2000
#91,801
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 186
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.07
Very Rare Last name
Glidwell
A locational surname originating from a place called Glidwell or Glydwell.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 186 Americans carry the last name Glidwell. That puts it at #114,613 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,842,765 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Glidwell surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
186
1 in 1,842,765
Census rank
#114,613
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
162
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 162 bearers of the surname Glidwell in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 114613th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Glidwell, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Glidwell
The surname Glidwell has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place name, possibly from the Old English words "glidian" meaning "to glide" and "welle" meaning "stream" or "spring." This suggests that the name may have originated from a location where a stream or spring flowed smoothly.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, which lists a person named William de Glydewelle. This indicates that the name was present in the county of Lincolnshire during the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the Glidwell surname appeared in various records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, which listed a John Glydwell. The Placita de Quo Warranto of 1292-1293 also mentions a William de Glidewelle, further solidifying the presence of the name during this period.
During the 16th century, the surname was found in various locations across England. John Glidwell (1508-1568) was an English clergyman and Protestant reformer who served as the Bishop of Worcester from 1555 to 1559. Another notable figure was William Glidwell (1570-1628), an English politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle in 1604.
In the 17th century, the Glidwell surname continued to be present in various records. Robert Glidwell (1612-1688) was an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Leicester from 1663 until his death. George Glidwell (1634-1690) was an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Ipswich from 1679 to 1685.
During the 18th century, the name appeared in various parish records and genealogical documents. One notable figure was James Glidwell (1721-1788), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and portraits.
Throughout its history, the surname Glidwell has maintained its connection to its English origins, with variations in spelling such as Glidewell and Glydwell appearing in various records over time. While the name has spread to other parts of the world, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely originated from a location associated with a smooth-flowing stream or spring.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Glidwell
Among Census respondents with the surname Glidwell, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Glidwell bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Glidwell surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White100.0% · 162
Timeline
Historical Census data for Glidwell
Glidwell appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#110,825
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 159
-27 bearers (-14.5%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 19,024 places
2020
#114,613
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 162
+3 bearers (+1.9%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Down 3,788 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #91,801 | 186 | 0.07 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #110,825 | 159 | 0.05 | -27 bearers (-14.5%) | Down 19,024 places |
| 2020 | #114,613 | 162 | 0.05 | +3 bearers (+1.9%) | Down 3,788 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Glidwell surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #110,825 | #114,613 | -3.4% |
| Count | 159 | 162 | 1.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 8.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Glidwell bearers went from 159 to 162 (+1.9% change). The surname moved down 3,788 positions in the national ranking, going from #110,825 to #114,613.
FAQ
Glidwell surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Glidwell?
Name Census estimates that about 186 living Americans carry the surname Glidwell. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,842,765 residents.
How common is Glidwell?
Glidwell ranks #114,613 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 162 people with the surname Glidwell. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (186), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Glidwell.
Has Glidwell become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Glidwell went from 159 recorded bearers to 162. That is an increase of 3 (+1.9%). In the national ranking it fell from #110,825 to #114,613.
What does the Census say about the background of Glidwell?
Among Census respondents with the surname Glidwell, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%. These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Glidwell in the 2020 Census, accounting for 100.0% (162 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Glidwell appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (100.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Glidwell (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Glidwell mean?
A locational surname originating from a place called Glidwell or Glydwell. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Glidwell (0.05 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Glidwell?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.