UK surname
A surname derived from a place name or location such as Corwell or Corwall.
In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Corwell surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #26,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tarporley, Manchester and Oakington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corwell is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 59.2%.
1881 census count
49
Ranked #26,735
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Corwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Corwell 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 | 63 | #22,069 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 49 | #26,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 43 | #33,361 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 28 | #35,127 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 28 | #34,936 |
| 2002 | modern | 31 | #34,866 |
| 2003 | modern | 29 | #35,129 |
| 2004 | modern | 25 | #35,610 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 23 | #36,417 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tarporley, Manchester, Oakington, Chesterfield and Delamere. 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 | Tarporley | Cheshire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Oakington | Cambridgeshire |
| 4 | Chesterfield | Derbyshire |
| 5 | Delamere | Cheshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Corwell 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 Corwell, 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 Corwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Corwell 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, Corwell 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 Corwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Corwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Corwell is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have emerged as a locational name, derived from the placename Corwell or Corville, which referred to small villages or hamlets in various parts of England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Coruuille" or "Coruuill." This suggests that the name may have been present in England even before the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The name Corwell is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cor" or "cor-" meaning "bend" or "curve," and "well" or "wella," meaning "stream" or "spring." This combination could indicate that the original bearers of the name lived near a bend or curve in a stream or river.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named William de Corwell was recorded as a landowner and knight in Warwickshire. He is mentioned in several historical documents from that period, including the Pipe Rolls of 1230.
Another early record of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John de Corwell is listed as a taxpayer.
In the 16th century, a prominent Corwell family resided in the village of Halsall, Lancashire. One member, Richard Corwell, was born in 1520 and served as a local magistrate and landowner.
During the English Civil War (1642-1651), a Royalist soldier named Thomas Corwell fought under the command of King Charles I. He was born in 1610 and later settled in Oxfordshire after the war.
In the 18th century, a notable figure was James Corwell, a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London. He was born in 1735 and lived until 1808.
Another individual of note was Elizabeth Corwell, a pioneering educator and author who established one of the first schools for girls in Bristol, England. She was born in 1745 and her influential writings on education were published in the late 18th century.
These examples illustrate the long history and varied backgrounds associated with the surname Corwell, which has been present in England for several centuries and can be traced back to medieval times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corwell 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. Lancashire leads with 20 Corwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 20 | 3.53x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.67x |
| Essex | 6 | 6.36x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.84x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.29x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.90x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 3.70x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 4.04x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 3.30x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.07x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.04x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 6 Corwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ealing | 6 | 140.52x |
| Great Sankey | 6 | 6000.00x |
| Leyton Low | 6 | 312.50x |
| Wigan | 6 | 75.66x |
| Ardwick | 4 | 78.13x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 2 | 117.65x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 4.80x |
| Sutton | 2 | 105.26x |
| Antony | 1 | 192.31x |
| Bedford St Cuthbert | 1 | 454.55x |
| Bristol St Paul In | 1 | 40.00x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.28x |
| Chester Holy Trinity | 1 | 204.08x |
| Chesterton | 1 | 107.53x |
| Everton | 1 | 5.53x |
| Govan | 1 | 2.62x |
| Ickham Well | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 19.05x |
| Marton In Whitegate | 1 | 909.09x |
| Oldham | 1 | 5.46x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.69x |
| Royston | 1 | 357.14x |
| St Germans | 1 | 263.16x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Corwell 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 Corwell 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 Corwell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| General Labourer | 3 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Companion Dom Serv | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Farm Serv | 1 |
| Farmers Daur | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom Servt) | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Huckster | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lay Helper In The Parish Of St Pauls | 1 |
| Machine Man | 1 |
| Page | 1 |
| Pianforte Dealer | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Sch | 1 |
| Seaman (SRN) H.M. Service | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Corwell surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Corwell a modern rank of #36,679.
A surname derived from a place name or location such as Corwell or Corwall.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Corwell 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.