NameCensus.

UK surname

Jewell

A toponymic surname derived from various places in England sharing the Old French root "juel," meaning "forest clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 3,139 people recorded with the Jewell surname, ranking it #1,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,910, ranked #1,730, down from #1,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jewell is 4,362 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.6%.

1881 census count

3,139

Ranked #1,436

Modern count

3,910

2016, ranked #1,730

Peak year

1911

4,362 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jewell had 3,139 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,910 in 2016, ranked #1,730.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,362 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jewell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jewell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jewell 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 2,170 #1,344
1861 historical 1,788 #1,620
1881 historical 3,139 #1,436
1891 historical 3,422 #1,388
1901 historical 4,050 #1,390
1911 historical 4,362 #1,186
1997 modern 4,055 #1,595
1998 modern 4,180 #1,613
1999 modern 4,244 #1,600
2000 modern 4,185 #1,615
2001 modern 4,090 #1,614
2002 modern 4,133 #1,638
2003 modern 3,972 #1,670
2004 modern 3,981 #1,661
2005 modern 3,886 #1,678
2006 modern 3,883 #1,678
2007 modern 3,885 #1,695
2008 modern 3,865 #1,721
2009 modern 3,967 #1,713
2010 modern 4,003 #1,737
2011 modern 3,953 #1,726
2012 modern 3,900 #1,725
2013 modern 3,958 #1,731
2014 modern 3,966 #1,736
2015 modern 3,894 #1,744
2016 modern 3,910 #1,730

Geography

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Where Jewells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Wendron and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge and Cornwall. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wendron Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Cornwall 072 Cornwall
3 Torridge 001 Torridge
4 Cornwall 071 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 073 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jewell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jewell

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Jewell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Jewell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Jewell is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jewell is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jewell falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jewell

The surname Jewell is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "juel" or "jouel," which means "jewel." This surname likely emerged during the Middle Ages and was initially an occupational name for someone who crafted or sold jewels or precious stones.

The name Jewell can be traced back to various regions across England, particularly in counties such as Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Gloucestershire. Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, including the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, mention individuals with the surname Jewell or variations like Juel, Juwel, and Juwele.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Jewell appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195, where a person named William Juel is mentioned. In the Curia Regis Rolls of Worcestershire from 1221, a certain Roger Juel is listed.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not include the surname Jewell directly, but it does mention place names like Juillieres in Essex, which may have influenced the development of the surname from a locational perspective.

Notable individuals with the surname Jewell throughout history include:

1. John Jewell (c. 1522-1571), an English Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his influential work "An Apology of the Church of England." 2. John Jewell (c. 1701-1766), an English architect and surveyor, responsible for designing numerous buildings in London, including the church of St. Luke's Old Street. 3. Pliny Jewell (1804-1869), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1861 to 1863. 4. Marshall Jewell (1825-1883), an American politician and businessman who served as the 28th Governor of Connecticut from 1869 to 1873 and as the United States Postmaster General from 1874 to 1876. 5. Sarah Orne Jewell (1870-1955), an American writer and editor known for her works on New England history and folklore, including "Casco Bay Thaxter" and "Old Trails and New Alleys."

The surname Jewell has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Jewell Green in Buckinghamshire, Jewell's Farm in Somerset, and Jewell's Hill in Wiltshire, potentially indicating the historical presence of families bearing this surname in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jewell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jewell 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. Devon leads with 680 Jewells recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.65x.

