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

Kerswell, 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 Kerswell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kerswell in America

Kerswell is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kerswell surname appeared 103 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kerswell.

The history of the last name Kerswell

The surname Kerswell has its origins in the English county of Devon, deriving from a place name that dates back to the 11th century. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "cerse" meaning cress and "well" meaning a spring or stream, suggesting a connection to a place known for its cress-bearing watercourse.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cressewell." This reference provides evidence of the name's longstanding presence in the region. Over time, the spelling evolved into various forms such as Kerswell, Carswell, and Creswell.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Cressewell holding lands in Devon, indicating the surname's association with landed gentry. During the 14th century, a John Kerswell was documented as a prominent figure in the town of Barnstaple, where he served as a bailiff and market official.

Notable individuals bearing the Kerswell surname include Sir John Kerswell (1592-1668), a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles I. Another notable figure was Thomas Kerswell (1637-1711), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Michael's Church in Bath.

In the 18th century, William Kerswell (1718-1792) gained recognition as a successful merchant and ship owner based in Bristol, contributing to the city's maritime trade. Later, in the 19th century, Edward Kerswell (1829-1895) made his mark as a renowned architect, responsible for designing several notable buildings in the city of Exeter.

One of the most notable individuals with this surname was Sir John Kerswell (1861-1942), a British Army officer who served in the Boer War and World War I. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his military service and played a crucial role in the defense of Ypres during the First World War.

While the surname Kerswell has its roots in the county of Devon, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, with bearers of the name making significant contributions across various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kerswell

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

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 Kerswell 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.

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

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

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