NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunwell

A locational surname referring to someone living near a hill or hillock, derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill and "well" meaning spring or water source.

In the 1881 census there were 606 people recorded with the Dunwell surname, ranking it #5,789 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 742, ranked #7,354, down from #5,789 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otley, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunwell is 813 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.4%.

1881 census count

606

Ranked #5,789

Modern count

742

2016, ranked #7,354

Peak year

2002

813 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunwell had 606 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,789 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016, ranked #7,354.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 794 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dunwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dunwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunwell 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 413 #5,872
1861 historical 451 #5,746
1881 historical 606 #5,789
1891 historical 645 #6,016
1901 historical 684 #6,394
1911 historical 794 #5,500
1997 modern 794 #6,573
1998 modern 796 #6,774
1999 modern 799 #6,799
2000 modern 801 #6,767
2001 modern 777 #6,796
2002 modern 813 #6,684
2003 modern 770 #6,859
2004 modern 744 #7,071
2005 modern 732 #7,087
2006 modern 746 #7,013
2007 modern 737 #7,158
2008 modern 735 #7,219
2009 modern 746 #7,286
2010 modern 754 #7,352
2011 modern 746 #7,340
2012 modern 754 #7,193
2013 modern 753 #7,318
2014 modern 757 #7,317
2015 modern 741 #7,377
2016 modern 742 #7,354

Geography

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Where Dunwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otley, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Bradford, Sheffield and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds. 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 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 098 Leeds
2 Leeds 050 Leeds
3 Leeds 100 Leeds
4 Leeds 010 Leeds
5 Leeds 040 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunwell

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dunwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dunwell is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunwell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dunwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dunwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dunwell

The surname Dunwell has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "dun" meaning hill or down, and "well" referring to a spring or water source. This suggests that the name may have originally been a locational surname, denoting someone who resided near a spring on a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dunwell appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Dunewelle" in the county of Nottinghamshire, indicating the presence of a settlement or landholding associated with the name.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Dunwelle" and "Dunnewell" can be found in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls and the Feet of Fines. These documents often recorded transactions involving land, property, and taxation, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of the Dunwell surname across different regions of England.

Notable individuals bearing the Dunwell surname include John Dunwell (1589-1655), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Aldbury in Hertfordshire. Another prominent figure was Thomas Dunwell (1634-1711), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who played a significant role in the development of the wool trade in the region.

In the 18th century, the Dunwell family established itself in the county of Warwickshire, where they held considerable land and influence. Richard Dunwell (1726-1802) was a respected magistrate and benefactor, known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local education and charitable initiatives.

The 19th century saw the rise of George Dunwell (1827-1904), a renowned horticulturist and nurseryman from Berkshire. He was responsible for introducing numerous new plant varieties and contributed greatly to the advancement of horticulture in Britain.

Other notable individuals with the Dunwell surname include Sir Arthur Dunwell (1861-1938), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire, and Elizabeth Dunwell (1884-1972), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in education.

Throughout its history, the Dunwell surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire, and Berkshire, where many families bearing this name have left their mark on local communities and industries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunwell 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 510 Dunwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.71x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 510 8.71x
Middlesex 16 0.27x
Lancashire 15 0.21x
Staffordshire 15 0.75x
Lincolnshire 11 1.16x
Derbyshire 9 0.97x
Cambridgeshire 8 2.14x
Kent 8 0.40x
Durham 5 0.28x
Surrey 5 0.17x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 64 Dunwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.35x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 64 19.35x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 24 43.98x
Otley 20 140.65x
Eccleshill 15 105.19x
Idle 14 51.55x
Hunslet 13 14.23x
Kippax 12 233.01x
Barwick In Elmet 11 244.99x
Bradford 10 7.05x
Burniston 10 1408.45x
Castleford 10 46.88x
Falsgrave 10 115.87x
Holbeck 10 25.77x
Horsforth 10 77.88x
Keighley 10 16.02x
Leek Lowe 10 37.66x
Bramley In Bramley 9 40.14x
Scarborough 9 16.91x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 9 414.75x
Baildon 8 72.53x
Ecclesfield 8 18.63x
Headingley Cum Burley 8 21.21x
Pannal 8 142.35x
Thruscross 8 1250.00x
Bowling 7 12.06x
Holy Trinity St Mary 7 78.48x
Openshaw 7 21.31x
Shipley 7 23.03x
St Pancras London 7 1.47x
Wortley In Bramley 7 15.09x
Farnley In Bramley 6 82.08x
Guiseley 6 80.00x
Holy Trinity 6 4.26x
Kirkby Overblow 6 1111.11x
Manningham 6 8.31x
Mile End Old Town London 6 4.77x
St Andrewthe Less 6 14.03x
Toxteth Park 6 2.53x
Ulceby 6 260.87x
Bilton In Wetherby 5 1041.67x
Burton Upon Trent 5 10.71x
Camberwell 5 1.32x
Farnley In Wharfedale 5 1785.71x
Goldsborough 5 1162.79x
Goole 5 50.92x
Goxhill 5 214.59x
Heck 5 1086.96x
Horton In Bradford 5 5.47x
Huddersfield 5 5.86x
Kirk Deighton 5 704.23x
Middleton In Hunslet 5 609.76x
Morton In Keighley 5 108.70x
Rowley 5 390.63x
Scalby In Scarborough 5 413.22x
Spofforth Cum Stockeld 5 537.63x
Stapenhill 5 36.28x
York St Mary 5 20.61x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.57x
Dronfield 4 33.73x
Helperby 4 310.08x
Knaresborough 4 43.48x
North South Anston 4 156.25x
Sutton 4 59.88x
Beeston 3 50.68x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 14.98x
Bingley 3 8.04x
Bishopwearmouth 3 1.99x
Dartford 3 14.55x
Eskdaleside 3 104.17x
Howden 3 75.38x
Kensington London 3 0.91x
Bishop Monkton 2 204.08x
Doncaster 2 4.67x
Fewston 2 307.69x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 2 49.26x
Little Ribston 2 540.54x
Sculcoates 2 2.15x
Sheffield 2 1.07x
Thorner 2 105.26x
Wigton 2 392.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 26
Hannah 18
Jane 15
Annie 14
Emma 12
Ann 11
Alice 8
Rose 7
Emily 6
Martha 6
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Beatrice 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Eva 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Lilly 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Lavinia 2
Louisa 2
Marion 2
Maud 2
Nancy 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Susanah 2
Emmeline 1
Florance 1
Lydia 1
Marcy 1
Sushannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
William 38
Thomas 20
James 19
George 10
Joseph 10
David 9
Robert 9
Charles 8
Arthur 7
Francis 7
Benjamin 6
Walter 6
Harry 5
Michael 5
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Ben 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Miles 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
Alfred 2
Christopher 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Wm. 2
Alvan 1
Benson 1
Butler 1
Dickinson 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Grace 1
Hartley 1
Job 1
Joque 1
Joshua 1
Karl 1
Mark 1
Marmaduke 1
Myers 1
Ralph 1

FAQ

Dunwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 606 people were recorded with the Dunwell surname. That placed it at #5,789 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 742 in 2016. That gives Dunwell a modern rank of #7,354.

What does the Dunwell surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone living near a hill or hillock, derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill and "well" meaning spring or water source.

What does the Dunwell map show?

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