NameCensus.

UK surname

Colwell

An English locational surname derived from places meaning "cold spring" or "coal spring" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 973 people recorded with the Colwell surname, ranking it #3,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,247, ranked #4,787, down from #3,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Southwick, Farlington, Wymering, Widley, Boarhunt. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Blaenau Gwent and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colwell is 1,360 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

973

Ranked #3,999

Modern count

1,247

2016, ranked #4,787

Peak year

1911

1,360 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colwell had 973 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016, ranked #4,787.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,360 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Colwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colwell 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 652 #3,985
1861 historical 668 #4,013
1881 historical 973 #3,999
1891 historical 1,012 #4,106
1901 historical 1,196 #4,115
1911 historical 1,360 #3,528
1997 modern 1,260 #4,519
1998 modern 1,322 #4,492
1999 modern 1,331 #4,495
2000 modern 1,317 #4,514
2001 modern 1,289 #4,515
2002 modern 1,314 #4,531
2003 modern 1,282 #4,534
2004 modern 1,251 #4,638
2005 modern 1,218 #4,694
2006 modern 1,219 #4,716
2007 modern 1,234 #4,711
2008 modern 1,247 #4,693
2009 modern 1,263 #4,737
2010 modern 1,281 #4,760
2011 modern 1,263 #4,775
2012 modern 1,243 #4,769
2013 modern 1,269 #4,768
2014 modern 1,279 #4,747
2015 modern 1,260 #4,764
2016 modern 1,247 #4,787

Geography

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Where Colwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Southwick, Farlington, Wymering, Widley, Boarhunt, Brighton and Stanton St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Blaenau Gwent, Neath Port Talbot, Herefordshire and Harborough. 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 3
2 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
3 Southwick, Farlington, Wymering, Widley, Boarhunt Hampshire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Stanton St John Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 013 Chichester
2 Blaenau Gwent 006 Blaenau Gwent
3 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot
4 Herefordshire 023 Herefordshire, County of
5 Harborough 004 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colwell

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Colwell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Colwell is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Colwell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Colwell

The surname Colwell has its origins in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "col" meaning coal and "well" referring to a spring or stream, indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a coal-colored stream or spring.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a person named Robert de Colewell. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name, but it does mention places like Colwell in Bedfordshire and Caldewell in Staffordshire, which may have been the places of origin for some early bearers of the name.

In the 13th century, the name appeared with various spellings such as Colewelle, Collewelle, and Colewell, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable bearer of the name during this period was John de Colwell, who was recorded as a landowner in Oxfordshire in 1279.

By the 14th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, with records showing Colwells in counties like Derbyshire and Warwickshire. One prominent individual with this surname was William Colwell, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 14th century and was involved in trade with Ireland and the continent.

The 15th and 16th centuries saw the emergence of various branches of the Colwell family across England. In 1487, a John Colwell was recorded as a member of the Guild of St. Mary in Boston, Lincolnshire. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Colwell, a courtier and member of the Privy Council during the reign of Elizabeth I in the late 16th century.

As the centuries progressed, the Colwell name continued to be found in various parts of England, with some bearers of the name making their mark in different fields. In the 18th century, Samuel Colwell was a renowned clockmaker in London, while in the 19th century, Thomas Colwell was a prominent architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Gloucestershire.

