UK surname
A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a misty well or spring.
In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Fogwell surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #20,248 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Kingskerswell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fogwell is 119 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.8%.
1881 census count
96
Ranked #20,248
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1901
119 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fogwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fogwell surname density by area, 1901 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 96 | #20,248 |
| 1891 | historical | 83 | #26,376 |
| 1901 | historical | 119 | #20,624 |
| 1911 | historical | 62 | #26,622 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 11 | #36,908 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 8 | #37,346 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Kingskerswell, London parishes and Berry Pomeroy. 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 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 2 | Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton | Devon |
| 3 | Kingskerswell | Devon |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Berry Pomeroy | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fogwell 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 Fogwell, 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 Fogwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fogwell 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, Fogwell 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 Fogwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fogwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fogwell has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "fog" and "welle," signifying a misty or foggy spring or well. This name was likely given as a topographical surname to individuals residing near such natural features.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Fogwell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conquer. Entries from this historical document suggest that the name was prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset during the 11th century.
Variants of the spelling, such as Fogwelle and Foggewell, were also documented in various medieval records, including the Pipe Rolls of the 12th century and the Feet of Fines from the 13th century. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.
One notable bearer of the Fogwell name was Sir John Fogwell, a landowner and knight who lived in Gloucestershire during the 14th century. Records indicate that he participated in the Hundred Years' War and was granted lands by King Edward III for his military service.
In the 15th century, a branch of the Fogwell family settled in the village of Fogswell, located in the county of Somerset. It is believed that the place name was derived from the family's surname, further solidifying the connection between the name and the geographical feature it described.
Another prominent individual with the Fogwell surname was Thomas Fogwell, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's governance and played a role in the expansion of trade and commerce in the region.
Over the centuries, the Fogwell name has also been associated with various occupations and professions. In the 17th century, records show a Robert Fogwell who was a skilled blacksmith in the village of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. Additionally, a William Fogwell was noted as a respected physician in the city of London during the late 18th century.
While the surname Fogwell is not among the most common in England, it has endured through the ages, carrying with it a rich history and a connection to the misty wells and springs that once dotted the English countryside.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fogwell 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. Devon leads with 69 Fogwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.40x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixham in Devon leads with 14 Fogwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 619.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brixham | 14 | 619.47x |
| Berry Pomeroy | 12 | 3750.00x |
| Woolwich | 9 | 76.27x |
| Tormoham | 7 | 84.85x |
| Exeter St Thomas The | 6 | 301.51x |
| Dartmouth Townstall | 5 | 632.91x |
| Kingskerswell | 5 | 1562.50x |
| Lostwithel | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Kingsteignton | 4 | 740.74x |
| Newton Abbot St Mary | 4 | 245.40x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 4 | 26.65x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 5.02x |
| Charleton | 3 | 1666.67x |
| Harberton | 3 | 681.82x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 4.00x |
| Avebury | 1 | 434.78x |
| Battersea | 1 | 2.90x |
| Buckfastleigh | 1 | 111.11x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 4.06x |
| Devonport | 1 | 44.64x |
| Heston | 1 | 32.15x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.66x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 22.62x |
| Roath | 1 | 13.51x |
| Southampton | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fogwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Alice | 4 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Mary | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Sabina | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Agness | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Cecilia | 1 |
| Dora | 1 |
| Dorothea | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Hettie | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Janet | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Triphena | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Fogwell 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 Fogwell households.
FAQ
In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Fogwell surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Fogwell a modern rank of #38,264.
A topographic surname indicating someone who lived near a misty well or spring.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fogwell 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.