NameCensus.

UK surname

Greenwell

Denoting someone who lived near a green spring or stream, or in a village with such a feature.

In the 1881 census there were 981 people recorded with the Greenwell surname, ranking it #3,964 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,255, ranked #4,763, down from #3,964 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) and Jarrow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, Allerdale and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greenwell is 1,408 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.9%.

1881 census count

981

Ranked #3,964

Modern count

1,255

2016, ranked #4,763

Peak year

1911

1,408 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greenwell had 981 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,964 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,255 in 2016, ranked #4,763.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,408 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Greenwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greenwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greenwell 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 673 #3,857
1861 historical 716 #3,802
1881 historical 981 #3,964
1891 historical 1,068 #3,933
1901 historical 1,309 #3,813
1911 historical 1,408 #3,426
1997 modern 1,280 #4,457
1998 modern 1,317 #4,508
1999 modern 1,326 #4,515
2000 modern 1,329 #4,482
2001 modern 1,303 #4,471
2002 modern 1,333 #4,479
2003 modern 1,299 #4,490
2004 modern 1,308 #4,458
2005 modern 1,301 #4,423
2006 modern 1,288 #4,482
2007 modern 1,319 #4,433
2008 modern 1,304 #4,496
2009 modern 1,335 #4,505
2010 modern 1,340 #4,572
2011 modern 1,338 #4,522
2012 modern 1,293 #4,594
2013 modern 1,299 #4,660
2014 modern 1,291 #4,705
2015 modern 1,277 #4,709
2016 modern 1,255 #4,763

Geography

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Where Greenwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), Jarrow, Gateshead and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, Allerdale, County Durham, Suffolk Coastal and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) Durham
3 Jarrow Durham
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 026 Gateshead
2 Allerdale 012 Allerdale
3 County Durham 015 County Durham
4 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
5 Sunderland 033 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greenwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greenwell

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Greenwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Greenwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Greenwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Greenwell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Greenwell falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greenwell 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 Greenwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Greenwell

The surname Greenwell is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern regions of the country. The name is thought to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "grene," meaning green, and "well," referring to a well or spring. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near a green well or spring.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Greenwell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, where a person named Robertus de Grenewelle is mentioned. This historical reference provides evidence that the name was in use during the 12th century in the Yorkshire region of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Grenewelle, Grenewill, and Grenewell. These variations in spelling were common during that time period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

One notable individual with the surname Greenwell was Sir Richard Greenwell, born in 1530, who served as a Member of Parliament for Northumberland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Greenwell, born in 1638, who was an English Jesuit and author known for his work on the history of the Jesuits in England.

In the 18th century, the name Greenwell was associated with the coal mining industry in Durham County, England. For example, William Greenwell, born in 1720, was a coal mine owner and operator in the region.

Moving into the 19th century, we find John Greenwell, born in 1816, who was a renowned English geologist and paleontologist. He made significant contributions to the study of fossils and the understanding of the Earth's geological history.

Another notable figure with the Greenwell surname was Sir Waller Greenwell, born in 1836, who served as a British diplomat and held various diplomatic positions in countries such as Turkey and Russia.

Throughout its history, the surname Greenwell has been associated with various regions of England, particularly in the northern counties. While the name may have originated from a specific place or geographic feature, it has since spread and been carried by individuals across different parts of the country and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greenwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greenwell 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. Durham leads with 632 Greenwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.18x.