County Total Index
Devon 680 10.65x
Cornwall 612 17.62x
Middlesex 457 1.49x
Surrey 233 1.56x
Hampshire 190 3.02x
Glamorgan 125 2.34x
Gloucestershire 117 1.94x
Somerset 117 2.37x
Lancashire 77 0.21x
Kent 69 0.66x
Essex 52 0.86x
Norfolk 48 1.02x
Sussex 45 0.87x
Buckinghamshire 43 2.32x
Berkshire 41 1.78x
Yorkshire 38 0.13x
Monmouthshire 34 1.53x
Staffordshire 25 0.24x
Oxfordshire 17 0.90x
Warwickshire 15 0.19x
Durham 13 0.14x
Suffolk 12 0.32x
Wiltshire 12 0.44x
Leicestershire 8 0.24x
Northumberland 7 0.15x
Channel Islands 6 0.66x
Hertfordshire 6 0.28x
Northamptonshire 6 0.21x
Angus 5 0.18x
Cumberland 5 0.19x
Derbyshire 5 0.10x
Lanarkshire 5 0.05x
Worcestershire 5 0.12x
Brecknockshire 4 0.65x
Dorset 3 0.15x
Cheshire 2 0.03x
Royal Navy 2 0.55x
Bedfordshire 1 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 69 Jewells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 69 2.32x
Bideford 61 89.17x
Lambeth 56 2.09x
Camborne 53 37.03x
Ilfracombe 53 80.62x
Stoke Damerel 51 11.41x
Plymouth St Andrew 48 9.76x
Crowan 45 163.58x
St Pancras London 44 1.78x
Chelsea London 43 4.65x
Plymouth Charles The 43 15.28x
Clovelly 42 504.20x
Wendron 42 87.10x
Northam 38 81.65x
Brighton 35 3.35x
Swansea Town 34 7.76x
Kenwyn 32 35.23x
Newington 31 2.74x
West Ham 31 2.32x
Kensington London 30 1.76x
South Stoneham 29 21.26x
Cheltenham 28 6.03x
Madron Penzance 28 22.17x
Stratton 28 148.62x
Hackney London 26 1.51x
Illogan 26 28.27x
Portsea 26 2.11x
Camberwell 25 1.28x
Falmouth 24 19.52x
Southampton St Mary 23 5.82x
Roath 22 9.07x
Battersea 21 1.86x
Heacham 21 200.19x
Morwenstow 20 234.74x
Probus 20 140.45x
Turville 20 456.62x
St Austell 18 15.16x
St Giles In The Wood 17 178.76x
St Woollos 17 6.87x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 16 2.82x
Clerkenwell London 16 2.21x
St Giles In Fields London 16 10.63x
St Luke London 16 3.25x
Stonehouse East 16 49.38x
Mile End Old Town London 15 2.30x
Millbrook 15 9.47x
Sithney 15 42.74x
St Gennys 15 289.58x
St Maurice Winchester 15 57.38x
Wandsworth 15 5.08x
West Bromwich 15 2.53x
Helston 14 38.78x
Llantrisant 14 10.40x
Bradworthy 13 139.63x
Lewisham 13 2.33x
Liverpool 13 0.59x
St Teath 13 62.14x
Woolfardisworthy 13 140.54x
Bedminster 12 2.59x
Kingsclere 12 41.78x
Leatherhead 12 32.05x
Mawgan In Meneage 12 132.74x
Westminster St Margaret 12 8.11x
Barnstaple 11 10.97x
Bridgerule West 11 448.98x
East Stonehouse 11 8.74x
Exeter St Sidwell 11 7.52x
Holsworthy 11 61.04x
Hornsey 11 2.84x
Hurst 11 36.50x
Leeds 11 0.64x
St Clement 11 30.34x
Willesden 11 3.80x
Bristol St Paul In 10 6.24x
Buckland Brewer 10 128.70x
Croydon 10 1.21x
Launcells 10 171.23x
Pilton 10 47.44x
St Gluvias Penryn 10 35.93x
St John Near Swansea 10 15.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 229
Elizabeth 129
Sarah 87
Jane 56
Ellen 54
Eliza 53
Annie 41
Emily 41
Emma 39
Alice 35
Louisa 33
Ann 30
Fanny 26
Martha 25
Susan 24
Ada 23
Harriet 23
Caroline 22
Maria 22
Florence 21
Bessie 19
Catherine 18
Harriett 18
Edith 17
Margaret 17
Clara 16
Grace 16
Hannah 16
Amelia 14
Elizth. 14
Kate 13
Agnes 12
Charlotte 12
Frances 11
Lucy 11
Rosa 11
Julia 10
Sophia 10
Anne 9
Minnie 9
Rose 9
Selina 9
Eva 8
Laura 7
Susanna 7
Adelaide 6
Beatrice 6
Rebecca 6
Esther 5
Maud 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 219
John 152
James 98
Thomas 82
George 72
Henry 63
Richard 57
Charles 54
Joseph 45
Edward 42
Alfred 38
Albert 36
Samuel 33
Arthur 29
Frederick 27
Edwin 20
Robert 19
Harry 17
Benjamin 14
Walter 14
Ernest 13
Francis 13
Wm. 13
Frank 10
Herbert 10
David 6
Fred 6
Philip 6
Sidney 6
Thos. 6
Willm. 6
Andrew 4
Edmund 4
Fredk. 4
Fredrick 4
Isaac 4
Josiah 4
Mark 4
Matthew 4
Percy 4
Peter 4
Stephen 4
Alexander 3
Geo. 3
J.E. 3
Jacob 3
Lewis 3
Reuben 3
Robt. 3
Sydney 3

FAQ

Jewell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jewell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,139 people were recorded with the Jewell surname. That placed it at #1,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jewell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,910 in 2016. That gives Jewell a modern rank of #1,730.

What does the Jewell surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from various places in England sharing the Old French root "juel," meaning "forest clearing."

What does the Jewell map show?

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