NameCensus.

UK surname

Markwell

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location called Markwell.

In the 1881 census there were 550 people recorded with the Markwell surname, ranking it #6,274 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 671, ranked #7,978, down from #6,274 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Stowmarket and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Ipswich and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Markwell is 754 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.0%.

1881 census count

550

Ranked #6,274

Modern count

671

2016, ranked #7,978

Peak year

1911

754 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Markwell had 550 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,274 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 671 in 2016, ranked #7,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 754 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Markwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Markwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Markwell 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 411 #5,901
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 550 #6,274
1891 historical 646 #6,010
1901 historical 739 #6,003
1911 historical 754 #5,720
1997 modern 648 #7,671
1998 modern 661 #7,806
1999 modern 680 #7,684
2000 modern 699 #7,499
2001 modern 695 #7,414
2002 modern 685 #7,643
2003 modern 678 #7,587
2004 modern 680 #7,575
2005 modern 673 #7,577
2006 modern 674 #7,591
2007 modern 666 #7,727
2008 modern 696 #7,521
2009 modern 690 #7,729
2010 modern 699 #7,787
2011 modern 679 #7,873
2012 modern 670 #7,877
2013 modern 681 #7,908
2014 modern 687 #7,893
2015 modern 676 #7,943
2016 modern 671 #7,978

Geography

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Where Markwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Stowmarket, London parishes, Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Ipswich, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal and Ealing. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Stowmarket Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft Northumberland
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 005 East Cambridgeshire
2 Ipswich 012 Ipswich
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 018 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
5 Ealing 016 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Markwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Markwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Markwell, 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 Markwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Markwell 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Markwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Markwell 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

Markwell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Markwell

The surname Markwell has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, possibly referring to a well near a boundary or marker. The earliest records of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Markwelle and Markewelle appearing in historical documents.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Markewelle, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. This indicates that the name was likely associated with a specific location in that county. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Markwell.

In the 16th century, there are records of a family bearing the Markwell name residing in the village of Chippenham, Wiltshire. The Markwell family held land and property in the area, suggesting their status as minor gentry or landowners during that period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and settlements in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Markwell surname. However, it does mention place names that may have influenced the formation of the surname, such as Markwell's Cross in Somerset and Markwell Wood in Gloucestershire.

Notable individuals with the Markwell surname throughout history include:

1. Sir Henry Markwell (c. 1570 - 1640), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Heytesbury during the reign of King Charles I.

2. John Markwell (1661 - 1737), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Worcester College, Oxford.

3. William Markwell (1766 - 1835), a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

4. Elizabeth Markwell (1770 - 1837), a British writer and poet, best known for her collection of poems titled "Poetical Sketches."

5. Richard Markwell (1816 - 1892), a British engineer and inventor who patented several designs for agricultural machinery and farming equipment.

While the Markwell surname is not among the most common in England, it has left a lasting imprint on various aspects of British history, from politics and religion to literature and engineering.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Markwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Markwell 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. Suffolk leads with 139 Markwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.27x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 139 21.27x
Middlesex 78 1.45x
Cambridgeshire 48 14.13x
Northumberland 44 5.51x
Hertfordshire 41 11.09x
Norfolk 36 4.36x
Essex 29 2.74x
Durham 27 1.69x
Yorkshire 27 0.51x
Surrey 21 0.80x
Lancashire 14 0.22x
Kent 13 0.71x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.97x
Cheshire 4 0.34x
Sussex 4 0.44x
Warwickshire 4 0.30x
Hampshire 3 0.27x
Lincolnshire 3 0.35x
Devon 2 0.18x
Gloucestershire 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.31x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.94x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Island in Northumberland leads with 37 Markwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3627.45x.

Place Total Index
Holy Island 37 3627.45x
Bishop Stortford 29 234.82x
Stowmarket 27 357.62x
Wilburton 21 2164.95x
Stranton 17 31.64x
Barnsley 15 27.35x
Edmonton 13 30.07x
Oakley 12 2352.94x
Haddenham 11 343.75x
Hartlepool 10 44.09x
Henham 10 662.25x
Bethnal Green London 9 3.86x
Ipswich St Peter 9 102.27x
St Marylebone London 9 3.14x
Stow Upland 9 418.60x
Sutton 9 319.15x
Grundisburgh 8 529.80x
Leiston 8 178.17x
Mile End Old Town 8 9.45x
Beccles 7 66.54x
Enfield 7 19.89x
Fornham All Sts 7 897.44x
Newark Upon Trent 7 26.93x
West Ham 7 2.99x
Wortwell 7 921.05x
Croydon 6 4.13x
Framlingham 6 129.31x
Fulham London 6 7.71x
Hunsdon 6 618.56x
Rotherhithe 6 9.05x
Saham Toney 6 269.06x
Swaffham 6 89.42x
Bromley 5 17.92x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.54x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 27.31x
Paddington London 5 2.53x
Stretham 5 205.76x
Aston 4 1.07x
Beadnell 4 677.97x
Braiseworth 4 1333.33x
Brighton 4 2.19x
Hartford 4 149.25x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 11.69x
Hornsey 4 5.90x
Horringer 4 327.87x
Ipswich St Helen 4 51.61x
Loughton 4 76.34x
Nowton 4 1212.12x
Redenhall 4 125.00x
Risby 4 493.83x
Sawbridgeworth 4 71.43x
Saxmundham 4 165.29x
St Martin In Fields 4 12.45x
Stoke Ash 4 701.75x
Wimbledon 4 13.63x
Broughton In Salford 3 5.15x
Great Yarmouth 3 4.39x
Melton 3 116.73x
Sculcoates 3 3.56x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.78x
Stoke Newington London 3 7.18x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 3.96x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.58x
Fleetham 2 1818.18x
Formby 2 27.74x
Holdenhurst 2 6.93x
Ipswich St Clement 2 12.04x
North Mimms 2 85.84x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 2 48.31x
Preston 2 1.17x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 2 96.62x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 16.57x
Stainland Cum Old 2 21.98x
Stoke Damerel 2 2.56x
Stradbroke 2 90.50x
Tottenham 2 2.34x
Westminster St James 2 3.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 0.99x
Doncaster 1 2.57x
Hackney London 1 0.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 20
Eliza 15
Emma 13
Ann 10
Ellen 10
Emily 9
Hannah 9
Jane 9
Alice 8
Harriet 7
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Annie 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Amy 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Gertrude 3
Kate 3
Lizzie 3
Louisa 3
Rose 3
Susannah 3
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Christian 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Lucy 2
Alberta 1
Arabella 1
Beatricie 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Dagmar 1
Esther 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Izabella 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Laurie 1
Z. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 28
George 26
James 23
Thomas 22
Charles 15
Henry 15
Frederick 12
Robert 11
Alfred 10
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Herbert 3
Sidney 3
Albert 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Jas.Wm. 2
Ralph 2
Barson 1
Charls 1
Earnest 1
Elija 1
Elijah 1
Ezekiel 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Guy 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jeptha 1
Jethro 1
Jno. 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Rachel 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Teddy 1

FAQ

Markwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Markwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 550 people were recorded with the Markwell surname. That placed it at #6,274 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Markwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 671 in 2016. That gives Markwell a modern rank of #7,978.

What does the Markwell surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a location called Markwell.

What does the Markwell map show?

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