NameCensus.

UK surname

Caldwell

From an English place name meaning "cold spring," or from a place name meaning "calves' spring."

In the 1881 census there were 4,687 people recorded with the Caldwell surname, ranking it #950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,668, ranked #1,012, down from #950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beith, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Johnstone North West, Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington and Paisley North East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caldwell is 6,727 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.3%.

1881 census count

4,687

Ranked #950

Modern count

6,668

2016, ranked #1,012

Peak year

2010

6,727 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caldwell had 4,687 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,668 in 2016, ranked #1,012.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,611 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Caldwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caldwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caldwell 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 2,971 #975
1861 historical 3,171 #911
1881 historical 4,687 #950
1891 historical 5,081 #924
1901 historical 5,611 #992
1911 historical 2,718 #1,904
1997 modern 6,383 #1,027
1998 modern 6,591 #1,036
1999 modern 6,647 #1,034
2000 modern 6,689 #1,015
2001 modern 6,530 #1,016
2002 modern 6,653 #1,021
2003 modern 6,443 #1,036
2004 modern 6,372 #1,048
2005 modern 6,346 #1,032
2006 modern 6,312 #1,041
2007 modern 6,352 #1,040
2008 modern 6,410 #1,032
2009 modern 6,552 #1,035
2010 modern 6,727 #1,029
2011 modern 6,568 #1,035
2012 modern 6,460 #1,037
2013 modern 6,544 #1,043
2014 modern 6,608 #1,037
2015 modern 6,625 #1,021
2016 modern 6,668 #1,012

Geography

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Where Caldwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beith, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Kilmarnock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Johnstone North West, Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington, Paisley North East, IZ12 and Paisley Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Beith Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kilmarnock Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Johnstone North West Renfrewshire
2 Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington Renfrewshire
3 Paisley North East Renfrewshire
4 IZ12 West Dunbartonshire
5 Paisley Central Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caldwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caldwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Caldwell, 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 Caldwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Caldwell 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Caldwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Caldwell 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

Caldwell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Caldwell

The surname Caldwell has its origins in the Scottish Lowlands, deriving from the Old English words "cald" meaning "cold" and "well" referring to a spring or stream. It is believed to have originated as a place name, likely referring to a settlement near a cold water source.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which contains the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. In this document, the name is listed as "Caldewelle."

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where it was spelled "Cauldwell" and "Caldwell." This suggests that the name had already begun to evolve and take on different spellings during this period.

A notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Caldwell (c. 1370-1432), a Scottish knight and landowner who served as a diplomat and ambassador for King James I of Scotland. He played a significant role in negotiations with England during the latter part of the Hundred Years' War.

Another prominent figure was James Caldwell (1639-1719), a Scottish minister and philosopher who served as the first Principal of the University of Glasgow. He was instrumental in establishing the university's curriculum and promoting the study of natural philosophy.

In the 18th century, the Caldwell family established itself in Ireland, with several members holding prominent positions. One such individual was Sir John Caldwell (1775-1842), an Irish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for County Fermanagh.

The name also has a strong presence in the United States, with many bearers tracing their ancestry back to Scottish and Irish immigrants. One notable American with the surname was Erskine Caldwell (1903-1987), a critically acclaimed novelist and author known for works such as "Tobacco Road" and "God's Little Acre."

Another significant figure was Sarah Caldwell (1924-2006), an American conductor and opera director who founded the Opera Company of Boston and played a crucial role in promoting contemporary opera in the United States.

Throughout its history, the surname Caldwell has been associated with various occupations and achievements, from landowners and diplomats to philosophers, politicians, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caldwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caldwell 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1,125 Caldwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.61x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1,125 7.61x
Lancashire 1,109 2.04x
Ayrshire 626 18.30x
Renfrewshire 453 12.79x
Cheshire 146 1.45x
Midlothian 118 1.93x
Wigtownshire 99 16.31x
Dunbartonshire 98 7.98x
Middlesex 78 0.17x
Leicestershire 71 1.40x
Yorkshire 57 0.13x
Surrey 49 0.22x
Stirlingshire 46 2.73x
Durham 43 0.32x
Worcestershire 42 0.70x
Herefordshire 37 1.97x
Cumberland 29 0.74x
Staffordshire 28 0.18x
Sussex 28 0.36x
Hampshire 27 0.29x
Argyllshire 25 1.96x
Kent 23 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 18 0.43x
Gloucestershire 18 0.20x
Angus 17 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.28x
Buteshire 16 5.78x
Essex 16 0.18x
Northamptonshire 16 0.37x
Warwickshire 16 0.14x
Derbyshire 15 0.21x
Roxburghshire 15 1.81x
Northumberland 13 0.19x
East Lothian 12 1.98x
Selkirkshire 12 2.90x
Cornwall 11 0.21x
Shropshire 11 0.28x
Fife 10 0.37x
West Lothian 9 1.31x
Devon 8 0.08x
Isle of Man 8 0.94x
Glamorgan 7 0.09x
Peeblesshire 7 3.26x
Lincolnshire 6 0.08x
Royal Navy 6 1.10x
Wiltshire 6 0.15x
Flintshire 5 0.41x
Monmouthshire 5 0.15x
Norfolk 5 0.07x
Hertfordshire 3 0.10x
Morayshire 3 0.42x
Suffolk 3 0.05x
Berkshire 2 0.06x
Perthshire 2 0.10x
Ross-shire 2 0.16x
Somerset 2 0.03x
Westmorland 2 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.11x
Inverness-shire 1 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 321 Caldwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.78x.

