UK surname
A surname derived from a topographic feature, referring to someone residing near a spring or well.
In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Sewall surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #28,559 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Minster, Kessingland and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sewall is 100 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 86.1%.
1881 census count
36
Ranked #28,559
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
100 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sewall surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sewall surname density by area, 1861 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 | 54 | #23,577 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 36 | #28,559 |
| 1891 | historical | 54 | #29,849 |
| 1901 | historical | 34 | #30,281 |
| 1911 | historical | 9 | #32,754 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Minster, Kessingland, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen. 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 | Minster | Kent |
| 2 | Kessingland | Suffolk |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 5 | Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen | Shropshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sewall 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 Sewall, 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 Sewall surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sewall 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, Sewall 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 Sewall is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sewall, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SEWALL is of English origin, derived from an Old English personal name "Sigewalde" or "Sigewald", which translates to "victorious leader" or "victorious ruler". It dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period, before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
The name SEWALL is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, located in the southwest of England. It was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SEWALL surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1191, where a person named Walter Sewal is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1206, which mentions a Robert Sewal.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the SEWALL surname appeared in various historical records, often with slight variations in spelling, such as Sewall, Sewell, and Sewale. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling during that time period.
Notable individuals with the SEWALL surname throughout history include:
1. Samuel Sewall (1652-1730), a prominent English-born American judge, merchant, and printer in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He is best known for his involvement in the Salem Witch Trials and his later public apology and regret for his actions.
2. Henry Sewall (1614-1701), an English-born American pioneer and early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was one of the founders of the town of Newbury, Massachusetts.
3. Thomas Sewall (1573-1658), an English-born Anglican priest and author who served as the rector of Therfield, Hertfordshire, England.
4. Joseph Sewall (1688-1769), an English-born American minister and author who served as the minister of the Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts.
5. Jonathan Sewall (1728-1796), an American lawyer and loyalist during the American Revolutionary War. He was the last British attorney general of Massachusetts before fleeing to England.
The SEWALL surname has also been associated with various place names in England, particularly in the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire, where it is believed to have originated. These include Sewall's Hill, Sewall's Farm, and Sewall's Moor, among others.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sewall 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. Kent leads with 7 Sewalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.84x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 7 | 5.84x |
| Shropshire | 7 | 23.07x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.96x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.15x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.85x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 6.06x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 2.26x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 4.36x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.29x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.44x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.91x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 4.61x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 12.95x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgnorth St Leonard in Shropshire leads with 7 Sewalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2058.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgnorth St Leonard | 7 | 2058.82x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 7 | 353.54x |
| Byfield | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 2 | 714.29x |
| Manchester | 2 | 10.67x |
| Salford | 2 | 16.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 10.67x |
| Worcester All Sts | 2 | 740.74x |
| Bilton Cum Harrogate | 1 | 84.03x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 16.18x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 3.39x |
| Bucknell | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Leamington | 1 | 169.49x |
| Newbiggin | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Newbrough | 1 | 1111.11x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 49.75x |
| Walthamstow | 1 | 40.16x |
| Woodsetts | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sewall 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 Sewall 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 Sewall households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Boot & Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Bottler | 1 |
| Calico Weaver | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Corn Millers Boy | 1 |
| Dressmakers Apprentice | 1 |
| Engineer | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Inn Keeper | 1 |
| Labourer Dockyard | 1 |
| Master | 1 |
| Pauper | 1 |
| Professor Of Music | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Sewall surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Sewall a modern rank of #38,264.
A surname derived from a topographic feature, referring to someone residing near a spring or well.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sewall 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.