Find out how popular the last name Ashwell is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ashwell.

Ashwell, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ashwell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ashwell in America

Ashwell is the 31754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ashwell surname appeared 727 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ashwell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ashwell to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Ashwell

The surname Ashwell is of English origin, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the village of Ashwell in Hertfordshire, which was recorded as Esceswelle in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is composed of the Old English elements "æsc," meaning ash tree, and "well," referring to a spring or stream.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Ashwell can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, there is a mention of a Robert de Assewell. This entry suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for individuals hailing from the village of Ashwell.

Throughout the centuries, the surname has been subject to various spellings, including Assewell, Asshewell, and Ashwelle, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

One notable figure bearing the Ashwell surname was Robert Ashwell, a prominent 16th-century English lawyer and Member of Parliament. He was born in 1530 and served as the Recorder of Coventry from 1571 until his death in 1593.

Another individual of note was Thomas Ashwell, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. Born in 1616, he is best known for his work "The Reformed Devotion," published in 1661, which explored the principles of Christian piety.

In the 18th century, John Ashwell made a significant contribution to the field of mathematics. Born in 1709, he was an English mathematician and writer who authored several works on arithmetic and geometry, including "The Arithmetic Revived," published in 1768.

Moving into the 19th century, Mary Ashwell (1816-1896) was a prominent English philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocating for the rights of women and children.

Lastly, George Ashwell (1884-1957) was a notable English actor and director who had a successful career on both stage and screen. He appeared in numerous plays and films throughout the early 20th century, including the 1938 film adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

While these are just a few examples, the surname Ashwell has a rich and diverse history, with individuals from various walks of life contributing to society in their own unique ways over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ashwell

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ashwell.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ashwell was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Ashwell has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ashwell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ashwell, please contact us.

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