UK surname
An English surname derived from the Germanic personal name "Paul" or its variants.
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Pawell surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Llanguick and Mitchell Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pawell is 313 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.3%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1891
313 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pawell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pawell surname density by area, 1901 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 58 | #26,585 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 313 | #10,723 |
| 1901 | historical | 105 | #22,179 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Llanguick, Mitchell Dean, All Saints, North Street and Ystradgynlais. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Llanguick | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | Mitchell Dean | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | All Saints, North Street | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 5 | Ystradgynlais | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pawell 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 Pawell, 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 Pawell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pawell 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, Pawell 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 Pawell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pawell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pawell has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name "Pavell," which itself is a variation of the Latin name "Paulus," meaning "small" or "humble."
The earliest known records of the name Pawell can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mention a "William Pawell." Another early reference is in the Sussex Subsidy Rolls from 1296, listing a "Johannes Pawell."
During the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Pawel," "Pawelle," and "Pauele," reflecting the spelling variations common in that era. One notable bearer of the name was John Pawell, a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1395.
In the 15th century, the surname was found in several areas of England, including Gloucestershire, where a John Pawell was recorded in the Court Rolls of 1419. Another individual of note was William Pawell, born around 1460, who served as a member of the Yeomen of the Guard under King Henry VII.
The 16th century saw the name Pawell firmly established across various regions of England. One prominent figure was Sir Walter Pawell, born in 1552, who was a distinguished military commander and served as Governor of the Isle of Man.
As the centuries progressed, the Pawell surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with some bearers migrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world. Notable individuals with this surname include:
1. Richard Pawell (c. 1680-1747), an English artist known for his landscape paintings. 2. Thomas Pawell (1720-1798), a British naval officer who participated in several battles during the American Revolutionary War. 3. Jane Pawell (1803-1876), an English writer and poet, known for her works on nature and rural life. 4. Henry Pawell (1845-1923), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and other parts of England. 5. George Pawell (1873-1956), an Australian politician and member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Gippsland from 1919 to 1928.
While the Pawell surname has evolved over centuries and spread across various regions, its roots can be traced back to the English medieval era, reflecting the rich history and diversity of English surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pawell 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. Yorkshire leads with 7 Pawells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 7 | 5.18x |
| Surrey | 4 | 6.02x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 1.47x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 5.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horton In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 7 Pawells recorded in 1881 and an index of 331.75x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Horton In Bradford | 7 | 331.75x |
| Horley | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Leigh | 1 | 454.55x |
| St George Martyr | 1 | 434.78x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 9.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pawell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pawell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Pawell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Worsted Spinner | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agl Laborer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Nurse Child | 1 |
| Waiter (Inn) | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Pawell surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Pawell a modern rank of #37,278.
An English surname derived from the Germanic personal name "Paul" or its variants.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pawell 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.