NameCensus.

UK surname

Coldwell

A locational surname derived from a location with a cold water source.

In the 1881 census there were 1,311 people recorded with the Coldwell surname, ranking it #3,125 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,259, ranked #4,748, down from #3,125 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sheffield and Kirkburton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coldwell is 1,666 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.0%.

1881 census count

1,311

Ranked #3,125

Modern count

1,259

2016, ranked #4,748

Peak year

1911

1,666 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coldwell had 1,311 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,125 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,259 in 2016, ranked #4,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,666 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Coldwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coldwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coldwell 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 948 #2,927
1861 historical 1,172 #2,414
1881 historical 1,311 #3,125
1891 historical 1,485 #2,961
1901 historical 1,630 #3,171
1911 historical 1,666 #2,933
1997 modern 1,385 #4,176
1998 modern 1,407 #4,257
1999 modern 1,420 #4,255
2000 modern 1,390 #4,312
2001 modern 1,365 #4,290
2002 modern 1,388 #4,325
2003 modern 1,359 #4,319
2004 modern 1,348 #4,358
2005 modern 1,279 #4,499
2006 modern 1,279 #4,507
2007 modern 1,286 #4,530
2008 modern 1,270 #4,599
2009 modern 1,302 #4,600
2010 modern 1,340 #4,572
2011 modern 1,333 #4,537
2012 modern 1,289 #4,608
2013 modern 1,308 #4,630
2014 modern 1,306 #4,658
2015 modern 1,284 #4,681
2016 modern 1,259 #4,748

Geography

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Where Coldwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Sheffield, Kirkburton and Almondbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley and Kirklees. 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 2
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Kirkburton Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
2 Kirklees 053 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 058 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 050 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coldwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coldwell

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Coldwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coldwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Coldwell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Coldwell is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coldwell falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Coldwell

The surname Coldwell has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "cald" meaning "cold" and "well" referring to a water source or spring. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term for someone who lived near a cold well or spring.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Calewell." This entry suggests that the name was already present in England during the 11th century.

By the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Caldwell" and "Caudewell" began to appear in various historical records, indicating the spelling was not yet standardized.

The earliest known bearer of the name was John Caldwell, who was born in Wiltshire, England, around 1250. He was a landowner and is mentioned in several local records from the time.

In the 15th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Sir Robert Coldwell (1420-1485), a prominent politician and Knight of the Shire for Gloucestershire. He played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, supporting the Yorkist cause.

Another notable figure was William Coldwell (1570-1631), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Godmanchester in Huntingdonshire. He published several religious works during his lifetime.

During the 17th century, the name was associated with the village of Caldwell in Derbyshire, which likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname.

In the 18th century, Thomas Coldwell (1718-1792) was a successful merchant and landowner in Yorkshire, known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local schools and churches.

As the name spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances in America was John Coldwell, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coldwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coldwell 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. Yorkshire leads with 816 Coldwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.44x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 816 6.44x
Middlesex 94 0.74x
Lancashire 58 0.38x
Durham 57 1.50x
Northumberland 50 2.63x
Kent 30 0.69x
Worcestershire 23 1.38x
Northamptonshire 18 1.50x
Surrey 17 0.27x
Cheshire 15 0.53x
Selkirkshire 15 12.96x
Midlothian 12 0.70x
Shropshire 12 1.09x
Lanarkshire 11 0.27x
Essex 10 0.40x
Herefordshire 10 1.91x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.35x
Staffordshire 6 0.14x
Stirlingshire 6 1.27x
Warwickshire 5 0.16x
Oxfordshire 4 0.51x
Roxburghshire 4 1.73x
Sussex 4 0.19x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.25x
Angus 3 0.25x
Gloucestershire 3 0.12x
Hampshire 3 0.11x
Leicestershire 3 0.21x
Perthshire 2 0.35x
Ayrshire 1 0.10x
Banffshire 1 0.38x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.12x
Cardiganshire 1 0.32x
Cumberland 1 0.09x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.04x
East Lothian 1 0.59x
Kincardineshire 1 0.64x
Somerset 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brightside Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 77 Coldwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.98x.

Place Total Index
Brightside Bierlow 77 30.98x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 63 53.36x
Barnsley 44 33.66x
Cartworth 44 419.85x
Sheffield 42 10.41x
Nether Hallam 41 23.91x
Upperthong 34 315.40x
Honley 33 148.78x
Thurlstone 32 256.00x
St Pancras London 29 2.82x
Wooldale 24 111.68x
Batley 23 19.10x
South Crosland 22 164.92x
Austonley 21 292.89x
Ecclesall Bierlow 20 7.76x
Huddersfield 20 10.83x
Bradfield 17 34.80x
Kirkburton 16 107.10x
Thurgoland 16 187.13x
Barugh 14 130.84x
Kings Norton 14 9.35x
Melrose 14 48.08x
Hackney London 13 1.81x
Dodworth 12 91.19x
Elswick 11 7.24x
Hornsey 11 6.80x
Manchester 10 1.47x
Wallsend 10 16.57x
Barony 9 0.86x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.62x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 9 22.21x
Great Billing 9 526.32x
Leeds 9 1.26x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 9 7.92x
Wingate 9 34.51x
Byker 8 8.51x
Morley 8 12.14x
Oldham 8 1.63x
Plumstead 8 5.50x
Thorpe Willoughby 8 1038.96x
Tudhoe 8 24.03x
Whitworth 8 28.73x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 15.21x
Elvet 7 25.48x
Erith 7 16.28x
Hapton 7 73.76x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 4.25x
Meltham 7 35.52x
Mirfield 7 10.06x
Monk Bretton 7 54.56x
Thornaby 7 14.78x
West Ham 7 1.26x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 1.81x
Blackburn 6 1.49x
Bow London 6 3.69x
Bradford 6 1.96x
Hampstead London 6 3.01x
Lewisham 6 2.58x
Lockwood 6 13.16x
Marsden In Huddersfield 6 200.00x
Meole Brace 6 104.90x
Oxspring 6 389.61x
Sandon 6 266.67x
Snaith Cowick 6 79.16x
St Marylebone London 6 0.88x
Stirling 6 10.09x
Streatham 6 6.32x
Thornhill 6 16.23x
Thornton In Bradford 6 14.22x
Almondbury 5 8.16x
Calverley Cum Farsley 5 13.90x
Clerkenwell London 5 1.66x
Dukinfield 5 3.83x
Frodsham Lordship 5 104.60x
Heeley 5 12.98x
Netherthong 5 121.95x
Northampton Priory St 5 6.93x
Rastrick 5 14.20x
Sharlston 5 60.17x
West Clayton 5 79.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 77
William 54
George 52
Henry 30
James 28
Joseph 28
Charles 21
Thomas 18
Arthur 16
Walter 14
Robert 13
Benjamin 12
Fred 12
Samuel 12
Harry 11
Joe 10
Herbert 9
Albert 8
Alfred 7
Edward 7
Edwin 7
David 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Tom 5
Wm. 5
Brook 4
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Andrew 3
Frederick 3
Harvey 3
Isaac 3
Jonathan 3
Thos. 3
Amos 2
Christopher 2
Clifton 2
Enoch 2
Jim 2
Jonas 2
Lee 2
Mathew 2
Paul 2
Reginald 2
Richard 2
Sam 2
Uriah 2
Wilson 2
Wright 2

FAQ

Coldwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coldwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,311 people were recorded with the Coldwell surname. That placed it at #3,125 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coldwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,259 in 2016. That gives Coldwell a modern rank of #4,748.

What does the Coldwell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a location with a cold water source.

What does the Coldwell map show?

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