NameCensus.

UK surname

Cornwell

An English locational surname referring to someone from Cornwall county in southwest England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,727 people recorded with the Cornwell surname, ranking it #2,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,276, ranked #2,071, up from #2,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire and East Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cornwell is 3,511 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.7%.

1881 census count

1,727

Ranked #2,498

Modern count

3,276

2016, ranked #2,071

Peak year

1999

3,511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cornwell had 1,727 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,276 in 2016, ranked #2,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,965 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cornwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cornwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cornwell 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 1,258 #2,267
1861 historical 1,245 #2,288
1881 historical 1,727 #2,498
1891 historical 2,045 #2,259
1901 historical 2,344 #2,314
1911 historical 2,965 #1,752
1997 modern 3,318 #1,942
1998 modern 3,484 #1,930
1999 modern 3,511 #1,935
2000 modern 3,500 #1,937
2001 modern 3,403 #1,943
2002 modern 3,441 #1,964
2003 modern 3,314 #1,993
2004 modern 3,326 #1,991
2005 modern 3,243 #2,007
2006 modern 3,305 #1,983
2007 modern 3,288 #2,018
2008 modern 3,276 #2,036
2009 modern 3,395 #2,018
2010 modern 3,466 #2,012
2011 modern 3,385 #2,034
2012 modern 3,262 #2,065
2013 modern 3,313 #2,068
2014 modern 3,335 #2,069
2015 modern 3,282 #2,080
2016 modern 3,276 #2,071

Geography

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Where Cornwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire and East Northamptonshire. 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 1
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
2 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
3 East Cambridgeshire 005 East Cambridgeshire
4 East Northamptonshire 003 East Northamptonshire
5 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cornwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cornwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cornwell, 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 Cornwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cornwell 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, Cornwell 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

Cornwell is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cornwell falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cornwell

The surname Cornwell has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "corn" meaning grain and "well" referring to a spring or stream, indicating that the name likely originated from a place where grain was grown near a water source.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1176, where it is listed as "Cornuuelle." This document suggests that the name was already established in the region during the 12th century.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not directly mention the surname Cornwell, but it does list several places with names containing the element "corn," such as Cornwood in Devon and Cornhill in London, indicating the prevalence of these place names in England at the time.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records with variations in spelling, including "Cornewelle," "Cornuell," and "Cornualle." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the regional differences in pronunciation and spelling.

One notable figure associated with the name Cornwell was Sir John Cornwell (c. 1470-1536), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Henry VIII. He was known for his involvement in local affairs and his service to the Crown.

Another individual with the surname was Thomas Cornwell (1555-1625), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and wrote several religious works during the Elizabethan era.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where families such as the Cornwells from Devonshire settled in the New World, bringing their surname with them.

During the 18th century, Edward Cornwell (1768-1831) was a notable English painter known for his landscapes and portraits. He exhibited his works at the Royal Academy and was highly regarded in his time.

In the 19th century, Frances Cornwell (1828-1894) was a British author and poet who wrote several novels and collections of poetry, contributing to the literary culture of the Victorian era.

The Cornwell surname has been associated with various places throughout England, including Cornwell in Oxfordshire, Cornwell Manor in Gloucestershire, and Cornwell Farm in Warwickshire, reflecting the locational origins of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cornwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cornwell 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 376 Cornwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.26x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 376 35.26x
Middlesex 304 1.81x
Lancashire 159 0.80x
Sussex 116 4.09x
Surrey 110 1.34x
Essex 107 3.22x
Kent 83 1.44x
Suffolk 74 3.61x
Staffordshire 63 1.11x
Norfolk 56 2.16x
Hertfordshire 54 4.65x
Yorkshire 47 0.28x
Warwickshire 44 1.04x
Durham 18 0.36x
Devon 15 0.43x
Somerset 14 0.52x
Worcestershire 13 0.59x
Flintshire 10 2.21x
Bedfordshire 9 1.03x
Gloucestershire 9 0.27x
Derbyshire 8 0.30x
Lincolnshire 8 0.30x
Northamptonshire 8 0.51x
Cheshire 4 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.18x
Wiltshire 3 0.20x
Denbighshire 2 0.31x
Hampshire 2 0.06x
Midlothian 2 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.30x
Isle of Man 1 0.32x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bottisham in Cambridgeshire leads with 102 Cornwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1123.35x.

Place Total Index
Bottisham 102 1123.35x
Downham 48 423.65x
St Andrewthe Less 40 32.83x
Isleham 37 377.94x
Islington London 37 2.27x
Preston 37 6.92x
Bethnal Green London 34 4.65x
Camberwell 30 2.79x
Lambeth 28 1.91x
Eastbourne 25 19.14x
Clerkenwell London 21 5.28x
Mile End Old Town London 20 5.58x
Bermondsey 18 3.59x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 18 38.71x
Aston 17 1.45x
Barnardiston 17 1393.44x
Kensington London 17 1.82x
Shoreditch London 17 2.33x
West Ham 17 2.32x
Hastings St Mary In The 16 26.42x
Bishop Stortford 15 38.70x
Clitheroe 15 25.51x
Charnock Richard 14 354.43x
Bredgar 13 365.17x
Greenwich 13 4.85x
Waterbeach 13 149.43x
Withersfield 13 392.75x
Birmingham 12 0.85x
Rowley Regis 12 7.58x
Tonbridge 12 5.79x
Bow London 11 5.13x
Coppull 11 103.38x
Hackney London 11 1.17x
Hammersmith London 11 2.65x
Smallthorne 11 52.16x
Birtley 10 48.92x
Epping 10 74.07x
Felstead 10 87.80x
Maidstone 10 5.84x
Meliden 10 151.75x
Sandon 10 227.27x
St Marylebone London 10 1.11x
St Pancras London 10 0.74x
Trowse Cum Newton 10 156.25x
Wolstanton Chesterton 10 34.42x
Accrington 9 4.95x
Barley 9 251.40x
Beckley 9 126.94x
Chelmsford 9 15.78x
Chorley 9 8.03x
Elvenden 9 500.00x
Euxton 9 135.75x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 9 77.79x
Maldon St Peter 9 53.16x
Newmarket St Mary 9 57.18x
Oldbury 9 8.32x
St Andrewthe Great 9 65.26x
Westminster St James 9 5.20x
Beswick 8 15.66x
Kedington 8 147.60x
Norwich St James 8 39.39x
Salford 8 1.36x
Sculcoates 8 3.02x
St Ann Blackfriars London 8 257.23x
St Martin In Fields 8 7.94x
Waldron 8 103.49x
Wyke In Bradford 8 26.81x
Alcester 7 50.00x
Elvet 7 19.36x
Exeter St David 7 23.38x
Great Alne 7 278.88x
Prittlewell 7 15.20x
Barking 6 6.17x
Beechamwell 6 331.49x
Brighton 6 1.05x
Cruwys Morchard 6 170.94x
Fen Ditton 6 155.84x
Glastonbury 6 27.12x
Newington 6 0.96x
Norwood 6 15.58x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Cornwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cornwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,727 people were recorded with the Cornwell surname. That placed it at #2,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cornwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,276 in 2016. That gives Cornwell a modern rank of #2,071.

What does the Cornwell surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to someone from Cornwall county in southwest England.

What does the Cornwell map show?

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