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

Sewel, 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 Sewel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sewel in America

Sewel is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sewel surname appeared 100 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 Sewel.

The history of the last name Sewel

The surname Sewel has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "seofyll" or "seoful," which means "pool" or "marshy place." This suggests that the name was initially used to refer to a person who lived near a pool or marsh.

In the Domesday Book, a record of landholdings compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are several entries mentioning people with similar names, such as "Sewald" and "Sewold." These are likely early variations of the modern surname Sewel.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sewel can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195, where a person named "Seuel de Berewick" is mentioned. The place name "Berewick" likely refers to a location near a pool or marshy area, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Sewel was Richard Sewel, a wealthy merchant from London who was involved in the wool trade. He is mentioned in several historical records from the period, including the Patent Rolls of 1258.

During the 16th century, a notable individual with the surname Sewel was William Sewel (1566-1633), a Member of Parliament for the borough of Hedon in Yorkshire. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his support for the Church of England.

Another significant figure in history with the surname Sewel was William Sewel (1654-1720), a Dutch Quaker author and historian. He is best known for his influential work "The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers," published in 1722, which provided a detailed account of the early Quaker movement.

In the 18th century, John Sewel (1719-1789) was a prominent English engraver and cartographer. He is renowned for his highly detailed and accurate maps, including county maps of England and Wales, which were widely used and admired during his time.

Throughout history, the surname Sewel has also been associated with various place names, such as Sewell in Bedfordshire, Sewell's Bridge in Hertfordshire, and Sewell's Farm in Dorset. These locations may have derived their names from individuals bearing the surname Sewel who lived or owned property in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sewel

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

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

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

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