NameCensus.

UK surname

Cardwell

From an English place name meaning "the spring near a rock," or referring to someone living near such a spring.

In the 1881 census there were 1,433 people recorded with the Cardwell surname, ranking it #2,908 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,195, ranked #2,957, down from #2,908 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Poulton, Manchester and Lytham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Hyndburn and Fylde.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cardwell is 2,275 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.2%.

1881 census count

1,433

Ranked #2,908

Modern count

2,195

2016, ranked #2,957

Peak year

2010

2,275 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cardwell had 1,433 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,908 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,195 in 2016, ranked #2,957.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,968 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cardwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cardwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cardwell 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 886 #3,090
1861 historical 897 #3,086
1881 historical 1,433 #2,908
1891 historical 1,573 #2,824
1901 historical 1,917 #2,751
1911 historical 1,968 #2,524
1997 modern 2,205 #2,815
1998 modern 2,221 #2,895
1999 modern 2,226 #2,909
2000 modern 2,229 #2,892
2001 modern 2,180 #2,887
2002 modern 2,229 #2,892
2003 modern 2,169 #2,900
2004 modern 2,166 #2,910
2005 modern 2,175 #2,865
2006 modern 2,153 #2,886
2007 modern 2,179 #2,879
2008 modern 2,157 #2,933
2009 modern 2,231 #2,915
2010 modern 2,275 #2,926
2011 modern 2,234 #2,940
2012 modern 2,157 #2,966
2013 modern 2,187 #2,979
2014 modern 2,220 #2,957
2015 modern 2,190 #2,965
2016 modern 2,195 #2,957

Geography

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Where Cardwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Poulton, Manchester, Lytham, Preston and Bispham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Hyndburn, Fylde, Knowsley and Blackpool. 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 Poulton Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Lytham Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Bispham Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 004 Wyre
2 Hyndburn 002 Hyndburn
3 Fylde 002 Fylde
4 Knowsley 015 Knowsley
5 Blackpool 016 Blackpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cardwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cardwell

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

Cardwell is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cardwell 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 Cardwell 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 Cardwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cardwell

The surname Cardwell has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "carde" and "well," meaning a well or spring near a place where wool was carded or combed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1182, which mention a person named Richard de Cardewelle. This suggests that the name was initially associated with a specific location, likely a place where wool carding took place near a well or spring.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, with various spellings such as Cardwelle, Cardwill, and Cardwyl appearing in historical records. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a Robert de Cardewelle in Cambridgeshire.

The Cardwell surname is also linked to several place names in England, including Cardwell in Lancashire and Cardwell Brook in Derbyshire. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the surname or vice versa.

One notable person with the surname Cardwell was Edward Cardwell (1787-1886), a British statesman and Secretary of State for War from 1868 to 1874. He played a significant role in reforming the British Army during his tenure.

Another prominent figure was Sir Nathaniel Cardwell (1584-1653), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1634. He was involved in the East India Company and played a role in the early colonization efforts in Virginia.

In the literary world, William Cardwell (1780-1828) was an English writer and historian known for his works on the history of the Church of England and the life of Cardinal Wolsey.

Sir Edward Cardwell (1813-1886), a British politician and colonial administrator, served as Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1864 to 1866 and was influential in shaping policies related to British colonies.

John Cardwell (1853-1926) was a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early aircraft and held several patents related to aeronautics.

Throughout its history, the Cardwell surname has been associated with various occupations, including wool trade, military service, politics, literature, and engineering, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cardwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cardwell 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 728 Cardwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.36x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 728 4.36x
Yorkshire 292 2.10x
Middlesex 72 0.51x
Lanarkshire 69 1.52x
Durham 33 0.79x
Northumberland 26 1.24x
Kent 24 0.50x
Warwickshire 23 0.65x
Sussex 17 0.72x
Somerset 16 0.71x
Hampshire 14 0.49x
Staffordshire 14 0.30x
Gloucestershire 11 0.40x
Cheshire 10 0.32x
Cumberland 10 0.83x
Surrey 9 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.42x
Channel Islands 7 1.68x
Wiltshire 7 0.56x
Essex 6 0.22x
Lincolnshire 6 0.27x
Renfrewshire 6 0.55x
Bedfordshire 4 0.55x
Angus 3 0.23x
Berkshire 3 0.28x
Buteshire 3 3.52x
Devon 3 0.10x
Suffolk 3 0.18x
Argyllshire 2 0.51x
Cornwall 2 0.13x
Derbyshire 2 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.45x
Royal Navy 2 1.19x
Anglesey 1 0.40x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marton in Lancashire leads with 118 Cardwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1064.02x.

