UK surname
An English surname derived from the gemstone.
In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Jewel surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 88, ranked #32,396, down from #11,889 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Keverne, Illogan and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jewel is 226 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.1%.
1881 census count
226
Ranked #11,889
Modern count
88
2016, ranked #32,396
Peak year
1881
226 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jewel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jewel surname density by area, 1881 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 | 188 | #10,939 |
| 1861 | historical | 182 | #12,949 |
| 1881 | historical | 226 | #11,889 |
| 1891 | historical | 153 | #18,078 |
| 1901 | historical | 99 | #22,999 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 51 | #32,850 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 68 | #33,047 |
| 2009 | modern | 76 | #32,635 |
| 2010 | modern | 77 | #32,927 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 87 | #32,180 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 86 | #32,663 |
| 2015 | modern | 83 | #32,847 |
| 2016 | modern | 88 | #32,396 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Keverne, Illogan, London parishes, St Giles and Wendron. 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 | St Keverne | Cornwall |
| 2 | Illogan | Cornwall |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Giles | Devon |
| 5 | Wendron | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jewel 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 Jewel, 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 Jewel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jewel 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, Jewel 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 Jewel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jewel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Jewel originated in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "jouel," meaning "jewel" or "precious stone." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a jeweler, jewel dealer, or someone who had a particular fondness for jewels.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jewel can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where a person named William Juel is mentioned. The name was also recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a Richard Juel is listed.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Jewel, Juel, and Juelle. The variant spelling "Juelle" is found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where a person named John Juelle is recorded.
The Jewel surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir John Jewel (c. 1522-1571), an English cleric and scholar who served as Bishop of Salisbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another prominent figure with the Jewel surname was Maria Jane Jewel (1788-1833), an English author and poet who wrote under the pen name Maria Jane Jewsbury. Her works included the novel "Phantasmagoria, or Sketches of Life and Literature" and the poetry collection "Lays of Leisure Hours."
In the 19th century, John Jewel (1835-1899) was an English architect and designer who worked on several notable buildings, including Keble College in Oxford and the Sheldonian Theatre.
A more recent bearer of the Jewel surname was Wanda Jewel (1912-1993), an American actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout the mid-20th century.
Another notable individual with the Jewel surname is Sarah Jewel (born 1975), an American singer-songwriter and author who achieved international fame with her debut album "Pieces of You" in 1995.
While the Jewel surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and migration. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old French word "jouel," reflecting its connection to the world of precious stones and jewelry.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jewel 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. Cornwall leads with 55 Jewels recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 55 | 22.04x |
| Middlesex | 41 | 1.86x |
| Devon | 30 | 6.54x |
| Glamorgan | 15 | 3.91x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 0.50x |
| Kent | 11 | 1.46x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 0.50x |
| Leicestershire | 9 | 3.68x |
| Somerset | 7 | 1.97x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 1.16x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.47x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 0.89x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 0.62x |
| Essex | 3 | 0.69x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 0.89x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 0.91x |
| Sussex | 3 | 0.81x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.60x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.14x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Keverne in Cornwall leads with 13 Jewels recorded in 1881 and an index of 948.91x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jewel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 19 |
| Elizabeth | 13 |
| Ellen | 8 |
| Sarah | 8 |
| Ann | 7 |
| Jane | 6 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Florence | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Bessie | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Grace | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Arabella | 1 |
| Bessy | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Clarinda | 1 |
| Dorcas | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elizth.A. | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Hilda | 1 |
| Janey | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| M. | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Nelly | 1 |
| Phillippa | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Robina | 1 |
| Rosalind | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jewel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 18 |
| John | 10 |
| Thomas | 7 |
| Henry | 5 |
| Charles | 4 |
| George | 4 |
| Richard | 4 |
| Alfred | 3 |
| James | 3 |
| Samuel | 3 |
| Albert | 2 |
| Edmond | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Frederick | 2 |
| Joseph | 2 |
| Peter | 2 |
| Alexander | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Benjaman | 1 |
| Bernard | 1 |
| Bertie | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edgar | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Frederic | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Gilbert | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Herbet | 1 |
| Jabez | 1 |
| Joshua | 1 |
| Mary | 1 |
| Nathaniel | 1 |
| Robert | 1 |
| Sidney | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
| Zachariah | 1 |
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 Jewel households.
FAQ
In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Jewel surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016. That gives Jewel a modern rank of #32,396.
An English surname derived from the gemstone.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jewel 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.