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

Oswell, 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 Oswell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oswell in America

Oswell is the 57516th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oswell surname appeared 354 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 Oswell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oswell 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 Oswell

The surname Oswell originates from England, deriving its roots from the Old English words "os" meaning "ox" and "well" meaning "stream" or "spring." It likely emerged as a locational name, signifying someone who resided near an ox-watering place or a stream frequented by oxen.

The earliest recorded instances of the Oswell surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various English counties, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. One notable early reference appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard de Oswell.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Oxwell, Oxwelle, and Oxewelle, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. Some of these variations persisted into the 16th and 17th centuries, as evidenced by records like the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, which listed a Henry Oxwell.

The Oswell surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was John Oswell, a 14th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Galloway in Scotland from 1355 to 1378.

In the 16th century, William Oswell (born around 1510) was a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He played a vital role in the city's trade and commerce during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the 17th century, Thomas Oswell (1631-1712) was a respected English barrister and legal scholar who served as the Clerk of the Parliaments from 1689 until his death. He was renowned for his expertise in parliamentary procedures and traditions.

In the 19th century, William Cotton Oswell (1818-1893) gained fame as an English explorer and hunter who led several expeditions into southern Africa. He was among the first Europeans to discover and document the Okavango Delta region in what is now Botswana.

Another notable figure was Frederica Oswell (1845-1925), a British artist and illustrator known for her beautiful watercolor paintings depicting scenes from English country life. Her works were widely exhibited and admired during the Victorian era.

While the Oswell surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, the name's rich history and connections to various notable individuals remain deeply rooted in its English heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oswell

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

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

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

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