Throughout its history, the surname Colwell has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, artisans, and professionals. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and settlement patterns, carrying with it a rich heritage and a connection to the coal-colored streams of its distant past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colwell 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. Middlesex leads with 110 Colwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 110 1.16x
Sussex 109 6.81x
Gloucestershire 98 5.26x
Surrey 89 1.92x
Hampshire 84 4.32x
Lancashire 61 0.54x
Devon 47 2.38x
Oxfordshire 40 6.82x
Staffordshire 37 1.15x
Yorkshire 34 0.36x
Durham 33 1.17x
Worcestershire 27 2.18x
Cornwall 25 2.33x
Kent 22 0.68x
Glamorgan 16 0.97x
Herefordshire 15 3.85x
Rutland 13 18.65x
Leicestershire 12 1.14x
Monmouthshire 11 1.60x
Dorset 9 1.44x
Northumberland 9 0.64x
Wiltshire 9 1.07x
Northamptonshire 7 0.78x
Essex 6 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.83x
Denbighshire 5 1.39x
Warwickshire 5 0.21x
Lanarkshire 4 0.13x
Berkshire 3 0.42x
Lincolnshire 3 0.20x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.99x
Roxburghshire 3 1.75x
Suffolk 3 0.26x
Angus 2 0.23x
Cheshire 2 0.10x
Derbyshire 2 0.13x
Hertfordshire 2 0.31x
Royal Navy 2 1.77x
Somerset 2 0.13x
Cumberland 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Shropshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 39 Colwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.08x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 39 12.08x
Stanton St John 28 1573.03x
Westbury On Severn East 27 64.16x
Southwick 25 1157.41x
Lambeth 23 2.78x
Tipton 19 19.37x
Hambledon 15 228.66x
St Pancras London 15 1.96x
Islington London 13 1.41x
Westbury On Severn 13 176.15x
Buriton 12 320.00x
Cliffe 12 221.81x
Eastdean 11 1170.21x
Kingswinford 11 9.46x
Liddington 11 643.27x
Rotherhithe 11 9.38x
South Hamlet 11 95.49x
St Marylebone London 11 2.17x
Farlington 10 251.89x
Hutton Henry 10 168.07x
Portsea 10 2.62x
South Malling 10 420.17x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 5.24x
Devizes St John 9 142.86x
Mile End Old Town London 9 4.46x
Neithrop 9 45.69x
Newington 9 2.57x
Portland 9 26.87x
Severn Stoke 9 400.00x
West Derby 9 2.73x
Aylburton 8 377.36x
Bromley 8 16.21x
Alverstoke 7 9.94x
Blackburn 7 2.34x
Camberwell 7 1.15x
Gloucester St John Baptist 7 58.24x
Lewes St Michael 7 220.13x
Llangattock Vibon Avel 7 443.04x
Newfield 7 186.67x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 4.60x
Ross 7 45.22x
Shoreditch London 7 1.70x
Toxteth Park 7 1.84x
Willesden 7 7.82x
Bere Ferrers 6 184.62x
Eastbourne 6 8.15x
Everton 6 1.67x
Hornsey 6 5.00x
Leicester St Margaret 6 2.34x
Limehouse London 6 5.76x
Liverpool 6 0.88x
Moss Side 6 10.12x
Reigate Foreign 6 11.98x
Shadwell London 6 22.59x
Bridestow 5 239.23x
Claines 5 14.70x
Eldersfield 5 256.41x
Greenwich 5 3.31x
Gresford Gwersyllt 5 44.96x
Hulme 5 2.13x
Illogan 5 17.57x
Keighley 5 4.99x
Kensington London 5 0.95x
Shere 5 89.45x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 19.65x
St Clement Cambridge 5 200.80x
Streatham 5 7.10x
Swansea Town 5 3.69x
Tunstall 5 35.56x
Westbourne 5 62.74x
Aston 4 0.61x
Caterham 4 19.57x
Gloucester St Catherine 4 76.34x
Handsworth 4 5.07x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 3.27x
Plymouth Charles The 4 4.60x
Redmarley 4 123.08x
Rimington 4 320.00x
Tormoham 4 4.78x
Walthamstow 4 5.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 64
John 59
Charles 30
George 28
Henry 28
Thomas 24
James 23
Richard 14
Joseph 13
Albert 10
Frederick 10
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Edwin 9
Arthur 6
Francis 6
Walter 6
David 5
Geo. 5
Ernest 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Andrew 3
Chas. 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Michael 3
Alfd. 2
Daniel 2
Edwd. 2
Fred 2
Hector 2
Hen. 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Luke 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Samual 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Danill 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Arthur 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Wm.Tho.R. 1

FAQ

Colwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 973 people were recorded with the Colwell surname. That placed it at #3,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,247 in 2016. That gives Colwell a modern rank of #4,787.

What does the Colwell surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from places meaning "cold spring" or "coal spring" in Old English.

What does the Colwell map show?

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