UK surname
A French surname originally denoting someone living near a small stream or waterway.
In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Sewel surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #19,083 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, St Margaret Westminster and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sewel is 196 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.2%.
1881 census count
106
Ranked #19,083
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1851
196 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sewel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sewel surname density by area, 1881 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 | 196 | #10,573 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 106 | #19,083 |
| 1891 | historical | 53 | #29,946 |
| 1901 | historical | 54 | #28,178 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, St Margaret Westminster, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Shap and Great Amwell, Broxbourne (Hoddesdon). 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 | Carlisle St Cuthbert | Cumberland |
| 2 | St Margaret Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 3 | Boston (incl. Boston allotments) | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Shap | Westmorland |
| 5 | Great Amwell, Broxbourne (Hoddesdon) | Hertfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sewel 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 Sewel, 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 Sewel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sewel 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, Sewel 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 Sewel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sewel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sewel has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "seofyll" or "seoful," which means "pool" or "marshy place." This suggests that the name was initially used to refer to a person who lived near a pool or marsh.
In the Domesday Book, a record of landholdings compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries mentioning people with similar names, such as "Sewald" and "Sewold." These are likely early variations of the modern surname Sewel.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sewel can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195, where a person named "Seuel de Berewick" is mentioned. The place name "Berewick" likely refers to a location near a pool or marshy area, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.
In the 13th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Sewel was Richard Sewel, a wealthy merchant from London who was involved in the wool trade. He is mentioned in several historical records from the period, including the Patent Rolls of 1258.
During the 16th century, a notable individual with the surname Sewel was William Sewel (1566-1633), a Member of Parliament for the borough of Hedon in Yorkshire. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his support for the Church of England.
Another significant figure in history with the surname Sewel was William Sewel (1654-1720), a Dutch Quaker author and historian. He is best known for his influential work "The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers," published in 1722, which provided a detailed account of the early Quaker movement.
In the 18th century, John Sewel (1719-1789) was a prominent English engraver and cartographer. He is renowned for his highly detailed and accurate maps, including county maps of England and Wales, which were widely used and admired during his time.
Throughout history, the surname Sewel has also been associated with various place names, such as Sewell in Bedfordshire, Sewell's Bridge in Hertfordshire, and Sewell's Farm in Dorset. These locations may have derived their names from individuals bearing the surname Sewel who lived or owned property in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sewel 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Sewels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.64x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 1.64x |
| Hertfordshire | 13 | 18.24x |
| Lincolnshire | 12 | 7.26x |
| Cumberland | 8 | 8.99x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.59x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 3.07x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.59x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.41x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.30x |
| Essex | 4 | 1.96x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 4.11x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 2.15x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.71x |
| Denbighshire | 2 | 5.12x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.15x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.48x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.53x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.47x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.28x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.87x |
| Rutland | 1 | 13.18x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 4.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broxbourne in Hertfordshire leads with 9 Sewels recorded in 1881 and an index of 638.30x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Broxbourne | 9 | 638.30x |
| Aston | 8 | 11.14x |
| Crowland | 7 | 673.08x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 7.76x |
| St Cuthbert W O Brisco | 6 | 6000.00x |
| Coppull | 4 | 615.38x |
| Edmonton | 4 | 48.02x |
| Hemel Hempstead | 4 | 124.61x |
| Irchester | 4 | 666.67x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 6.96x |
| Great Grimsby | 3 | 28.60x |
| Prittlewell | 3 | 106.01x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 3.60x |
| Abergele | 2 | 178.57x |
| Bromley London | 2 | 8.79x |
| Ecclesfield | 2 | 26.63x |
| Hambleton | 2 | 1052.63x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 5.55x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 5.26x |
| Scarborough | 2 | 21.48x |
| Stourbridge | 2 | 57.64x |
| Sunderland | 2 | 36.83x |
| Throston | 2 | 338.98x |
| Battle | 1 | 84.75x |
| Bulwell | 1 | 33.00x |
| Downham | 1 | 142.86x |
| Falmouth | 1 | 24.15x |
| Gedney | 1 | 149.25x |
| Gorran | 1 | 303.03x |
| Hambleton | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Hove | 1 | 13.07x |
| Huncote | 1 | 625.00x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 5.32x |
| Lyme Regis | 1 | 123.46x |
| Millom | 1 | 36.63x |
| Oldham | 1 | 2.53x |
| Pleshey | 1 | 909.09x |
| Skirbeck | 1 | 107.53x |
| St Katherine | 1 | 769.23x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 6.03x |
| St Mary Within | 1 | 90.09x |
| Streatham | 1 | 13.04x |
| Warcop | 1 | 400.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sewel 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 Sewel 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 Sewel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| Gen Laborer | 2 |
| General Laborer | 2 |
| (Ag) Horsekeeper | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Agl Labr | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Army Retired (Offr) | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Cabman | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Carter Wife | 1 |
| Chemist | 1 |
| Coal Merchant | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook (Fishing) | 1 |
| Cook DS | 1 |
| Domestic (Inn) | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Unmpd | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoors) (Ag Lab) | 1 |
| Farmers Daur | 1 |
| Frame Work Knitter | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| House Maid DS | 1 |
| House Work | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Master Bricklayer | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pantegrapher (S & WM) | 1 |
| Panty Graper | 1 |
| Plumber & Glazier | 1 |
| Plumbers Apprentice | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Sawyer | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shampooer (Bath Service) | 1 |
| Shipping Clerk | 1 |
| Shoeing Smith (Blk) | 1 |
| Watch Maker | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Sewel surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Sewel a modern rank of #36,533.
A French surname originally denoting someone living near a small stream or waterway.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sewel 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.