NameCensus.

UK surname

Medwell

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Medwell surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 171, ranked #21,726, down from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, King's Lynn St Margaret and Northborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Corby and Rutland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Medwell is 178 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.1%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

171

2016, ranked #21,726

Peak year

2014

178 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Medwell had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016, ranked #21,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Medwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Medwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Medwell 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 59 #22,756
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 144 #18,842
1901 historical 149 #18,146
1911 historical 172 #16,408
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 158 #20,992
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 156 #20,974
2002 modern 165 #20,619
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 153 #21,643
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 164 #21,137
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 178 #21,259
2015 modern 174 #21,449
2016 modern 171 #21,726

Geography

Back to top

Where Medwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, King's Lynn St Margaret, Northborough, Manchester and Peterborough St John the Baptist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Corby, Rutland, High Peak and Pembrokeshire. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
2 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 Northborough Northamptonshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven
2 Corby 001 Corby
3 Rutland 001 Rutland
4 High Peak 008 High Peak
5 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Medwell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Medwell

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Medwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Medwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Medwell is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Medwell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Medwell falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Medwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Medwell 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. Rutland leads with 24 Medwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 301.89x.

County Total Index
Rutland 24 301.89x
Middlesex 17 1.57x
Lincolnshire 12 6.93x
Northamptonshire 10 9.82x
Lancashire 8 0.62x
Surrey 8 1.52x
Warwickshire 8 2.93x
Hampshire 7 3.15x
Nottinghamshire 6 4.11x
Staffordshire 4 1.09x
Sussex 4 2.19x
Norfolk 2 1.20x
Channel Islands 1 3.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clipsham in Rutland leads with 23 Medwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28750.00x.

Place Total Index
Clipsham 23 28750.00x
Aston 8 10.64x
Islington London 7 6.67x
Manchester 7 12.12x
Peterborough 7 94.98x
Reigate Foreign 7 122.59x
St Pancras London 7 8.03x
Stamford St John 7 3043.48x
Langar 6 3750.00x
Southampton St Mary 6 43.01x
Brighton 4 10.86x
Burton Upon Trent 4 46.78x
Bourn 3 214.29x
Northborough 2 2500.00x
Denton 1 500.00x
Hound 1 66.23x
Hulme 1 3.73x
Mile End Old Town 1 5.85x
Norwich St Saviour 1 172.41x
Richmond 1 13.53x
Ryhall 1 384.62x
South Lynn 1 53.19x
St George Hanover 1 7.08x
St Marylebone London 1 1.73x
St Sampson 1 68.97x
Stamford Baron St Martin 1 181.82x
Stamford St George 1 128.21x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
George 6
Arthur 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
John 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Aurelius 1
Cyrill 1
Daniel 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Isaiah 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Matthew 1
Pilkington 1

FAQ

Medwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Medwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Medwell surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Medwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 171 in 2016. That gives Medwell a modern rank of #21,726.

What does the Medwell map show?

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