NameCensus.

UK surname

Stillwell

A habitational surname referring to someone who lived near a peaceful or motionless spring or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 463 people recorded with the Stillwell surname, ranking it #7,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 686, ranked #7,823, down from #7,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St John Hackney and St Matthew Bethnal Green. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hastings, Northumberland and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stillwell is 764 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.2%.

1881 census count

463

Ranked #7,170

Modern count

686

2016, ranked #7,823

Peak year

2000

764 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stillwell had 463 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 686 in 2016, ranked #7,823.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 763 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stillwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stillwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stillwell 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 307 #7,502
1861 historical 274 #9,111
1881 historical 463 #7,170
1891 historical 551 #6,868
1901 historical 763 #5,860
1911 historical 687 #6,173
1997 modern 713 #7,150
1998 modern 737 #7,200
1999 modern 741 #7,220
2000 modern 764 #7,006
2001 modern 725 #7,162
2002 modern 734 #7,228
2003 modern 709 #7,301
2004 modern 708 #7,330
2005 modern 684 #7,490
2006 modern 680 #7,540
2007 modern 674 #7,666
2008 modern 700 #7,485
2009 modern 723 #7,443
2010 modern 726 #7,568
2011 modern 714 #7,581
2012 modern 700 #7,607
2013 modern 706 #7,685
2014 modern 702 #7,756
2015 modern 696 #7,745
2016 modern 686 #7,823

Geography

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Where Stillwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St John Hackney, St Matthew Bethnal Green and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hastings, Northumberland, Mendip and Woking. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hastings 003 Hastings
2 Hastings 004 Hastings
3 Northumberland 039 Northumberland
4 Mendip 012 Mendip
5 Woking 009 Woking

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stillwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stillwell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Stillwell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stillwell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stillwell falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stillwell

The surname Stillwell originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "stille" meaning quiet or calm, and "well" referring to a water source, likely indicating that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a peaceful or tranquil well or spring.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk in 1273 as "William atte Stillewelle." This early spelling suggests the name may have been topographic in origin, describing someone who lived near a "still well."

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Styluuelle" and "Stillewelle" in records from Essex and Suffolk. The Stillwell surname was also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, indicating its presence in southern England during this time.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Stillwell surname was John Stillwell, a member of the Drapers' Company in London, who was born around 1480. Another early record is that of Richard Stillwell, a merchant from Bristol, who was mentioned in a court case in 1555.

During the 17th century, the Stillwell family established itself in the American colonies. George Stillwell, born in 1602 in Somerset, England, immigrated to Massachusetts in 1635 and became one of the founders of the town of Ipswich. His descendants went on to settle in various parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states.

Another notable figure was Samuel Stillwell, born in 1702 in New Jersey, who served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Monmouth in 1778.

In the 19th century, Benjamin Stillwell, born in 1803 in New York, was a prominent businessman and landowner in Ohio. He was involved in the development of the Miami and Erie Canal and served as a state senator.

The Stillwell name has also been associated with various localities, such as Stillwell, Oklahoma, which was named after a local settler, and Stillwell Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, named after Reverend Silas M. Stillwell, a 19th-century Methodist minister.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stillwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stillwell 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. Middlesex leads with 162 Stillwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.55x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 162 3.55x
Surrey 117 5.26x
Sussex 47 6.11x
Hampshire 44 4.70x
Yorkshire 30 0.66x
Essex 22 2.44x
Lancashire 10 0.18x
Kent 8 0.51x
Somerset 8 1.09x
Dorset 5 1.67x
Royal Navy 5 9.19x
Berkshire 2 0.58x
Gloucestershire 2 0.22x
Leicestershire 2 0.40x
Warwickshire 2 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bramshott in Hampshire leads with 19 Stillwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 822.51x.

Place Total Index
Bramshott 19 822.51x
Croydon 18 14.58x
Islington London 18 4.07x
St George Hanover 16 26.85x
Headingley Cum Burley 14 48.08x
Battersea 13 7.74x
Shoreditch London 13 6.57x
Westminster St 12 71.30x
Camberwell 11 3.77x
Hackney London 11 4.30x
Kingston On Thames 10 18.72x
Acton 9 33.63x
Chelsea London 9 6.54x
Clerkenwell London 9 8.35x
Dorking 9 60.24x
Linchmere 9 1666.67x
St Marylebone London 9 3.69x
Binderton 8 5000.00x
Godalming 8 57.14x
Lambeth 8 2.01x
Patching 8 1860.47x
Prittlewell 8 64.05x
St Pancras London 8 2.18x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.53x
Compton Dundon 7 777.78x
Leeds 7 2.74x
Spitalfields London 7 20.38x
Banstead 6 99.50x
Bermondsey 6 4.41x
Brighton 6 3.86x
Hampstead London 6 8.44x
Portsea 6 3.27x
Wandsworth 6 13.65x
Little Chesterford 5 1515.15x
Newton 5 11.98x
Poole St James 5 44.41x
Royal Navy 5 10.75x
Southampton St Mary 5 8.50x
Willesden 5 11.62x
Worplesdon 5 186.57x
Worsbrough 5 37.74x
Alverstoke 4 11.81x
Holdenhurst 4 16.30x
Pulborough 4 141.34x
West Ham 4 2.01x
Westbourne 4 104.44x
Whitechapel London 4 8.89x
Aldershot 3 9.57x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.49x
Mile End Old Town 3 4.16x
Tonbridge 3 5.34x
Woodford 3 29.41x
Charlwood 2 93.90x
Chiswick 2 8.02x
Clifton 2 4.42x
Compton 2 444.44x
Enfield 2 6.68x
Hugglescote 2 26.85x
Kensington London 2 0.79x
Manningham 2 3.59x
Merstham 2 141.84x
Putney 2 9.61x
Rugby 2 12.84x
St Gregory By St Pauls 2 175.44x
Streatham 2 5.90x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 6.46x
East Preston 1 151.52x
Eastbourne 1 2.82x
Hastings St Mary 1 5.22x
Hayes 1 91.74x
Hulme 1 0.88x
Hunslet 1 1.42x
Lewisham 1 1.20x
Leyton 1 6.44x
Leyton Low 1 5.46x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.63x
Preston 1 7.44x
Rochester St Margaret 1 6.09x
Stoke 1 9.52x
Stoke Newington London 1 2.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 12
Emily 11
Emma 11
Ann 10
Jane 10
Alice 8
Ellen 8
Eliza 7
Kate 7
Florence 6
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Harriet 5
Agnes 4
Frances 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Annie 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Elinor 2
Elizth. 2
Henrietta 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Ruth 2
Angel 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Evelin 1
F. 1
Fanny 1
Ida 1
J.R. 1
J.S. 1
Janet 1
Katherine 1
Kathleen 1
Letty 1
Lily 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
Henry 25
George 24
John 17
James 16
Thomas 16
Edward 10
Arthur 9
Alfred 7
Charles 7
Albert 5
Harry 5
Frank 4
Edmund 3
Fredrick 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Frederick 2
Fredrck 2
Harold 2
Marriott 2
Mary 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Abram 1
Alfd. 1
Chals. 1
Daniel 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
G.T. 1
G.W. 1
Geo. 1
Gerrald 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Moses 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
T.F. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Stillwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stillwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 463 people were recorded with the Stillwell surname. That placed it at #7,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stillwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 686 in 2016. That gives Stillwell a modern rank of #7,823.

What does the Stillwell surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone who lived near a peaceful or motionless spring or stream.

What does the Stillwell map show?

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