NameCensus.

UK surname

Oswell

A locational surname derived from a location called Oswell or Oseville.

In the 1881 census there were 254 people recorded with the Oswell surname, ranking it #10,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 296, ranked #14,882, down from #10,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Broseley and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Manchester and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oswell is 344 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.5%.

1881 census count

254

Ranked #10,949

Modern count

296

2016, ranked #14,882

Peak year

1911

344 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oswell had 254 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016, ranked #14,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 344 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Oswell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oswell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oswell 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 188 #10,939
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 254 #10,949
1891 historical 303 #11,039
1901 historical 310 #11,393
1911 historical 344 #10,386
1997 modern 284 #14,006
1998 modern 304 #13,773
1999 modern 314 #13,556
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 315 #13,561
2003 modern 303 #13,718
2004 modern 307 #13,685
2005 modern 304 #13,724
2006 modern 300 #13,911
2007 modern 296 #14,172
2008 modern 290 #14,466
2009 modern 310 #14,113
2010 modern 307 #14,485
2011 modern 294 #14,798
2012 modern 296 #14,635
2013 modern 303 #14,651
2014 modern 312 #14,430
2015 modern 308 #14,463
2016 modern 296 #14,882

Geography

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Where Oswells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Broseley, Manchester, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Manchester, County Durham and Northumberland. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Broseley Shropshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 008 Shropshire
2 Manchester 053 Manchester
3 County Durham 045 County Durham
4 Northumberland 010 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 021 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oswell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oswell

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Oswell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Oswell is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oswell falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oswell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Oswell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oswell

The surname Oswell originates from England, deriving its roots from the Old English words "os" meaning "ox" and "well" meaning "stream" or "spring." It likely emerged as a locational name, signifying someone who resided near an ox-watering place or a stream frequented by oxen.

The earliest recorded instances of the Oswell surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various English counties, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. One notable early reference appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard de Oswell.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Oxwell, Oxwelle, and Oxewelle, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. Some of these variations persisted into the 16th and 17th centuries, as evidenced by records like the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, which listed a Henry Oxwell.

The Oswell surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was John Oswell, a 14th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Galloway in Scotland from 1355 to 1378.

In the 16th century, William Oswell (born around 1510) was a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He played a vital role in the city's trade and commerce during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, Thomas Oswell (1631-1712) was a respected English barrister and legal scholar who served as the Clerk of the Parliaments from 1689 until his death. He was renowned for his expertise in parliamentary procedures and traditions.

In the 19th century, William Cotton Oswell (1818-1893) gained fame as an English explorer and hunter who led several expeditions into southern Africa. He was among the first Europeans to discover and document the Okavango Delta region in what is now Botswana.

Another notable figure was Frederica Oswell (1845-1925), a British artist and illustrator known for her beautiful watercolor paintings depicting scenes from English country life. Her works were widely exhibited and admired during the Victorian era.

While the Oswell surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the name's rich history and connections to various notable individuals remain deeply rooted in its English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oswell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oswell 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. Shropshire leads with 65 Oswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.37x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 65 30.37x
Lancashire 36 1.22x
Staffordshire 26 3.11x
Northumberland 25 6.78x
Yorkshire 19 0.77x
Devon 10 1.94x
Gloucestershire 10 2.06x
Middlesex 9 0.36x
Norfolk 9 2.36x
Merionethshire 7 15.44x
Surrey 7 0.58x
Durham 5 0.68x
Westmorland 5 9.18x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.67x
Dunbartonshire 3 4.51x
Essex 2 0.41x
Herefordshire 2 1.97x
Sussex 2 0.48x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Kent 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 3.39x
Suffolk 1 0.33x
Warwickshire 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broseley in Shropshire leads with 18 Oswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 473.68x.

Place Total Index
Broseley 18 473.68x
Barton Upon Irwell 13 58.74x
Leeds 11 7.93x
Madeley 11 140.13x
Manchester 10 7.56x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 9 497.24x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 9 78.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 9.02x
Westgate 8 35.04x
Cannock 7 47.98x
Castle Church 7 139.17x
Llanfor Llan 7 5000.00x
Whitchurch 7 168.67x
Elswick 6 20.39x
Newington 6 6.56x
Wem 6 188.68x
Exeter St Mary Arches 5 1041.67x
Liverpool 5 2.80x
Selattyn 5 515.46x
Wallsend 5 42.77x
Westoe 5 11.96x
Dalton In Furness 4 35.24x
Oswestry Rural 4 121.95x
Ruyton Of Eleven Towns 4 421.05x
Strickland Kettle 4 769.23x
Dumbarton 3 32.36x
Jesmond 3 57.80x
Marske In Guisbrough 3 68.81x
Prees 3 114.94x
Rowley Regis 3 12.87x
Sourton 3 681.82x
South Kirkby 3 555.56x
Spitalfields London 3 16.09x
Stony Stratford West 3 291.26x
Wark 3 681.82x
Whittington 3 167.60x
Broughton In Salford 2 7.44x
Pencoyd 2 1176.47x
Shoreditch London 2 1.86x
West Ham 2 1.85x
Ardwick 1 3.77x
Aston 1 0.58x
Baschurch 1 68.49x
Bridestow 1 181.82x
Burslem 1 4.17x
Burton Upon Stather 1 200.00x
Chiswick 1 7.39x
Crumpsall 1 14.43x
Eastbourne 1 5.20x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 8.47x
Gloucester St Catherine 1 72.99x
Great Malvern 1 14.81x
Grinshill 1 344.83x
Hodnet 1 59.88x
Lambeth 1 0.46x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.56x
Ramsgate 1 7.25x
Royal Navy 1 3.96x
Sculcoates 1 2.57x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 1 84.03x
Snenton 1 7.62x
Sproughton 1 188.68x
St Dunstan In West 1 188.68x
St Luke London 1 2.52x
Undermilbeck 1 55.56x
Ventnor 1 20.70x
Withyam 1 55.87x
Wolverton 1 32.26x
York St Helen Stonegate 1 263.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 9
Ada 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Agnes 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Deborah 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ermine 1
Faith 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Infant 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Louisa 1
Rachael 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 18
George 9
Thomas 9
Joseph 7
James 5
Arthur 4
Henry 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Nevitt 2
Oliver 2
Richard 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Earnet 1
Eneas 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.M.E. 1
Garnet 1
Geo.H. 1
Geo.J. 1
Geor. 1
Herbert 1
Julius 1
Matthew 1
Povey 1
Ralph 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Oswell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oswell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 254 people were recorded with the Oswell surname. That placed it at #10,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oswell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 296 in 2016. That gives Oswell a modern rank of #14,882.

What does the Oswell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a location called Oswell or Oseville.

What does the Oswell map show?

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