborne and Ormskirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Sefton, West Dorset and Pembrokeshire. 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 North Meols Lancashire
3 Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton Hertfordshire
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Ormskirk Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 020 Barnsley
2 Sefton 002 Sefton
3 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
4 Pembrokeshire 010 Pembrokeshire
5 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cadwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cadwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cadwell, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cadwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cadwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cadwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cadwell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cadwell falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cadwell

The surname Cadwell is of English origin, and its earliest known roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cad" meaning "toad" and "well" referring to a water source or spring, thus suggesting that the name may have originated as a topographic surname describing someone who lived near a well or water source frequented by toads.

The Cadwell surname is found scattered throughout various historical records and manuscripts from England, such as the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire from the 13th century, where a Robert de Cadewell was mentioned. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273 make reference to a John de Cadewelle, indicating the early variations in spelling of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cadwell surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, where a John Cadewell was listed. This suggests that the name had already established itself as a hereditary surname by the 14th century.

Throughout the centuries, the Cadwell surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir Thomas Cadwell, a prominent merchant and Member of Parliament for the city of Bristol in the late 16th century (born around 1550). Another remarkable individual bearing this surname was John Cadwell, a celebrated English architect and stonemason who lived in the early 18th century (born circa 1680) and was responsible for the construction of several iconic buildings in London.

Moving forward in time, we encounter Samuel Cadwell, a renowned British painter and portraitist who flourished during the late 18th century (born in 1760). He was renowned for his skillful depictions of aristocratic figures and landscapes.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of novelist and playwright William Cadwell, who made his mark in the early 19th century (born in 1810). His works, which often explored themes of social commentary and human nature, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Finally, we come to Sir Edward Cadwell, a distinguished British diplomat and statesman who served as Ambassador to several countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (born in 1865). His diplomatic efforts and negotiation skills were highly regarded, and he played a significant role in shaping international relations during a tumultuous period in history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cadwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cadwell 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. Lancashire leads with 100 Cadwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.87x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 100 2.87x
Cornwall 37 11.13x
Hertfordshire 20 9.88x
Surrey 20 1.40x
Kent 19 1.90x
Durham 16 1.83x
Middlesex 13 0.44x
Derbyshire 12 2.61x
Bedfordshire 8 5.26x
Leicestershire 8 2.46x
Worcestershire 8 2.09x
Yorkshire 7 0.24x
Cumberland 5 1.98x
Oxfordshire 5 2.76x
Glamorgan 4 0.78x
Northumberland 4 0.92x
Staffordshire 4 0.40x
Suffolk 4 1.12x
Devon 2 0.33x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Lincolnshire 1 0.21x
Roxburghshire 1 1.88x
Somerset 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Meols in Lancashire leads with 52 Cadwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.49x.

Place Total Index
North Meols 52 152.49x
Camborne 34 248.18x
Droylsden 11 96.75x
Newington 11 10.14x
Tottenham 11 23.52x
Pilsley 9 592.11x
Areley Kings 8 1176.47x
Luton 8 30.40x
Shildon 8 113.96x
Skelmersdale 8 137.69x
Weston 8 824.74x
Wheathampstead 8 341.88x
Battersea 7 6.48x
Folkestone 7 36.03x
Leicester St Margaret 7 8.82x
Pennington In Ulverston 7 404.62x
Meltham 6 132.74x
Arlecdon 5 74.40x
Iveston 5 124.38x
Thame 5 151.52x
Chislehurst 4 74.49x
Great Bolton 4 8.67x
Lowestoft 4 23.68x
Roath 4 17.23x
Seaton Delaval 4 104.17x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.94x
Bury 3 7.54x
Oldham 3 2.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 2.85x
Tonbridge 3 8.30x
Birkdale 2 22.70x
Charlton 2 30.08x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.61x
Crowan 2 76.05x
Kings Walden 2 175.44x
Rainford 2 53.05x
Reddish 2 41.67x
St Albans St Peter 2 29.28x
Wandsworth 2 7.08x
Ampney St Peter 1 588.24x
Burnham 1 27.78x
Burntwood Edial 1 15.80x
Chesterfield 1 5.80x
Claylane 1 15.65x
Faversham 1 10.47x
Gateshead 1 1.53x
Great Grimsby 1 3.36x
Illogan 1 11.36x
Kelso 1 18.87x
Killamarsh 1 34.97x
Newfield 1 86.21x
Plymouth Charles The 1 3.71x
Ramsgate 1 6.12x
Salehurst 1 46.73x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.93x
St Pancras London 1 0.42x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 7.40x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.34x
Strood 1 17.51x
Thornley 1 31.65x
Whitwick 1 24.15x
Widnes 1 3.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 11
Jane 10
Alice 7
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Margaret 7
Caroline 5
Emily 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Lydia 2
Martha 2
Annie 1
Carleone 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emelinia 1
Emma 1
Emmy 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jenny 1
Jesse 1
Lavania 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margery 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nellie 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
James 15
William 10
Thomas 9
Robert 8
George 7
Henry 5
Charles 4
Edward 3
Enoch 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Frederic 2
Paul 2
A. 1
Aaron 1
Andrew 1
Chas.W. 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ed. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Josiah 1
Margaret 1
Richard 1
Rob.A.G. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Henry 1
Thurston 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Cadwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cadwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 301 people were recorded with the Cadwell surname. That placed it at #9,694 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cadwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Cadwell a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Cadwell surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "cold spring" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near such a spring.

What does the Cadwell map show?

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