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

Cardwell, 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 Cardwell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cardwell in America

Cardwell is the 3037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cardwell surname appeared 11,791 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Cardwell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cardwell 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 Cardwell

The surname Cardwell has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "carde" and "well," meaning a well or spring near a place where wool was carded or combed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1182, which mention a person named Richard de Cardewelle. This suggests that the name was initially associated with a specific location, likely a place where wool carding took place near a well or spring.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, with various spellings such as Cardwelle, Cardwill, and Cardwyl appearing in historical records. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a Robert de Cardewelle in Cambridgeshire.

The Cardwell surname is also linked to several place names in England, including Cardwell in Lancashire and Cardwell Brook in Derbyshire. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the surname or vice versa.

One notable person with the surname Cardwell was Edward Cardwell (1787-1886), a British statesman and Secretary of State for War from 1868 to 1874. He played a significant role in reforming the British Army during his tenure.

Another prominent figure was Sir Nathaniel Cardwell (1584-1653), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1634. He was involved in the East India Company and played a role in the early colonization efforts in Virginia.

In the literary world, William Cardwell (1780-1828) was an English writer and historian known for his works on the history of the Church of England and the life of Cardinal Wolsey.

Sir Edward Cardwell (1813-1886), a British politician and colonial administrator, served as Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1864 to 1866 and was influential in shaping policies related to British colonies.

John Cardwell (1853-1926) was a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of early aircraft and held several patents related to aeronautics.

Throughout its history, the Cardwell surname has been associated with various occupations, including wool trade, military service, politics, literature, and engineering, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cardwell

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

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

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

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