NameCensus.

UK surname

Gradwell

An English habitational surname derived from a location named Gradwell.

In the 1881 census there were 694 people recorded with the Gradwell surname, ranking it #5,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 752, ranked #7,274, down from #5,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Manchester and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Bolton and Blackpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gradwell is 974 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.4%.

1881 census count

694

Ranked #5,224

Modern count

752

2016, ranked #7,274

Peak year

1911

974 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gradwell had 694 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016, ranked #7,274.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 974 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Gradwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gradwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gradwell 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 480 #5,191
1861 historical 456 #5,692
1881 historical 694 #5,224
1891 historical 790 #5,085
1901 historical 871 #5,258
1911 historical 974 #4,641
1997 modern 773 #6,721
1998 modern 782 #6,884
1999 modern 801 #6,782
2000 modern 784 #6,887
2001 modern 793 #6,686
2002 modern 816 #6,660
2003 modern 782 #6,779
2004 modern 766 #6,913
2005 modern 756 #6,913
2006 modern 716 #7,232
2007 modern 721 #7,266
2008 modern 728 #7,264
2009 modern 765 #7,136
2010 modern 803 #7,003
2011 modern 783 #7,073
2012 modern 774 #7,050
2013 modern 769 #7,199
2014 modern 766 #7,238
2015 modern 757 #7,247
2016 modern 752 #7,274

Geography

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Where Gradwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Manchester, Preston, Bolton-le-Moors and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Bolton, Blackpool, Salford and Lancaster. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
2 Bolton 020 Bolton
3 Blackpool 001 Blackpool
4 Salford 021 Salford
5 Lancaster 020 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gradwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gradwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gradwell, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Gradwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gradwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gradwell is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Gradwell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gradwell

The surname Gradwell is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'græd' meaning 'grade' or 'degree', and 'well' meaning a spring or stream. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a well or stream on a slope or incline.

The earliest known bearer of the name was John Gradwell, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. The name was also found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, where a Roger de Gredewelle was mentioned.

Variations of the spelling in old documents include Gredwell, Gredewelle, and Gradwelle. These variations were common due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and spelling during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded place names associated with the surname is Gradwell in Yorkshire, which was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Gredewelle'. This suggests that some bearers of the surname may have adopted the name from this location.

Notable historical figures with the surname Gradwell include:

1. Sir Thomas Gradwell (1523-1591), an English politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1569.

2. Robert Gradwell (1777-1857), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Dunstan-in-the-West Church.

3. Elizabeth Gradwell (1865-1944), a British author and playwright known for her works on social reform and women's rights.

4. John Gradwell (1892-1972), a British World War I veteran and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor awarded for valor in the face of the enemy.

5. William Gradwell (1916-2003), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the 1940s and 1950s.

While the surname Gradwell is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich historical lineage dating back to the medieval period and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gradwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gradwell 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. Lancashire leads with 551 Gradwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 551 6.86x
Cheshire 49 3.28x
Yorkshire 36 0.54x
Surrey 15 0.45x
Derbyshire 9 0.85x
Leicestershire 9 1.20x
Northumberland 5 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.55x
Cumberland 3 0.51x
Midlothian 2 0.22x
Warwickshire 2 0.12x
Westmorland 2 1.34x
Cardiganshire 1 0.61x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.67x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Kent 1 0.04x
Middlesex 1 0.01x
Somerset 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Bolton in Lancashire leads with 55 Gradwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.69x.

Place Total Index
Great Bolton 55 51.69x
Preston 40 18.61x
Blackburn 34 15.91x
Newton 32 51.69x
Scarisbrick 26 278.97x
Little Bolton 25 24.21x
Oldham 24 9.26x
Manchester 22 6.09x
Salford 19 8.04x
Barrow In Furness 18 16.48x
Hulme 18 10.73x
Pownall Fee 17 254.11x
Lancaster 14 29.29x
Rumworth 14 121.95x
Thornton In Fylde 14 79.68x
West Derby 14 5.96x
Toxteth Park 12 4.41x
Failsworth 11 59.85x
Stockport 11 14.30x
Ulverston 11 47.01x
Gorton 10 13.24x
Bury 9 9.81x
Cheetham 9 15.02x
Chorley 9 19.96x
Glossop Dale 9 18.13x
Leicester St Mary 9 14.84x
North Meols 9 11.45x
Thornton In Craven 9 167.29x
Chadderton 8 20.37x
Levenshulme 8 96.74x
Mobberley 8 234.60x
Moston 8 99.26x
Bradford 7 4.31x
Bradford 7 18.62x
Croydon 7 3.82x
Everton 7 2.73x
Leeds 6 1.58x
Battersea 5 2.01x
Horton In Bradford 5 4.77x
Longbenton 5 11.72x
Basford 4 9.51x
Dukinfield 4 5.79x
Liverpool 4 0.82x
Reddish 4 36.13x
Tonge With Haulgh 4 25.58x
York St John Micklegate 4 246.91x
Alston 3 80.21x
Barnsley 3 4.34x
Dilworth 3 60.98x
Droylsden 3 11.45x
Garston 3 12.65x
Lower Darwen 3 28.46x
Marton 3 56.18x
Newton In Makerfield 3 12.20x
Ormskirk 3 19.52x
Penrith 3 13.93x
Stockport Etchells 3 94.34x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 1.57x
Colton 2 47.73x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.55x
Great Warford 2 246.91x
Harpurhey 2 17.94x
Heap 2 4.69x
Lea Ashton Ingol 2 37.52x
Lytham 2 16.31x
Walton On Hill 2 4.60x
Warrington 2 2.10x
Alverstoke 1 1.99x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.57x
Aston 1 0.21x
Birmingham 1 0.18x
Blackley 1 7.10x
Church Hulme 1 65.36x
Dryfesdale 1 14.51x
Keighley 1 1.40x
Kirkby Lonsdale 1 24.88x
Macclesfield 1 1.51x
Nateby 1 109.89x
Penge 1 2.31x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 0.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 65
Sarah 28
Elizabeth 22
Jane 19
Ann 18
Ellen 18
Margaret 17
Martha 11
Alice 8
Hannah 8
Agnes 5
Annie 5
Emily 5
Maria 5
Catherine 4
Isabella 4
Nancy 4
Betsy 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Elizbeath 3
Emma 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Betty 2
Bridget 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Lillie 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Nellie 2
Susannah 2
Teresa 2
Violet 2
A.W. 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Daisy 1
E. 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Kezia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 51
James 34
Thomas 29
Joseph 19
Robert 13
Arthur 11
Edward 10
Henry 9
Alexander 6
Charles 6
Albert 5
George 4
Matthew 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Wm. 4
David 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Anthony 2
Benjamin 2
Cornelius 2
Frederick 2
Jas. 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Rd. 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Chas.H. 1
Daniel 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
F.D. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
G. 1
Garside 1
Gerald 1
Jonathan 1
Lawrence 1
Levi 1
Marmaduke 1
P.D. 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Gradwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gradwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 694 people were recorded with the Gradwell surname. That placed it at #5,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gradwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016. That gives Gradwell a modern rank of #7,274.

What does the Gradwell surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a location named Gradwell.

What does the Gradwell map show?

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