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

Fewell, 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 Fewell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fewell in America

Fewell is the 13505th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fewell surname appeared 2,247 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Fewell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fewell 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 Fewell

The surname Fewell is derived from the Old English word "fyll" or "ful," meaning "full" or "complete." It originated in England during the medieval period, possibly as an occupational name for someone who worked as a fuller, a person responsible for thickening and shrinking woolen cloth by applying moisture and heat.

Fewell is believed to have roots in various regions of England, particularly in counties like Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, where the wool trade was prevalent during the Middle Ages. The name's earliest recorded instances date back to the late 13th century, with variations such as Fulur, Fullere, and Fuller appearing in historical documents.

One notable early reference to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their properties in England. The records mention individuals with the surname Fuller, the precursor to Fewell.

In the 14th century, the surname Fewell emerged as a distinct variation, with records indicating individuals bearing this name in various parts of England. For instance, John Fewell was recorded as a resident of Somerset in 1327, while William Fewell was documented in Gloucestershire in 1379.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals bore the surname Fewell. One example is John Fewell (1561-1638), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Stratford-upon-Avon and was a contemporary of William Shakespeare.

Another prominent figure was Sir Bartholomew Fewell (1617-1692), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the 18th century, Thomas Fewell (1728-1795) was a renowned English architect and surveyor known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

Moving into the 19th century, John Fewell (1789-1879) was an English engraver and painter who gained recognition for his landscape etchings and watercolors.

Additionally, Charles Fewell (1835-1908) was a notable English cricketer who played first-class cricket for several teams, including Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire.

While the surname Fewell has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval occupational name associated with the wool trade in various regions of England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fewell

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

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

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

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