County Total Index
Durham 632 22.18x
Northumberland 115 8.07x
Middlesex 54 0.56x
Yorkshire 54 0.57x
Lanarkshire 19 0.61x
Lancashire 18 0.16x
Cumberland 11 1.33x
Staffordshire 9 0.28x
Essex 8 0.42x
Hertfordshire 8 1.21x
Dumfriesshire 7 3.31x
Surrey 7 0.15x
Worcestershire 7 0.56x
Leicestershire 6 0.56x
West Lothian 6 4.16x
Cheshire 5 0.24x
Kent 4 0.12x
Gloucestershire 3 0.16x
Derbyshire 2 0.13x
Westmorland 2 0.95x
Berwickshire 1 0.86x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 57 Greenwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.30x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 57 23.30x
Gateshead 42 19.68x
Pelton 22 162.24x
Westoe 22 13.62x
Birtley 21 180.57x
Witton Gilbert 18 160.00x
Chester Le Street 17 77.70x
Coundon Grange 17 272.00x
Darlington 16 14.54x
Framwellgate 16 94.79x
St Marylebone London 16 3.13x
Wingate 16 81.88x
Shincliffe 15 471.70x
Elvet 14 68.06x
Monkwearmouth Shore 14 25.17x
Stanhope 14 47.57x
West Herrington 14 140.28x
Bishop Auckland 13 34.00x
Esh 13 62.68x
Seaton Delaval 13 103.83x
West Rainton 13 147.39x
Usworth 12 79.31x
Alston 11 72.37x
Cheetham 11 12.97x
Haswell 11 53.87x
Helmington Row 11 82.89x
Longbenton 11 18.22x
Westgate 11 12.46x
Crossgate 10 80.26x
Elswick 10 8.79x
Thornley 10 96.99x
Yarm 10 205.34x
Cowpen 9 27.42x
Bingley 8 13.23x
Govan 8 1.04x
Monkwearmouth 8 29.33x
North Bailey South 8 563.38x
Offley 8 186.05x
Seaham 8 77.00x
Stockton On Tees 8 5.82x
Tudhoe 8 32.09x
Urpeth 8 144.14x
Warkworth 8 347.83x
West Ham 8 1.92x
Wolsingham 8 30.80x
Byker 7 9.93x
Canonbie 7 77.86x
Dudley 7 4.60x
Easington 7 169.49x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 8.22x
Old Park 7 232.56x
Pittington 7 87.39x
St Pancras London 7 0.91x
Stranton 7 7.30x
Washington 7 58.58x
Bathgate 6 19.16x
Coundon 6 51.95x
Crook Billy Row 6 16.44x
Durham St Nicholas 6 85.71x
Hetton Le Hole 6 16.62x
Old Monkland 6 4.88x
Tynemouth 6 7.86x
Windlestone 6 750.00x
Barony 5 0.64x
Bournmoor 5 111.61x
Dawdon 5 14.27x
Great Driffield 5 25.67x
Heaton 5 105.71x
Islington London 5 0.54x
Middlesbrough 5 4.05x
Sherburn 5 57.67x
Waldridge 5 104.82x
Barnard Castle 4 28.39x
Hammersmith London 4 1.70x
Heworth 4 7.12x
North Bedburn 4 50.25x
Poynton 4 56.26x
Walsall Foreign 4 2.39x
Winlaton 4 14.63x
Wylam 4 127.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 75
Elizabeth 53
Jane 37
Margaret 27
Ann 22
Sarah 22
Isabella 18
Hannah 14
Annie 13
Ellen 13
Martha 9
Alice 7
Florence 6
Dorothy 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Barbara 4
Caroline 4
Dora 4
Emily 4
Ethel 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Eliz. 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Margt. 3
Susannah 3
Blanche 2
Eleanor 2
Georgina 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Isabel 2
Isabell 2
Kate 2
Margret 2
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
D. 1
Deliah 1
Dorothey 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Gennie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 71
William 70
Thomas 52
George 39
Robert 30
Joseph 26
James 12
Charles 10
Henry 10
Richard 9
Matthew 8
Jonathan 7
Frederick 6
Ralph 6
Thos. 6
Edward 5
Francis 5
Geo. 5
Samuel 5
Alan 4
Robt. 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Baker 3
Fred 3
Michael 3
Nicholas 3
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Hubert 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Johnson 2
Leonard 2
Lionel 2
Mark 2
Walpole 2
Ampley 1
Benson 1
Bernard 1
Blackett 1
Frederic 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hodgson 1
Leornard 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Greenwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greenwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 981 people were recorded with the Greenwell surname. That placed it at #3,964 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greenwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,255 in 2016. That gives Greenwell a modern rank of #4,763.

What does the Greenwell surname mean?

Denoting someone who lived near a green spring or stream, or in a village with such a feature.

What does the Greenwell map show?

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