UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place in Nottinghamshire, England, likely referring to a spring or stream.
In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Harwell surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #25,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bristol City: St Nicholas and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harwell is 296 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.4%.
1881 census count
59
Ranked #25,281
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1861
296 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harwell surname density by area, 1891 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 | 77 | #19,998 |
| 1861 | historical | 296 | #8,532 |
| 1881 | historical | 59 | #25,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 154 | #18,004 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 87 | #24,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 34 | #34,528 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 30 | #34,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 34 | #34,681 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 34 | #35,730 |
| 2011 | modern | 34 | #35,705 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bristol City: St Nicholas, King's Lynn St Margaret, Aberystruth and Echt. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Nicholas | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 4 | Aberystruth | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Echt | Aberdeen |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harwell 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 Harwell, 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 Harwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harwell 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, Harwell 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 Harwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harwell is of English origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "hara" meaning "hare" and "well" meaning a spring or source of water, indicating that the name likely referred to a place where hares were found near a spring or stream.
One of the earliest records of the name Harwell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as a place name in Berkshire, England. This suggests that the surname may have derived from a habitation name, referring to someone who lived in the village of Harwell.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Harewelle, Harewell, and Harwelle, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Harwell was John Harwell, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.
During the 16th century, the name Harwell was also associated with a place in Nottinghamshire, known as Harwell or Harwell Woodhouse. This may have contributed to the spread of the surname in that region.
Notable individuals with the surname Harwell include:
1. Sir Robert Harwell (c. 1420 - 1490), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1481. 2. William Harwell (1568 - 1641), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 3. Thomas Harwell (1675 - 1738), an English mathematician and astronomer who made contributions to the study of comets. 4. John Harwell (1793 - 1868), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Georgia. 5. Richard Harwell (1915 - 1988), an American author and editor who specialized in Southern history and literature.
The surname Harwell has also been associated with various place names, such as Harwell village in Oxfordshire, Harwell parish in Berkshire, and Harwell Lea in Nottinghamshire, further reinforcing its connection to geographic locations in England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harwell 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Harwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 2.43x |
| Monmouthshire | 8 | 19.23x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 13.13x |
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 9.24x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 3.54x |
| Kent | 4 | 2.04x |
| Devon | 3 | 2.50x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.64x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.44x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 3.39x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.70x |
| Selkirkshire | 1 | 19.19x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.36x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberystruth in Monmouthshire leads with 8 Harwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 217.98x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberystruth | 8 | 217.98x |
| Long Buckby | 5 | 1000.00x |
| Bristol St Nicholas | 4 | 2000.00x |
| Echt | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Shoreditch London | 4 | 16.03x |
| Islington London | 3 | 5.38x |
| West Ham | 3 | 11.96x |
| West Walton | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 13.20x |
| Eastry | 2 | 740.74x |
| Holdenhurst | 2 | 64.72x |
| Skene | 2 | 571.43x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 4.32x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 8.65x |
| Brinklow | 1 | 666.67x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 5.77x |
| Chiswick | 1 | 31.85x |
| Drumoak | 1 | 555.56x |
| Fremington | 1 | 416.67x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 7.05x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 11.16x |
| Isleworth | 1 | 39.06x |
| Newington | 1 | 4.70x |
| Stoke Damerel | 1 | 11.93x |
| Totnes | 1 | 142.86x |
| Warrington | 1 | 12.35x |
| Yarrow | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Harwell surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Harwell a modern rank of #35,768.
A locational surname derived from a place in Nottinghamshire, England, likely referring to a spring or stream.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harwell 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.