Ewell
From the Old English "æwell," referring to a river source or spring.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,587 Americans carry the last name Ewell. That puts it at #6,988 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 61,349 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ewell surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
5.6K
1 in 61,349
Census rank
#6,988
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,794 bearers of the surname Ewell in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6988th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ewell, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.3%. The next largest groups are Black (31.1%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ewell
The surname Ewell traces its origins to England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "ēa," meaning "river," and "well," meaning "spring" or "stream." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person living near a river or stream.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Ewell can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a person named Richard de Ewell. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, documenting landowners and their holdings throughout England.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in the form "Ewelle" in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Surrey from 1346, which mentions a John de Ewelle. The Feet of Fines were legal documents recording the transfer of land ownership.
The Ewell surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Ewell in Surrey and Ewell in Kent. These place names may have influenced the formation and spread of the surname in those areas.
Notable individuals with the surname Ewell throughout history include:
1. John Ewell (c. 1549 - 1614), an English composer and organist during the Renaissance period.
2. Richard Ewell (1817 - 1872), a Confederate lieutenant general during the American Civil War, known for his role in the Battle of Gettysburg.
3. Benjamin Stoddert Ewell (1810 - 1894), an American lawyer, politician, and president of the College of William & Mary from 1854 to 1888.
4. James Ewell Brown Stuart (1833 - 1864), a Confederate cavalry general during the American Civil War, known for his daring exploits and leadership.
5. Walter Ewell (1898 - 1981), an American basketball coach and athletic director at the University of Virginia, who led the team to several Southern Conference championships in the 1940s and 1950s.
While the Ewell surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through migration and family relocation.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ewell
Among Census respondents with the surname Ewell, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.3%. The next largest groups are Black (31.1%) and Hispanic (3.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Ewell bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ewell surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White62.3%
- Black or African American31.1%
- Hispanic or Latino3.0%
- Two or more races2.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ewell surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,988 | #6,988 | 0.0% |
| Count | 4,794 | 4,794 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.63 | 1.63 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Ewell bearers went from 4,794 to 4,794 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #6,988 to #6,988.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Ewell
FAQ
Ewell surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ewell?
The surname Ewell holds position #6,988 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 5,587 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.63 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ewell surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ewell, the largest self-reported group is White at 62.3%. The next largest groups are Black (31.1%) and Hispanic (3.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.