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

Atwell, 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 Atwell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Atwell in America

Atwell is the 4116th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Atwell surname appeared 8,622 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Atwell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Atwell 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 Atwell

The surname Atwell has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "aet" and "well," meaning "at the well" or "near the water source." This suggests that the name may have originated from a topographic feature or a place name associated with a well or a body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Attewell. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, with references to individuals such as John Attewelle (1315) and Adam Attewelle (1348). These records provide insight into the geographic distribution of the name during that period.

The Atwell surname is also linked to several place names in England, including Atwell in Somerset, Atwell Farm in Oxfordshire, and Atwell Close in Nottinghamshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Atwell throughout history include:

1. William Atwell (c. 1500 - 1562), an English Protestant reformer and martyr during the Marian Persecutions.
2. Robert Atwell (1579 - 1621), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Faithful Surveyour."
3. Sir Thomas Atwell (1766 - 1838), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.
4. George Atwell (1807 - 1876), an English landscape painter and a member of the Royal Academy.
5. Winifred Atwell (1914 - 1983), a British pianist and entertainer known for her popular renditions of classical and ragtime music.

The Atwell surname has a rich history in England, with its roots dating back to the 13th century and connections to various place names and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Atwell

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

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 Atwell 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 Atwell 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 Atwell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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