UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "the cold spring" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Chadwell surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 40, ranked #35,434, down from #17,506 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Upton with Chalvey, London parishes and Hove. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chadwell is 183 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.5%.
1881 census count
123
Ranked #17,506
Modern count
40
2016, ranked #35,434
Peak year
1861
183 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chadwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chadwell surname density by area, 1881 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 | 110 | #16,093 |
| 1861 | historical | 183 | #12,903 |
| 1881 | historical | 123 | #17,506 |
| 1891 | historical | 151 | #18,242 |
| 1901 | historical | 155 | #17,704 |
| 1911 | historical | 131 | #19,404 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 51 | #32,816 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 41 | #33,889 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 43 | #33,871 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 41 | #34,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 40 | #35,434 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Upton with Chalvey, London parishes, Hove, Lambeth and Iver. 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 | Upton with Chalvey | Buckinghamshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Hove | Sussex |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Iver | Buckinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chadwell 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 Chadwell, 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 Chadwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chadwell 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, Chadwell 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 Chadwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chadwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chadwell is believed to have originated in England, and it is derived from the Old English words "ceald" meaning "cold," and "well" meaning "a spring or stream." The name likely referred to a settlement near a cold well or stream.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Chadwell can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and property compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a place called "Caldewelle" in the county of Essex, which is thought to be the origin of the surname.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Chaldewelle," "Chaldwell," and "Chaldewelle," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include John de Chaldewelle, who was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1278, and Robert de Chaldewelle, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for Oxfordshire in 1327.
The surname Chadwell has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was Sir Andrew Chadwell (1550-1623), an English lawyer and member of Parliament who served as a Justice of the King's Bench. Another was John Chadwell (1670-1749), a renowned English architect who designed several churches and buildings in London.
In the 18th century, the name Chadwell appeared in various parts of England, including the county of Essex, where the village of Chadwell St. Mary and the parish of Chadwell Heath were named after the surname. This suggests that the name may have originated in this region and spread to other areas over time.
Other notable individuals with the surname Chadwell include William Chadwell (1789-1865), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and religious subjects, and Thomas Chadwell (1812-1892), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Salford.
Throughout its history, the surname Chadwell has undergone various spelling variations, such as Chaldwell, Chaldwill, and Chaldwelle, reflecting the changes in language and pronunciation over time. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained closely tied to its Old English roots, reflecting the location of a settlement near a cold well or stream.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chadwell 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. Surrey leads with 37 Chadwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 37 | 6.33x |
| Sussex | 21 | 10.38x |
| Middlesex | 19 | 1.58x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 0.98x |
| Kent | 13 | 3.18x |
| Buckinghamshire | 8 | 11.03x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 3.33x |
| Oxfordshire | 3 | 4.05x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.53x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.75x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.94x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 16 Chadwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 16 | 15.29x |
| Hove | 11 | 123.87x |
| Plumstead | 10 | 73.26x |
| Kensington London | 9 | 13.49x |
| Iver | 8 | 860.22x |
| Portslade | 8 | 645.16x |
| Hillingdon | 7 | 182.77x |
| Battersea | 6 | 13.59x |
| Barnes | 5 | 202.43x |
| Croydon | 4 | 12.33x |
| Hindley | 4 | 65.90x |
| Hulme | 4 | 13.46x |
| Rotherhithe | 4 | 26.99x |
| Accrington | 3 | 23.18x |
| New Windsor | 3 | 99.01x |
| Windle | 3 | 37.45x |
| Brighton | 2 | 4.90x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 2.61x |
| Isleworth | 2 | 37.52x |
| Oxford St Michael | 2 | 645.16x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 13.23x |
| Amesbury | 1 | 217.39x |
| Eckington | 1 | 21.93x |
| Horncastle | 1 | 50.51x |
| Leicester St Mary | 1 | 9.30x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 4.58x |
| Millbrook | 1 | 16.16x |
| Thame | 1 | 74.07x |
| Uxbridge | 1 | 72.99x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chadwell 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 Chadwell 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 Chadwell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Chadwell surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 40 in 2016. That gives Chadwell a modern rank of #35,434.
Derived from a place name meaning "the cold spring" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chadwell 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.