Yewell
A masculine name of English origin, possibly a variant of Youell.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Yewell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Yewell today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yewell births was 1918 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yewell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Yewell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1918
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1918 SSA rank
#4,173
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Yewell: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yewell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Yewell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Yewell
The name Yewell is believed to have originated from the Old English word "gewill," which means "to wish" or "to desire." This name likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, spanning from the 5th to the 11th century. It may have been given to children as a reflection of the parents' hopes and aspirations for their offspring.
In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared with various spellings, such as "Yewelle," "Yewill," and "Yewulle," reflecting the fluctuations in language and spelling conventions over time. While the name's roots can be traced back to Old English, it is important to note that it may have been influenced by other linguistic traditions as well.
One of the earliest known references to the name Yewell can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions a landowner named Yewell de Hastings, suggesting that the name was in use among the nobility during the Norman period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Yewell. One such figure was Yewell Tindall (1653-1718), an English physician and author who published a treatise on the medicinal properties of herbs and plants. Another prominent bearer of the name was Yewell Haynes (1786-1862), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia.
In the realm of literature, Yewell Scofield (1901-1976) was an American writer and editor known for his contributions to the field of science fiction. His works explored themes of technological advancement and societal change, reflecting the zeitgeist of the early 20th century.
Moving into the modern era, Yewell Thompson (1926-2017) was an American civil rights activist and educator who played a crucial role in the desegregation efforts in North Carolina. Her unwavering commitment to equality and justice left a lasting impact on the communities she served.
Lastly, Yewell Woodhouse (1936-2005) was a renowned British architect whose innovative designs and sustainable approach to construction earned him widespread recognition. His buildings seamlessly blended form and function, leaving a lasting architectural legacy.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the name Yewell throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and eras.
People
Yewell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yewell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yewell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yewell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yewell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Yewell a common name?
We classify Yewell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yewell most popular?
The single biggest year for Yewell was 1918, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yewell is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Yewell in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yewell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yewell in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Yewell still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yewell in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Yewell can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Yewell?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.