UK surname
Name derived from dwelling near an outcrop of rock or quarry.
In the 1881 census there were 86 people recorded with the Carwell surname, ranking it #21,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #21,449 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Barking and Middlesborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carwell is 351 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 82.6%.
1881 census count
86
Ranked #21,449
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1861
351 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carwell surname density by area, 1911 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 | 115 | #15,634 |
| 1861 | historical | 351 | #7,278 |
| 1881 | historical | 86 | #21,449 |
| 1891 | historical | 215 | #14,155 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 128 | #19,664 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Barking, Middlesborough, Glasgow and Syston. 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 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Barking | Essex |
| 3 | Middlesborough | Durham |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Syston | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carwell 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 Carwell, 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 Carwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carwell 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, Carwell 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 Carwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carwell has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "carr," meaning a rock or rocky hill, and "well," referring to a spring or source of water. This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a rocky hill with a spring or well.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Caruwell." This indicates the name was likely associated with a particular location or place name bearing a similar spelling.
During the 14th century, variations such as "Carewell" and "Karwell" began to emerge in historical records, suggesting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
In the 16th century, the name appeared in the form "Carwell" in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire. This church dates back to the 12th century, further reinforcing the English origins of the surname.
Notable individuals bearing the Carwell surname include:
1. John Carwell (c. 1510 - 1572), an English Protestant reformer and writer, known for his work "A briefe view of the seditious and blasphemous Doctrine of the secte of Libertines."
2. Sir Henry Carwell (1615 - 1689), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire during the reign of Charles II.
3. Elizabeth Carwell (1642 - 1718), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Lancashire, known for her religious writings.
4. William Carwell (1715 - 1792), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Carwell Manor in Hampshire.
5. Thomas Carwell (1820 - 1887), a British explorer and naturalist who documented his travels in Africa and contributed significantly to the study of flora and fauna in the region.
While the name Carwell is not as common today as it once was, its rich history and connections to various locations and notable figures across England make it a fascinating surname to explore.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carwell 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. Essex leads with 14 Carwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.36x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 14 | 8.36x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.53x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 3.74x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 2.44x |
| Angus | 5 | 6.36x |
| Devon | 5 | 2.83x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 1.82x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 4.37x |
| Sussex | 5 | 3.49x |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 4.25x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.48x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 4.71x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.48x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.93x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.71x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.10x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.52x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.73x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.90x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barking in Essex leads with 7 Carwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 142.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barking | 7 | 142.86x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 7 | 23.04x |
| Eastbourne | 5 | 75.99x |
| Liff Benvie | 5 | 41.88x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 5 | 70.72x |
| Carluke | 4 | 160.64x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 4 | 17.43x |
| Leyton Low | 4 | 117.30x |
| Middlesbrough | 4 | 36.53x |
| Wollaton | 4 | 1904.76x |
| Bow London | 3 | 27.78x |
| Reading St Mary | 3 | 58.82x |
| Tormoham | 3 | 40.16x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.80x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 2 | 41.07x |
| Walthamstow | 2 | 33.17x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.44x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 4.99x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.10x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 9.32x |
| Houston Killallan | 1 | 156.25x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.12x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.35x |
| Mickleham | 1 | 434.78x |
| Moss Side | 1 | 18.87x |
| Northfield | 1 | 47.62x |
| Over | 1 | 52.63x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 7.35x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 6.24x |
| Rope | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Snenton | 1 | 22.27x |
| South Mimms | 1 | 86.21x |
| St Albans | 1 | 83.33x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.46x |
| St Vedast Foster Lane | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Stokeinteignhead | 1 | 526.32x |
| Walcot | 1 | 13.74x |
| Wanstead | 1 | 34.13x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carwell 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 Carwell 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 Carwell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 86 people were recorded with the Carwell surname. That placed it at #21,449 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Carwell a modern rank of #37,092.
Name derived from dwelling near an outcrop of rock or quarry.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carwell 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.