NameCensus.

UK surname

Fewell

Derived from a place name meaning "bird hill" or "fowl hill" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 225 people recorded with the Fewell surname, ranking it #11,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 249, ranked #16,847, down from #11,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ingrave, Northfleet and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Chelmsford and Hertsmere.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fewell is 343 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.7%.

1881 census count

225

Ranked #11,931

Modern count

249

2016, ranked #16,847

Peak year

1901

343 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fewell had 225 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016, ranked #16,847.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 343 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Fewell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fewell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fewell 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 225 #11,931
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 343 #10,583
1911 historical 343 #10,416
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 278 #14,620
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 274 #14,796
2001 modern 263 #14,999
2002 modern 278 #14,726
2003 modern 258 #15,293
2004 modern 261 #15,274
2005 modern 262 #15,182
2006 modern 255 #15,521
2007 modern 254 #15,736
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 253 #16,283
2010 modern 260 #16,343
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 247 #16,661
2013 modern 262 #16,273
2014 modern 260 #16,470
2015 modern 249 #16,858
2016 modern 249 #16,847

Geography

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Where Fewells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ingrave, Northfleet, London parishes and Roothing, White. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Chelmsford, Hertsmere and County Durham. 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 Ingrave Essex
2 Northfleet Kent
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Roothing, White Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 012 Southwark
2 Chelmsford 018 Chelmsford
3 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere
4 Chelmsford 008 Chelmsford
5 County Durham 064 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fewell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fewell

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

Fewell 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

Fewell 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 Fewell 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 Fewell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fewell

The surname Fewell is derived from the Old English word "fyll" or "ful," meaning "full" or "complete." It originated in England during the medieval period, possibly as an occupational name for someone who worked as a fuller, a person responsible for thickening and shrinking woolen cloth by applying moisture and heat.

Fewell is believed to have roots in various regions of England, particularly in counties like Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, where the wool trade was prevalent during the Middle Ages. The name's earliest recorded instances date back to the late 13th century, with variations such as Fulur, Fullere, and Fuller appearing in historical documents.

One notable early reference to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their properties in England. The records mention individuals with the surname Fuller, the precursor to Fewell.

In the 14th century, the surname Fewell emerged as a distinct variation, with records indicating individuals bearing this name in various parts of England. For instance, John Fewell was recorded as a resident of Somerset in 1327, while William Fewell was documented in Gloucestershire in 1379.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals bore the surname Fewell. One example is John Fewell (1561-1638), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Stratford-upon-Avon and was a contemporary of William Shakespeare.

Another prominent figure was Sir Bartholomew Fewell (1617-1692), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the 18th century, Thomas Fewell (1728-1795) was a renowned English architect and surveyor known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

Moving into the 19th century, John Fewell (1789-1879) was an English engraver and painter who gained recognition for his landscape etchings and watercolors.

Additionally, Charles Fewell (1835-1908) was a notable English cricketer who played first-class cricket for several teams, including Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire.

While the surname Fewell has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval occupational name associated with the wool trade in various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fewell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fewell 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. Essex leads with 125 Fewells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.85x.

County Total Index
Essex 125 28.85x
Middlesex 35 1.59x
Kent 27 3.61x
Surrey 25 2.34x
Norfolk 5 1.48x
Montgomeryshire 3 5.96x
Midlothian 2 0.68x
Devon 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 0.27x
Worcestershire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. White Roothing in Essex leads with 17 Fewells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5312.50x.

Place Total Index
White Roothing 17 5312.50x
Northfleet 14 212.12x
Great Canfield 12 4615.38x
Chelmsford 10 134.59x
Plumstead 10 40.06x
Croydon 9 15.16x
Islington London 9 4.23x
Sutton 9 116.28x
Chipping Ongar 8 1066.67x
High Roothing 8 2352.94x
Ingrave 8 2051.28x
Chelsea London 7 10.58x
Chignall St James 7 4375.00x
Leaden Roothing 7 5384.62x
Mile End Old Town London 7 14.99x
Sandon 7 2000.00x
Epping 6 340.91x
Hampstead London 4 11.70x
Leyton Low 4 45.40x
Stanford Rivers 4 547.95x
Wandsworth 4 18.93x
Wethersfield 4 366.97x
Finchingfield 3 220.59x
Great Yarmouth 3 10.73x
Moreton 3 882.35x
Newtown 3 93.17x
Brenenden 2 208.33x
Brentwood 2 75.76x
Camberwell 2 1.43x
Canewdon 2 370.37x
Chignal Smealy 2 1333.33x
East Dereham 2 46.95x
Enfield 2 13.89x
Great Baddow 2 129.87x
Great Waltham 2 113.64x
South Leith 2 6.04x
St Pancras London 2 1.13x
Bocking 1 38.31x
Brighton 1 1.34x
Chatham 1 4.85x
Dudley 1 2.87x
East Horndon 1 263.16x
Felstead 1 67.57x
Great Burstead 1 63.29x
Hackney London 1 0.81x
Harlington 1 86.21x
High Easter 1 166.67x
Langham 1 200.00x
Lidford 1 48.78x
Newington 1 1.23x
Paddington London 1 1.24x
Roxwell 1 163.93x
St George In East London 1 4.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 10
Emily 6
Mary 6
Ellen 4
Minnie 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Emmely 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Isabell 1
Kate 1
Letitia 1
Lille 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Rosia 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Fewell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fewell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 225 people were recorded with the Fewell surname. That placed it at #11,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fewell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 249 in 2016. That gives Fewell a modern rank of #16,847.

What does the Fewell surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "bird hill" or "fowl hill" in Old English.

What does the Fewell map show?

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