NameCensus.

UK surname

Thelwell

A locational surname derived from a place name likely meaning a spring or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 277 people recorded with the Thelwell surname, ranking it #10,283 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 730, ranked #7,461, up from #10,283 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bunbury, Stockport and Bebbington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Wrexham and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thelwell is 812 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 163.5%.

1881 census count

277

Ranked #10,283

Modern count

730

2016, ranked #7,461

Peak year

2010

812 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thelwell had 277 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,283 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 730 in 2016, ranked #7,461.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 398 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thelwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thelwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thelwell 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 171 #13,692
1881 historical 277 #10,283
1891 historical 317 #10,611
1901 historical 368 #10,057
1911 historical 398 #9,321
1997 modern 751 #6,874
1998 modern 759 #7,030
1999 modern 776 #6,952
2000 modern 790 #6,843
2001 modern 776 #6,807
2002 modern 791 #6,837
2003 modern 795 #6,685
2004 modern 805 #6,634
2005 modern 783 #6,711
2006 modern 775 #6,801
2007 modern 781 #6,822
2008 modern 780 #6,893
2009 modern 803 #6,865
2010 modern 812 #6,930
2011 modern 792 #7,009
2012 modern 747 #7,252
2013 modern 751 #7,338
2014 modern 742 #7,448
2015 modern 736 #7,429
2016 modern 730 #7,461

Geography

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Where Thelwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bunbury, Stockport, Bebbington, Whitchurch and Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Wrexham and Cheshire East. 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 Bunbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Bebbington Cheshire
4 Whitchurch Shropshire
5 Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
2 Wrexham 018 Wrexham
3 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
4 Wrexham 017 Wrexham
5 Shropshire 010 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thelwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thelwell

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Thelwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thelwell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thelwell falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Thelwell

The surname Thelwell originates from England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from a place name, either the village of Thelwall in Cheshire or Thelwell in Somerset. The name itself is composed of Old English elements: "þel" meaning "plank bridge" or "wooden causeway," and "walh" meaning "foreigner" or "stranger."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Thelwell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1275, where it appears as "Thellewell." This suggests that the name was already established in the region at that time.

The Thelwell surname has been associated with various notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, William Thelwell (c. 1535-1597) was a prominent English Catholic priest and writer who was executed for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, Edward Thelwell (1567-1630) was an English clergyman and author, known for his writings on the Book of Revelation. He served as the rector of Compton Dando in Somerset.

In the 18th century, John Thelwell (1764-1838) was a political reformer and elocutionist from London. He advocated for parliamentary reform and founded the first institution dedicated to the study and teaching of elocution in England.

The 19th century saw the rise of Norman Thelwell (1923-2004), a renowned British cartoonist and illustrator. He is best known for his humorous depictions of ponies and their young riders, capturing the joys and challenges of the equestrian world.

Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Thelwell (1564-1624), an English landowner and Member of Parliament who represented Somerset in the early 17th century. He played a significant role in the development of the Somerset Levels, overseeing drainage works in the region.

The Thelwell surname has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Thelwall in Cheshire, Thelwell Green in Staffordshire, and Thelwell Moor in Somerset. These locations likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thelwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thelwell 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. Cheshire leads with 123 Thelwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.04x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 123 20.04x
Lancashire 80 2.43x
Shropshire 24 9.99x
Staffordshire 13 1.39x
Flintshire 12 16.06x
Yorkshire 11 0.40x
Isle of Man 8 15.49x
Denbighshire 5 4.76x
Middlesex 4 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.89x
Hertfordshire 1 0.52x
Sussex 1 0.21x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x
Wiltshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 21 Thelwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.16x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 21 14.16x
West Derby 16 16.58x
Cholmondeley 12 4444.44x
Marple 12 285.04x
Tranmere 12 53.22x
Worthenbury 12 2857.14x
Brinnington 10 174.52x
Whitchurch 9 193.13x
Malew 8 177.38x
Prees 8 273.04x
Rainhill 7 331.75x
Broxton 6 1200.00x
Chester Holy Trinity 6 208.33x
Chester St Oswald 6 54.01x
Hampton Bickley 6 845.07x
Lower Bebington 6 164.38x
Marburywith Quoisley 6 937.50x
Bromborough 5 393.70x
North Meols 5 15.48x
Pendleton In Salford 5 12.72x
Ruabon 5 34.63x
Spurstow 5 1162.79x
Wolverhampton 5 6.93x
Chorley In Nantwich 4 2500.00x
Droylsden 4 37.17x
Dukinfield 4 14.10x
Harthill 4 4000.00x
Middle 4 606.06x
Sledmere Cum Croom 4 833.33x
Tilston 4 1142.86x
Widnes 4 16.81x
Windle 4 21.55x
Audley 3 32.33x
Birkenhead 3 6.13x
Halewood 3 169.49x
Kirkdale 3 5.41x
Prestwich 3 36.45x
Wardle 3 2142.86x
Whitchurch Black Park 3 3333.33x
Barnsley 2 7.04x
Burwardsley 2 476.19x
Leeds 2 1.29x
Leek Lowe 2 16.03x
Saddleworth 2 9.41x
St Andrew Undershaft 2 645.16x
Timperley 2 93.90x
Wolstanton 2 7.02x
Arundel 1 38.17x
Birmingham 1 0.43x
Bradford On Avon 1 12.71x
Cheadle 1 8.53x
Cheetham 1 4.07x
Egerton 1 833.33x
Hapton 1 48.54x
Heaton Norris 1 5.32x
Higher Bebington 1 25.45x
Hitchin 1 11.56x
Llandudno 1 24.94x
Norton In Malton 1 29.94x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 25.45x
Staines 1 22.73x
Stockport 1 3.17x
Toxteth Park 1 0.90x
Wirswall 1 909.09x
Wolstanton Chatterly 1 104.17x
Worsley 1 4.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Sarah 14
Ann 10
Elizabeth 9
Emma 8
Martha 6
Eliza 5
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Lora 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Lizzie 2
Maria 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Betty 1
C. 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Grorynedd 1
Hephziba 1
Hester 1
Julia 1
Lily 1
Lottie 1
Lydia 1
May 1
Nancy 1
Patience 1
Phoebe 1
Priscilla 1
Rosabell 1
Ruth 1
S. 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
John 19
George 15
Thomas 13
Joseph 11
Henry 7
James 7
Charles 5
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
H. 2
Bevis 1
Emml. 1
Eubule 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Horatio 1
Hubert 1
J. 1
Llewellyn 1
P. 1
Peter 1
R. 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Thelwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thelwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 277 people were recorded with the Thelwell surname. That placed it at #10,283 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thelwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 730 in 2016. That gives Thelwell a modern rank of #7,461.

What does the Thelwell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name likely meaning a spring or stream.

What does the Thelwell map show?

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