Place Total Index
Govan 321 8.78x
Barony 294 7.86x
Glasgow 190 7.24x
Abbey 115 21.28x
Kilmarnock 97 23.82x
Warrington 87 13.53x
Beith 78 76.41x
Manchester 55 2.25x
Salford 54 3.38x
Liverpool 53 1.61x
Stranraer 53 95.46x
Old Monkland 51 8.69x
Paisley High Church 51 18.08x
Paisley Middle Church 49 23.76x
Everton 48 2.78x
Kirkmichael 47 150.69x
Lesmahagow 47 30.06x
West Greenock 46 7.23x
Wigan 41 5.41x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 40 1.62x
Horwich 40 67.61x
Kilbarchan 40 37.17x
Atherton 37 18.74x
Stevenston 33 37.01x
Pendleton In Salford 32 4.95x
Neilston 31 17.43x
Riccarton 30 58.14x
Kirkintilloch 28 16.78x
Row 28 17.62x
Toxteth Park 27 1.47x
Westhoughton 27 18.65x
Ardrossan 26 21.96x
Rutherglen 26 11.99x
Bothwell 25 6.24x
Great Bolton 25 3.48x
Blackrod 24 35.60x
Ince In Makerfield 24 9.51x
East Greenock 23 6.88x
Kilbirnie 23 28.00x
Lochwinnoch 23 43.57x
Shotts 23 13.00x
St Quivox 23 19.89x
Droylsden 22 12.43x
Ayr 21 13.01x
Barrow In Furness 21 2.85x
Dundonald 21 16.65x
Bradford 20 7.88x
Golborne 20 28.29x
Lambeth 20 0.50x
Latchford 20 29.84x
Loughborough 20 8.70x
Leicester St Margaret 19 1.54x
Carluke 18 13.41x
Leswalt 18 43.30x
Widnes 18 4.60x
Hulme 17 1.50x
Kirkdale 17 1.86x
Maybole 17 16.32x
Barr 16 170.39x
Bothkennar 16 31.80x
Frodsham 16 40.93x
Hindley 16 6.92x
Irvine 16 16.84x
Sorn 16 23.81x
Hawick 15 8.09x
Oldham 15 0.86x
South Leith 15 2.18x
West Derby 15 0.95x
Barton Upon Irwell 14 3.43x
Hamilton 14 3.40x
Largs 14 17.37x
Loudoun 14 17.02x
Avondale 13 15.04x
Campsie 13 14.05x
Carnwath 13 14.22x
Dalserf 13 8.81x
Dalziel 13 8.17x
Inch 13 21.97x
Simonswood 13 178.57x
West Ham 13 0.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 161
Elizabeth 73
Sarah 72
Margaret 49
Jane 46
Alice 43
Ann 41
Ellen 40
Annie 29
Emma 25
Hannah 19
Agnes 18
Martha 18
Eliza 17
Catherine 16
Edith 11
Maria 11
Ada 10
Elizth. 9
Emily 9
Harriet 9
Caroline 8
Clara 8
Isabella 8
Frances 7
Georgina 7
Jessie 7
Louisa 7
Amy 6
Charlotte 6
Florence 6
Rose 6
Anne 5
Betsy 5
Esther 5
Grace 5
Lucy 5
Ethel 4
Helen 4
Janet 4
Kate 4
Maud 4
May 4
Nancy 4
Ruth 4
Betty 3
Georgiana 3
Jennie 3
Marian 3
Matilda 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 150
John 137
James 90
Thomas 67
Joseph 54
George 47
Henry 34
Charles 28
Robert 25
Samuel 17
Arthur 15
Edward 14
Peter 14
Alfred 13
Edwin 12
Harry 12
Walter 11
Alexander 10
Paul 10
Albert 9
Frederick 8
David 7
Josiah 7
Richard 7
Daniel 6
Francis 6
Frank 6
Hugh 6
Wm. 6
Jonathan 5
Patrick 4
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Christopher 3
Edmund 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Jno. 3
Michael 3
Thos. 3
A.B. 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
J. 2
Oliver 2
P. 2
Philip 2
Reginald 2
Robt. 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Caldwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caldwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,687 people were recorded with the Caldwell surname. That placed it at #950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caldwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,668 in 2016. That gives Caldwell a modern rank of #1,012.

What does the Caldwell surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "cold spring," or from a place name meaning "calves' spring."

What does the Caldwell map show?

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