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

Tidwell, 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 Tidwell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tidwell in America

Tidwell is the 1699th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tidwell surname appeared 21,176 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 7 people would have the surname Tidwell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tidwell 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 Tidwell

The surname Tidwell has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, potentially referring to a location with a tidal well or a spring that was influenced by the ebb and flow of tides. The earliest known spelling variations include Tidewell, Tydwell, and Tyddewell.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1197, which mention a William de Tidewell. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also reference a John de Tidewell in Norfolk.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John Tidewell was listed. The Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379 included an entry for Johannes Tydwell.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Tidwell throughout history include:

1. Sir John Tidwell (c. 1550 - 1620), an English nobleman and landowner from Gloucestershire, known for his involvement in local politics and charitable works.

2. Elizabeth Tidwell (1620 - 1678), a prominent Puritan author and advocate for women's education in colonial Massachusetts.

3. William Tidwell (1745 - 1825), a British explorer and cartographer who mapped significant portions of the Pacific Northwest during the late 18th century.

4. Margaret Tidwell (1810 - 1892), an American abolitionist and women's rights activist from Pennsylvania, known for her work with the Underground Railroad.

5. Thomas Tidwell (1865 - 1942), a Scottish-born entrepreneur and industrialist who established successful textile mills in Northern England during the Industrial Revolution.

While the surname Tidwell has evolved over centuries, its earliest roots can be traced back to medieval England, where it likely originated as a place name describing a location with a unique water source influenced by tidal patterns.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tidwell

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

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

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

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