Place Total Index
Marton 118 1064.02x
Layton With Warbreck 72 117.63x
Preston 35 7.84x
Liverpool 27 2.67x
Westby With Plumpton 22 856.03x
Kimberworth 21 27.16x
Shitlington 21 145.73x
Manchester 20 2.67x
Everton 19 3.57x
Sheffield 17 3.83x
Wigan 17 7.29x
Barony 16 1.39x
Broughton In Salford 16 10.49x
Fulham London 15 7.36x
Heckmondwike 15 33.48x
Oldham 15 2.79x
Doncaster 14 13.76x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 4.94x
Elswick 14 8.39x
Hardhorn With Newton 14 686.27x
Hulme 14 4.02x
Mirfield 14 18.31x
Thornton In Fylde 14 38.37x
Dewsbury 13 9.10x
North Meols 13 7.96x
Batley 12 9.06x
Handsworth 12 32.59x
Lancaster 12 12.09x
Lytham 12 47.13x
Shettleston 12 29.48x
Walsall Foreign 12 4.90x
Blackburn 11 2.48x
Brotherton 11 197.13x
Cambusnethan 10 9.90x
Cheltenham 10 4.70x
Eccleston In Prescot 10 11.94x
Freckleton 10 182.48x
Great Bolton 10 4.53x
Rastrick 10 25.85x
Thornhill 10 24.61x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 10 54.88x
Edgbaston 9 8.19x
Gateshead 9 2.87x
Glasgow 9 1.11x
Singleton 9 523.26x
Soothill 9 17.89x
St Marylebone London 9 1.20x
Wakefield 9 8.42x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 6.37x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 6.04x
Bradford 8 10.25x
Claughton In Garstang 8 303.03x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.16x
Govan 8 0.71x
Hackney London 8 1.02x
Lewisham 8 3.13x
Otterburn 8 500.00x
Wavertree 8 14.98x
Aston 7 0.72x
Carlton In Skipton 7 86.00x
Dalziel 7 14.31x
Eastbourne 7 6.42x
Hook 7 22.85x
Leyland 7 24.12x
Parr 7 11.73x
Pendleton In Salford 7 3.52x
Penwortham 7 88.61x
Pilkington 7 11.05x
Portsea 7 1.24x
Salford 7 1.43x
St Saviour 7 30.41x
Todmorden Walsden 7 15.66x
Toxteth Park 7 1.24x
Warwick St Mary 7 22.74x
West Derby 7 1.43x
Worksop 7 12.46x
Brightside Bierlow 6 2.20x
Chorley 6 6.41x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 2.26x
Pilling 6 76.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 110
Elizabeth 51
Jane 42
Sarah 35
Margaret 33
Ellen 28
Alice 26
Ann 24
Eliza 22
Martha 17
Annie 16
Emily 15
Emma 13
Hannah 11
Betty 10
Louisa 10
Catherine 9
Ada 8
Elizth. 8
Agnes 7
Susannah 7
Amy 6
Fanny 6
Rachel 6
Anne 5
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Esther 5
Harriet 5
Isabella 5
Rebecca 5
Clara 4
Grace 4
Jenny 4
Betsy 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Janet 3
Jennet 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Constance 2
Lydia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 85
Thomas 70
William 70
James 51
Robert 36
George 34
Joseph 22
Charles 19
Henry 19
Richard 14
Edward 12
Albert 10
Frederick 10
Walter 9
Ernest 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Stephen 7
Alfred 6
Edwin 6
Francis 6
David 5
Nicholas 5
Richd. 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Harry 4
Peter 4
Tom 4
Abraham 3
Fredk. 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Lawrence 3
Paul 3
Christopher 2
Cornelious 2
Cornelius 2
Daniel 2
Harold 2
J. 2
Jas. 2
Jonathan 2
Robt. 2
Simon 2
Stanley 2
Thos. 2

FAQ

Cardwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cardwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,433 people were recorded with the Cardwell surname. That placed it at #2,908 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cardwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,195 in 2016. That gives Cardwell a modern rank of #2,957.

What does the Cardwell surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "the spring near a rock," or referring to someone living near such a spring.

What does the Cardwell map show?

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